John of Islay, lord of the Isles (d. 1387)
- Biography
- John was the son of Angus Óg MacDonald (d. 1314x18) and of Aine Ni Cathan, the daughter of an Ulster lord. Little is known of John’s early career. In September 1336 he concluded deals with Edward Balliol and Edward III at Perth by which, in return for his service against Balliol’s ‘enemies and rebels’, the two kings confirmed him a sequence of west coast and Highland lordships. In his letter of 21 September to Edward of England, John styled himself dominus insularum, a novel designation that continued to be used by his successors and was apparently an acceptable equivalent for the older Gaelic Ri Innse Gall, King of the Hebrides. After 1336 John oscillated between Bruce and Balliol allegiance, coming to terms with David II in 1343, and maintained his diplomatic, political and economic links with the English crown. His position within the Hebrides was strengthened by his two marriages. The first, concluded c.1337 was to Amie, sister and heir of Ruairi of Garmoran. When Ruairi was assassinated in 1346 his lands came to Amie and her husband. Amie and John had three sons, most notably Ranald, progenitor of the Clanranald. John’s second wife, whom he married c.1350, was Margaret, daughter of Robert Stewart (who became king as Robert II in 1371). John’s territorial resources were split between his two families, with his sons by Amie MacRuairi receiving their mother’s inheritance, while the title Lord of the Isles and John’s own inheritance and conquest lands went to his sons with Margaret Stewart. Donald, (d. 1420x25), the eldest son of that marriage thus became the second lord of the Isles. The Annals of Ulster record John’s death under the year 1387 and he was certainly dead by 1390.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/10.1093/ref:odnb/54280
- Floruits
- 1336 × 1363
- Related Place
- Islay