97-659: Robertson Park is in Renfrew , Scotland. It has recreational parkland and garden areas which are open to the public. The land the park is on was gifted to the Royal Burgh of Renfrew in early 1912 by a wealthy local family, the Robertsons. They donated the land to create an open space for the children and families of Renfrew. The park was named after the original land owners and opened in October 1912. Renfrewshire Council are responsible for
194-598: A coup d'état against his brother-in-law, as the Chronicle of Mann relates that, Thorfinn Ottarsson , one of the leading men of the Isles, produced Somerled's son Dugald (d. after 1175), as a replacement to Godred's rule. As a grandson of Olaf, and the son of a man with the enterprise and power to confront Muirchertach, Dugald was evidently favoured by a significant number of leading Islesmen, disillusioned with Godred's rule; Somerled, therefore, appears to have taken full advantage of
291-403: A Celtic hero: a man who liberated Scotland from the clutches of invading Scandinavians, founded an independent kingdom, and initiated a Gaelic renaissance. Such portrayals, founded upon uncritical acceptance of the narratives within early modern sources, are contrary to the evidence preserved in contemporary sources. Although early modern sources and some later histories portray Somerled's rise in
388-499: A Cistercian house at Saddell, it was Ranald who first endowed it. However, Somerled's attempt to relocate the Columban leadership to Iona in 1164, when Cistercians were already established in the Isles, may be evidence that he found newer reformed orders of continental Christianity unpalatable. Furthermore, the ecclesiastical patronage of his immediate descendants reveals that they were not averse to such orders, which may suggest that Ranald
485-482: A Scottish strategy to isolate Olafr from an English alliance, to project Scottish authority into the Irish Sea , and to draw Olafr into David's sphere of influence. Although support from the rulers of Galloway and Scotland may well have strengthened Olaf's position in the Isles, and the Chronicle of Mann portrays his reign as one of peace, other sources vaguely refer to mainland depredations wrought by Wimund , Bishop of
582-400: A Scottish tributary, the ensuing career of Somerled clearly reveals that the latter regarded himself a fully independent ruler. One consequence of David's westward consolidation appears to have been a series of marital alliances conducted by the rulers of Argyll, Galloway, and the Isles. By about 1140, not only had Somerled married Ragnhild, illegitimate daughter of Olafr Godredsson , King of
679-449: A Scottish victory over an alliance between Somerled and Fergus. Before the end of the year, Fergus had retired to Holyrood Abbey, and a charter records that Somerled had come into the king's peace. The precise occasion on which Somerled was reconciled with Malcolm IV may have been the king's Christmas feast, held at Perth in that year. This occasion may well have been the origin of the epithet "sit-by-the-king", accorded to Somerled in
776-520: A [thrown] spear and cut down by the sword", and states that a priest severed his head and delivered it into the bishop's hands. Several sources also state that a son of Somerled was slain in the battle, with the Annals of Tigernach identifying him as GilleBride. It is uncertain why Somerled launched his attack upon the Scots. The early 1160s saw a period of Scottish consolidation in the maritime region between
873-404: A common ancestor. Further testing of men bearing the surnames MacAlister , MacDonald , and MacDougall , found that, of a small sample group, 40% of MacAlisters, 30% of MacDougalls, and 18% of MacDonalds shared this genetic marker . These percentages suggest that Somerled may have almost 500,000 living patrilineal descendants. The results of a later study, published in 2011, revealed that, of
970-551: A conflict known as the Battle of Renfrew . The outcome was a defeat of the Lordship of the Isles and the death of Somerled. The Lords of the Isles were eventually stripped of their lands and titles in 1493, as a consequence of conspiring with an earlier King of England ( Edward IV ) to overthrow the Scottish monarchy. Since that time, "Lord of the Isles" - as with "Baron of Renfrew" - has been
1067-557: A courtesy title of the heir to the throne and both are currently held by William, Duke of Rothesay . The role of the Stewarts continued to grow and in 1315 Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward married Marjorie , daughter of King Robert the Bruce . Their son succeeded to the throne as Robert II of Scotland . During the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll
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#17330928843931164-440: A decade in exile, defeated his brother Ragnvald with Norwegian assistance, and secured himself upon the throne. In time, Godred appears to have regained most of the northern Hebrides and Skye . The Hebridean territories lost to Somerled in 1156, however, appear to have been retained by the latter's descendants. It is more than likely that this domain was divided amongst his surviving sons, although contemporary sources are silent on
1261-514: A gradual move in the focus of local government to Paisley. During this time, Renfrew continued to hold status not only as a royal burgh, but as a parliamentary , municipal and police burgh . Renfrew is now represented by its own community council , which meets in Renfrew Town Hall . Renfrew was a parliamentary burgh as a component of Glasgow Burghs from 1708 to 1832, and as a component of Kilmarnock Burghs from 1832 to 1918, when it
1358-482: A lord's personal possessions, but also from more remote regions that acknowledged his overlordship. Cain should not be confused with conveth or wayting , the rights of a lord to hospitality for himself and his retinue. Another charter, dating from between 1145 and 1153, records that he granted Urquhart Priory the teind of his portion of cain from Argyll, and his pleas and revenues from there. A later charter, dating from between 1150 and 1152, records that David granted
1455-401: A marriage alliance with Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair , son of Alexander I of Scotland , and claimant to the Scottish throne. During a period of alliance with David I of Scotland , Somerled married Ragnhild , daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson , King of Man and the Isles in 1140. In 1153, Olaf of Man died and was succeeded by his son, Godred. But Godred Olafsson was a very unpopular ruler. Somerled
1552-455: A religious traditionalist. His attempt to restore the Columban leadership to Iona starkly contrasted with the actions of his descendants, who oversaw the obliteration of the island's Columban monastery, and founded a Benedictine monastery in its place. Either Somerled or Ranald could have founded Saddell Abbey , a rather small Cistercian house, situated in the traditional heartland of Somerled's later descendants. This, now ruinous monastery,
1649-754: A sample of 164 men bearing the surname MacDonald, 23% carried the same marker borne by the clan chiefs. This marker was identified as a subgroup of haplogroup R1a , known to be extremely rare in Celtic-speaking areas of Scotland, but very common in Norway. Both genetic studies concluded that Somerled's patrilineal ancestors originated in Scandinavia . Over the years, there have been disparate interpretations of Somerled's life and career. Traditional accounts, such as those expounded in popular histories , clan histories, and 19th century works, portray Somerled as something of
1746-417: A seaborne invasion of Scotland, which culminated in the disastrous Battle of Renfrew , fought near Renfrew , against forces led by Herbert, Bishop of Glasgow (d. 1164), and Baldwin of Biggar, Sheriff of Lanark ( fl. 1160s). The invasion appears to have been well-planned. The Chronicle of Melrose describes Somerled's invasion force as vast, and the Chronicle of Mann numbers it at 160 ships, although
1843-446: A strategic coastal site from where Scottish forces may have conducted seaborne military operations against Malcolm's western allies. Aelred of Rievaulx 's Relatio de Standardo reveals that David received English military assistance against Malcolm. This source specifies that a force against Malcolm was mustered at Carlisle , and notes successful naval campaigns conducted against David's enemies, which suggests that Malcolm's support
1940-555: Is a particular charter , issued by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland (d. 1165) in 1160, that briefly notes Somerled in its dating clause. Somerled's origins are masked in obscurity and myth. Although no contemporary pedigree exists that outlines his ancestry, there are over a dozen later medieval, early modern, and modern sources that purport to outline Somerled's patrilineal descent. The names that these sources give for his father (GilleBride) and paternal grandfather (GilleAdamnan) appear to be corroborated in patronymic forms recorded in
2037-584: Is documented in other sources. Later clan histories, such as the early modern History of the MacDonalds and the Books of Clanranald , although unreliable as historical narratives, contain a considerable amount of detailed information. The late provenance and partisan nature of these histories means that their uncorroborated claims, particularly those concerning early figures such as Somerled and his contemporaries, need to be treated with caution. Another relevant source
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#17330928843932134-495: Is known of Angus, other than his defeat and death, together with his sons (and the extinction of his line) at the hands of Ranald's sons in 1210. Dugald is last recorded in 1175, whilst in the company of his sons in England. Bethoc , Somerled's daughter, was prioress of Iona Nunnery . Both Dugald and Ranald left powerful descendants. From Dugald descended the 13th-century Lords of Argyll, and Clan MacDougall . From Ranald descended
2231-525: Is known of his early life. The History of the MacDonalds and the Book of Clanranald relate that his immediate ancestors were prominent in Argyll before being unjustly ejected by Scandinavians and Scots. Although these specific claims concerning his ancestors cannot be corroborated, Somerled's eventual marriage to a daughter of a reigning King of the Isles , and the marriage of one of the former's immediate kinswomen to
2328-454: Is not known for certain, but he and Somerled likely had conflicting ambitions in the region. Although Somerled may have sought to eliminate or reduce this perceived threat, the massive scale of his seaborne assault suggests that he may have nursed even greater ambitions. With an increasingly ill and possibly incapacitated king upon the Scottish throne, the real motivation behind Somerled's last operation may well have been sheer opportunism. In
2425-560: Is patchily documented in four main contemporary sources: the Chronicle of Holyrood , the Chronicle of Melrose , the Chronicles of Mann , and the Carmen de Morte Sumerledi . The chronicles of Holyrood and Melrose were originally compiled in the late 12th century. As products of Scottish reformed monasteries , these sources tend to be sympathetic to the cause of the Scottish kings descended from Malcolm III of Scotland . The Chronicle of Mann
2522-504: Is the historic county town of Renfrewshire . Called the "Cradle of the Royal Stewarts " for its early link with Scotland's former royal house, Renfrew gained royal burgh status in 1397. As the county town, Renfrew once was a centre of local government for the surrounding area. Whilst the county remained known as "Renfrewshire", the focus of local government gradually shifted from Renfrew to its larger neighbour Paisley . Following
2619-470: Is the only Cisterian house known to have been founded in the Scottish Highlands . Surviving evidence from the monastery itself suggests that Ranald was the founder. However, evidence that Somerled was the founder may be preserved in a 13th-century French list of Cistercian houses which names a certain " Sconedale " under the year 1160. One possibility is that, while Somerled may have begun the planning
2716-405: The Annals of Tigernach and the Annals of Ulster . The names in preceding generations, however, become more unusual, and the more authoritative sources begin to contradict each other. In consequence, two or three generations may be the furthest that Somerled's patrilineal lineage can be traced with any degree of accuracy. Somerled was almost certainly of Norse–Gaelic ancestry, and nothing
2813-555: The Carmen de Morte Sumerledi , which recounts Somerled's devastating sack of Glasgow , its cathedral , and surrounding countryside. As noted above, the father of Somerled's nepotes was Malcolm, illegitimate son of Alexander. As a son of David's elder brother and royal predecessor, this Malcolm represented a lineally senior branch of the Scottish royal house. Succession by primogeniture was not an established custom in 12th-century Scotland, and surviving sources reveal that Alexander's heirs received substantial support for their claims to
2910-521: The Carmen de Morte Sumerledi . Although the concordat between Malcolm IV and Somerled may have taken place after the Scottish king's subjugation of Somerled and Fergus, another possibility is that the agreement was concluded after Somerled had aided the Scots in their overthrow of Fergus. According to the Chronicle of Mann , Somerled and Ragnhild had four sons: Dugald ( fl. 1175), Ranald ( fl. 1192), Angus (d. 1210), and Olaf. The Chronicle of Mann , Orkneyinga saga , and later tradition preserved in
3007-554: The Islands of the Clyde . The catalyst for Somerled's invasion, therefore, may have been the encroachment of Scottish influence into his own sphere of hegemony. The target of his invasion appears to have been Renfrew, the centre of the family of Walter FitzAlan, Steward of Scotland , and Somerled's forces may well have engaged those of Walter—possibly even led by the steward himself. The precise chronology of Walter's westward expansion
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3104-468: The Lords of the Isles , Clan Donald , Clan MacRory , and Clan MacAlister . Since the early 2000s, several genetic studies have been conducted on men bearing surnames traditionally associated with patrilineal descendants of Somerled. The results of one such study, published in 2004, revealed that five chiefs of Clan Donald, who all traced their patrilineal descent from Somerled, were indeed descended from
3201-500: The West of Scotland Football League First Division. Notable people from Renfrew include: The major industry of Renfrew was previously shipbuilding . Simons and Lobnitz , most notable for building sand dredgers were based in the town. The Renfrew shipyard closed in the early 1960s. Further expansion of Renfrew's economy took place in 1938 with the opening of Hillington industrial estate, now named Hillington Park, not to be confused with
3298-417: The reorganisation of 1996 , Renfrewshire was divided for local government purposes into three modern council areas : Renfrewshire , with considerably smaller boundaries than the old county, including Renfrew and with its administrative centre at Paisley; Inverclyde with its centre at Greenock , covering the western part of the county; and East Renfrewshire , with its centre at Giffnock . The boundaries of
3395-449: The teind of his portion of "cain" (see below) from Kintyre and Argyll. This particular charter is the earliest Scottish administrative document concerning Argyll. The word "cain" is ultimately derived from the Gaelic cáin , and refers to a payment (although not every payment) of tribute due to a lord. It appears to concern a regular payment of produce or foodstuffs, raised not only from
3492-530: The 18th-century Books of Clanranald , reveal that the claim of Somerled and his descendants to the kingship in the Isles rested upon Ragnhild's descent from the Crovan dynasty. The founder of this Norse-Gaelic kindred was Ragnhild's paternal grandfather, Godred Crovan , King of Dublin and the Isles (d. 1095). Although no acta from Somerled's reign survive, he would have likely been styled in Latin rex insularum (king of
3589-554: The Assembly for the subsequent annual term. Renfrew Old Parish Church, in the town centre, closed as a place of worship in 2013, due to building maintenance costs. Renfrew also has two Masonic Lodges : Prince of Wales and Lodge Moorpark, numbers 426 and 1263 respectively, of the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Although the town gives its name to the council area of Renfrewshire and
3686-553: The Cart to Inchinnan and Glasgow Airport . King's Inch and Sand Inch islands once lay off the river bank of the Clyde on the southern side until they became joined with the 'mainland' and they are now part of Renfrew. Somerled Somerled (died 1164), known in Middle Irish as Somairle , Somhairle , and Somhairlidh , and in Old Norse as Sumarliði [ˈsumɑrˌliðe] ,
3783-489: The Isles ( fl. c. 1130–c. 1150). The bloodshed attributed to the latter, a shadowy figure who appears to have violently sought the inheritance of the Mormaer of Moray in the late 1140s, suggests that Olafr may have struggled to maintain authority throughout his expansive island-kingdom. Olafr sent his son, Godred Olafsson , to Norway in 1152, where he rendered homage to Inge I of Norway ; this could be evidence that there
3880-463: The Isles (d. 1153), but Olafr was wed to a daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway (d. 1161). Olaf himself appears to have enjoyed amicable relations with Stephen, Count of Boulogne and Mortain (d. 1154), which may indicate that Olafr supported Stephen as King of England after 1135. The marital binding of Olafr with dependants of David roughly coincided with the latter's endeavour to establish control of Cumbria after 1138, and may have formed part of
3977-675: The Isles and Lorne or Argyll formed part of the Scottish army at the Battle of the Standard , when David was defeated by the English, near Northallerton in 1138. This could also indicate that Somerled himself campaigned in David's service; on the other hand, it could be evidence that Somerled merely provided mercenary forces for the Scots. There may be further evidence that David regarded himself as overlord of Argyll. One charter, dating to between 1141 and 1147, records that David granted Holyrood Abbey half
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4074-402: The Isles in xenophobic terms of Celt versus Scandinavian, modern historical scholarship views Somerled in the same cultural environment as his rival brother-in-law, Godred. Until recently, modern scholarship, heavily influenced by 19th-century historiographical perceptions of ethnicity, has placed Somerled's conflicts with the Scots in the context of supposed native Celtic conservatism against
4171-485: The Isles since the late 10th century. A record illustrating the zenith of Somerled's military might is preserved as an entry in the Annals of Ulster . The entry, which outlines his final foray, states that Somerled commanded forces drawn from Argyll, Kintyre, the Isles, and Dublin. It is not improbable that this massive host also included men from Galloway, Moray , and Orkney. From about 1160 to 1164, Somerled disappears from
4268-458: The Isles), a charter style borne by one of his descendants (Ranald). This style appears to have been derived from the same title borne by the Crovan dynasty, and was a precursor to the Latin dominus insularum (Lord of the Isles), a title borne by several of Somerled's and Ragnhild's later descendants. The Latin rex insularum was a translation of the Gaelic rí Innse Gall , a title accorded to Kings of
4365-609: The Isles. A later medieval successor to this kingdom, the Lordship of the Isles , was ruled by Somerled's descendants until the late 15th century. Regarded as a significant figure in 12th-century Scottish, Gaelic and Manx history, Somerled is proudly proclaimed as a patrilineal ancestor by several Scottish clans . Recent genetic studies suggest that Somerled has hundreds of thousands of patrilineal descendants and that his patrilineal origins lie in Ireland as well as Scandinavia. Somerled's career
4462-568: The Lennox and Cowal , and along the eastern coast of the Firth of Clyde towards Galloway. David may well have begun the infeftment and settlement of this coastal district decades earlier, to counter the seaborne threat that the rulers of Argyll posed during the dynastic challenges of the 1130s. By the 1160s, some of the greatest Scottish magnates had taken root in the region, and some of them may have begun to extend their influence into southern Argyll and
4559-413: The Scots. With this event likely marking the collapse of the insurrection of his nepotes , Somerled appears to have abandoned their cause, and shifted his focus towards the deteriorating situation in the Isles, where disaffected elements appear to have taken root against not only Godred's rule, but also Muirchertach's influence in the region. In the same year, Somerled is recorded to have participated in
4656-426: The accuracy of such a precise count is contentious given the propensity of mediaeval chroniclers to exaggerate their figures. Both these chronicles record that his forces landed at Renfrew, where they engaged the Scots, suffering "innumerable" casualties at the hands of a much smaller force. According to the Carmen de Morte Sumerledi , although Somerled's forces were vastly superior to those he encountered, he fell in
4753-517: The bulk of the inheritance), and Ranald in Kintyre and the southern islands. Although the Scots may have originally welcomed the collapse and reordering of Somerled's sea-kingdom, his death triggered decades of instability in the region, and the Norwegian intervention on Godred's behalf signalled that Scotland was not the only external power with interests in the region. The void left by Somerled's death
4850-595: The church and at great risk were extinguishing incendiaries. These had caused a number of fires in the church. Two of the airmen were killed by a bomb and the third died in Alexandria Hospital the following day. They were in their twenties. When 309 Squadron transferred to Dunino in Fife in May 1941, it presented to the church a portrait of Our Lady as a token of their appreciation to the people of Renfrew. Parishioners never forgot
4947-505: The context of Somerled taking back territories that he had helped secure into Olaf's kingdom. There is reason to suspect that portions of the Isles had previously fallen under the influence of the Earls of Orkney , before being reclaimed by the Kings of Isles during this period. At about the time of the partitioning of the Isles, Malcolm IV was reconciled with Malcolm MacHeth (d. 1168), and restored
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#17330928843935044-455: The early 21st century, as part of the wider 'Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside Project' involving regeneration and new residential developments, a new moveable bridge was proposed to connect Renfrew/Braehead to Yoker/ Clydebank for vehicular traffic, using ' City Deal ' funding. The bridge project stalled at the planning stage in late 2018, but construction was underway by early 2024. Renfrew Football Club plays at New Western Park in
5141-569: The eastern expansion of the lordship belonging to Somerled , the Lord of the Isles , and to protect western Scotland from Norse invaders. Renfrew Castle was situated in what is now part of the well-known Braehead shopping complex. It was located on the King's inch or King's Island. Later in the 12th century, King Malcolm IV , grandson of David, finally demanded Somerled's fealty . In 1164, Somerled sailed to Renfrew and attacked an assembling Scottish army in
5238-447: The ecclesiastical reunification he sought, and decades later his descendants oversaw the obliteration of the island's Columban monastery. Iona's oldest surviving building, St Oran's Chapel , dates to the mid-12th century, and may have been built by Somerled or his family. Traditionally considered a Celtic hero, who vanquished Viking foes and fostered a Gaelic renaissance, contemporary sources reveal that while Somerled considered himself
5335-453: The entire Kingdom of the Isles, and may well have exerted some degree of influence in Galloway. The Chronicle of Melrose and the Chronicle of Holyrood record that Malcolm IV launched military operations in Galloway in about 1160, with the latter chronicle specifying that the king subdued his "confederate enemies". The exact identity of these enemies is unknown, but the chronicles may document
5432-467: The entire kingdom of Argyll, Man and the Isles until his death. Somerled was slain in 1164 at the Battle of Renfrew , amidst an invasion of mainland Scotland, commanding forces drawn from all over his kingdom. The reasons for his attack are unknown. He may have wished to nullify Scottish encroachment, but the scale of his venture suggests that he nursed greater ambitions. On his death, Somerled's vast kingdom disintegrated, although his sons retained much of
5529-594: The first third of the 12th century, Malcolm and David had bitterly struggled for control of the Scottish kingdom, before Malcolm was finally captured and imprisoned in 1134. The chronology of Malcolm's capture, and the rising of his sons in league with Somerled, suggests that an alliance between Malcolm and Somerled's family may date from prior to his capture, possibly in about the 1120s. Surviving charter evidence reveals that, on at least two occasions before about 1134, David temporarily based himself at Irvine in Cunningham ,
5626-424: The general public. These include a duck pond, floral gardens, BMX course, skateboard park, tennis courts, putting area, bowling green, sensory garden, cycle tracks, swing parks and a small animal enclosure. Renfrew Renfrew ( / ˈ r ɛ n f r uː / ; Scots : Renfrew ; Scottish Gaelic : Rinn Friù ) is a town 6 miles (10 km) west of Glasgow in the west central Lowlands of Scotland . It
5723-506: The historic County of Renfrew remain for a number of ceremonial and administrative purposes. The House of Stewart was previously based out of the former Renfrew Castle . In 1164, it was the site of the Battle of Renfrew , a decisive victory for the Scottish crown over Somerled , Lord of the Isles . Given its link to the monarchy and the victory at Renfrew, the heir to the British throne holds
5820-471: The historical record, and little is known of his activities. In 1164, the Annals of Ulster reveal that he attempted to persuade Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin, Abbot of Derry (d. 1175) to relocate to Iona . As head of the Columban monastic community, a network of religious houses once centred on Iona, Flaithbertach's removal to the island would have placed the community's leadership within the heart of Somerled's sphere of influence. Although Somerled's stratagem
5917-478: The kingdom between themselves. According to the History of the MacDonalds , Somerled had previously aided Godred's father in military operations (otherwise unrecorded in contemporary sources) against the "ancient Danes north of Ardnamurchan ". Together with its claim that Olaf had also campaigned on North Uist , this source may be evidence that the partitioning of the Isles between Godred and Somerled can be viewed in
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#17330928843936014-405: The larger county of the same name which was used for local government before 1975, the administrative functions of both have in modern times been operated from the considerably larger neighbouring town of Paisley . The early origins of Renfrewshire lie in the expanding influence of the Stewarts of Renfrew, the family holding the hereditary High Stewardship of Scotland . In 1371, Robert Stewart
6111-411: The latter as Earl of Ross , an investiture which may have been a consequence of Somerled's threatening territorial expansion. After the partition, Somerled and Godred appear to have agreed to a truce. However, about two years later in 1158, the chronicle records that Somerled launched a second assault upon Godred, and drove him from the kingdom altogether. From this date until his death, Somerled ruled
6208-561: The leader of the Gaels of what was once old Dalriada, he operated in, and belonged to, the same Norse-Gaelic cultural environment as his maritime neighbours. By the time he took as his wife Ragnhild , daughter of Olafr Godredsson , King of the Isles, a member of the Crovan dynasty , Somerled was already Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne. Through Ragnhild and his descendants, he claimed the Kingdom of Man and
6305-466: The losses suffered by the forces supplied by Godred appear to have undermined the latter's authority in the Isles. Possibly about two years later, although the chronology of events within the relevant sources is unclear, Godred appears to have suffered another setback, when he unsuccessfully attempted to secure control of the Kingdom of Dublin . In 1156, Malcolm's son, Donald , was captured and imprisoned by
6402-536: The matter. The precise allotment of lands is unknown. Although the division of lands amongst later generations of descendants is known, such boundaries are unlikely to have existed during the chaotic 12th century. The territory of Somerled's surviving sons may have stretched from Glenelg in the north to the Mull of Kintyre in the south —possibly with Angus ruling the northernmost region, Dugald centred in Lorne (with possibly
6499-420: The mother of Malcolm's sons was either a sister, or a daughter of Somerled; or Somerled and Malcolm were maternal half-brothers. 2. The sons of Malcolm as maternal grandsons of Somerled, descended from the latter's daughter. 3. The sons of Malcolm as maternal half-nephews of Somerled, descended from the latter's mother. Somerled's first appearance in contemporary sources occurs in 1153. In May of that year,
6596-630: The neighbouring Hillington housing estate which falls within the city of Glasgow's boundaries. Renfrew is home to the engineering company Doosan Babcock (formerly Babcock & Wilcox), the King George V Dock and the Braehead out-of-town retail development. Renfrew is at the confluence of the River Clyde and the River Cart . A passenger ferry crosses the Clyde to Yoker and a bascule bridge spans
6693-437: The other half the teind of his cain from Argyll and Kintyre to Dunfermline Abbey . This latter charter includes the caveat "in whatever year I should receive it", which may suggest that whatever control David had exerted in Argyll at the time of the first charter had eroded by the time of the latter. Thus, Somerled's rise to power may have taken place sometime between 1141 and 1152. Although David may well have regarded Argyll as
6790-462: The outset of battle, against a hastily gathered force of local levies led by the Bishop of Glasgow . Although later tradition, preserved in the History of the MacDonalds and the Book of Clanranald , maintained that Somerled fell by treachery, contemporary sources indicate that he more likely fell in battle. The Carmen de Morte Sumerledi , written by an eyewitness, records that Somerled was "wounded by
6887-478: The park. A commemorative oak tree was erected in October 2012. It was planted to celebrate the park being 100 years old. Renfrewshire's Deputy Provost John Caldwell and a group of local school children were present at the ceremony. Renfrew Community Museum loaned out a spade that the Robertson family used to plant the first tree at the park in 1912 for the occasion. The park offers various amenities and activities for
6984-443: The reigning David I, King of Scotland died, and was succeeded by his twelve-year-old grandson, Malcolm IV, son of Henry, Earl of Northumberland (d. 1152). Less than six months later Somerled emerges into recorded history: the Chronicle of Holyrood states that he rose in rebellion that November, allied with his aforementioned nepotes , against the recently inaugurated king. A further account of this rising may also be preserved in
7081-642: The sacrifice and in October 1982 at a special Mass, a silver plaque in memory of the airmen and the portrait of the Black Madonna was blessed and dedicated by Bishop McGill. The plaque was crafted by a local Polish jeweler, Eugeniusz Waclawski. At the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2013, the Rev Lorna Hood , minister at Renfrew North Parish Church and a Chaplain to The Queen , became Moderator of
7178-451: The situation to secure his eldest son a share in the kingdom. Somerled's stratagem does not appear to have received unanimous support, since the chronicle relates that, as Dugald was conducted throughout the Isles, the leading Islesmen were made to render pledges and surrender hostages to him. Following an inconclusive but bloody sea-battle , possibly fought off Mann the following January, the chronicle records that Somerled and Godred divided
7275-536: The son of a King of Scotland , suggests that Somerled belonged to a family of considerable status. The precise identity of Somerled's aforementioned kinswoman is uncertain. The following pedigrees illustrate three possible ways in which her marriage bound Somerled's family with a senior branch of the Scottish dynasty . According to the Chronicle of Holyrood , the sons of Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair ( fl. 1134), son of Alexander I of Scotland (d. 1124), were Somerled's " nepotes ". This Latin term could be evidence that
7372-584: The southern Hebridean portion. Compared to his immediate descendants, who associated themselves with reformed religious orders, Somerled may have been something of a religious traditionalist. In the last year of his life, he attempted to persuade the head of the Columban monastic community, Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin , Abbot of Derry, to relocate from Ireland to Iona , a sacred island within Somerled's sphere of influence. Unfortunately for Somerled, his demise denied him
7469-459: The spread of foreign feudalisation . More recent scholarship, however, has emphasised the remarkable receptiveness of natives to so-called feudal customs introduced into northern Scotland during this period. The consistent misidentification of Malcolm, his brother-in-law, with Malcolm MacHeth, has been interpreted as evidence that Somerled backed the cause of a supposed native anti-feudal movement. The more recent realisation that this brother-in-law
7566-405: The steward's family appears to have secured Bute by about 1200. Somerled is known to have had at least five sons and a daughter. GilleBride, who was slain in battle with his father, was likely a product of an early unknown marriage. Olaf is only named in the Chronicle of Mann . Angus defeated his brother Ranald in 1192; after that the latter disappears from record altogether. Nothing further
7663-442: The throne. The remarkable haste with which Malcolm IV succeeded his grandfather further exemplifies the perceived risk that David's line faced from rival royal claimants. Kinship with the sons of Malcolm, members of the royal derbfine , gave Somerled a serious stake in the contested royal succession, and his participation in the insurrection of 1153 was likely undertaken in this context. Contemporary sources reveal that, during
7760-463: The title of Baron Renfrew and Lord of the Isles, the current holder being Prince William , Duke of Rothesay . Renfrew's historic industries include shipbuilding, given its position on the River Clyde and River Cart, and engineering. Today it primarily contains service sector businesses, including the nearby Braehead retail and leisure centre, built in 1999, which has resulted in the expansion of
7857-553: The town along Renfrew's riverside. The name Renfrew comes from the Old British rhyn frwd meaning "point at the current"; the River Cart enters the Clyde by the town. Renfrew's recorded history began with the granting of land in the area to Walter fitz Alan , the High Steward of Scotland by King David I in the 12th century. The strategic location of this castle was to prevent
7954-415: The town, with the neighbouring town of Paisley largely lying on the opposite side. The former Renfrew Airport was located to the south of the town (only a couple of miles from the present Glasgow Airport ). The site of the terminal building is now occupied by a Tesco supermarket. The Renfrew Ferry connects to Yoker on the north bank of the Clyde, with the crossing taking a few minutes to make. Renfrew
8051-596: The two rivals renewed their struggle for domination over the island. In one particular clash, recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters , a savage sea-battle was fought near Inishowen , where Toirdelbach's forces encountered Muirchertach's mercenary fleet, mustered from Galloway , Arran , Kintyre , Mann , and "the shores of Scotland" (which possibly refers to Argyll and the Hebrides). The ensuing conflict saw Toirdelbach's Connachtmen crush Muirchertach's mercenaries, and
8148-416: The wake of Somerled's demise, his once vast sea-kingdom fragmented, as various would-be successors vied for dominance. Although Dugald may have held onto the kingship for a short while, before the end of the year the Chronicle of Mann records that his maternal uncle, Ragnvald Olafsson , violently seized control of Mann and gained the kingship. Immediately afterwards, Godred arrived in the Isles after almost
8245-409: Was a mid-12th-century Norse-Gaelic lord who, through marital alliance and military conquest, rose in prominence to create the Kingdom of Argyll and the Isles. Little is certain of Somerled's origins, although he may have been born in the north of Ireland and appears to have belonged to a Norse–Gaelic family of some prominence. His father, GilleBride, of royal Irish ancestry, appears to have conducted
8342-605: Was also once served by a series of stations on a branch of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway . However it was closed to passengers in 1967. The nearest present-day station is Hillington West . Renfrew is served by the McGills bus company which operates regular services to the Braehead Shopping Centre , and has various routes that pass through Renfrew connecting Erskine , Glasgow city centre, Paisley , and Govan . In
8439-680: Was anxiety over the succession to the kingship of the Isles. The following year, only weeks after David's death, Olafr was assassinated by the Dublin-based sons of his brother. Although Godred was able to return, avenge the murder of his father, and succeed to the kingship, the events of 1153 appear to have destabilised the entire region. The after-effects saw Godred, Fergus, and likely Somerled himself, involve themselves in conflicts in Ireland. In 1154, war broke out in Ireland between Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, King of Cenél nEógain (d. 1166) and Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht (d. 1156), as
8536-498: Was asked by Thorfinn Ottarson, a Manx chief, to allow Somerled's son, Dugall, to be appointed king of Man and the Isles. Somerled agreed and with 80 ships confronted Godred off the coast of Islay on January 5–6, 1156. After the sea battle, Somerled and Godred divided the Kingdom of Man and the Isles between them but Godred did not accept Dugall as King of Man. Accordingly, two years later, Somerled defeated and drove Godred from power. Dugall continued as King of Man and Somerled thus ruled
8633-408: Was crowned King of Scotland as Robert II and in 1402 his son, Robert III established the shire of Renfrew crafted from territory previously within the shire of Lanark and based out of Renfrew, the site of the Stewarts' castle. Renfrewshire's Commissioners of Supply , Quarter Sessions and freeholders met at Renfrew, as did the sheriff court until it was moved to Paisley in 1705. This began
8730-510: Was first compiled in the mid-13th century, and concerns itself with the history of the Crovan dynasty , a rival kindred of Somerled and his descendants. For similar reasons, the aforementioned sources and the Carmen de Morte Sumerledi , a late 12th-century Latin poem by a Scottish cleric who witnessed Somerled's final invasion against the Scots, are partisan accounts slanted against Somerled. Various Irish annals are also useful sources of information, although they usually only corroborate what
8827-517: Was indeed centred in Scotland's western coastal periphery. By the mid 1130s, David had not only succeeded in securing Malcolm, but also appears to have gained recognition of his overlordship of Argyll . Evidence that Somerled or his father acknowledged David's dominance may exist in the capture of Malcolm itself, as Ailred's Relatio de Standardo indicates that treachery contributed to Malcolm's downfall. Furthermore, this chronicle reveals that men from
8924-575: Was indeed the monastery's founder. Although 19th century tradition claimed that Somerled was buried at the abbey, he is more likely to have been laid to rest on Iona, as claimed in 17th century tradition. The oldest intact building on Iona is St Oran's chapel . Certain Irish influences in its architecture indicate that it dates to about the mid-12th century. The building was used as a mortuary by later descendants of Somerled's son Ranald, and either Ranald or Somerled may have built it. In 1164, Somerled died in
9021-476: Was injured and captured at Renfrew before being transported to Edinburgh and executed for his role in attempting to overthrow the Crown. The Argyle Stones in the town mark the site where his capture took place. During the night of 13 March 1941, three Polish airmen saved Renfrew's Roman Catholic church of Saint James. Lance Corporal Pawel Radke, Aircraftman Antoni Ptaszkowski, and Aircraftman Zygmunt Sokolowski were at
9118-440: Was instead a son of Alexander I, however, places Somerled's conflict with the Scottish crown in the context of participation in the continuous inter-dynastic insurrection faced by David I and his descendants, rather than a clash between pro- and anti-feudal partisans. As such, marital affiliations lay behind many of Somerled's recorded actions. •Somerled is the central figure in the novel Summer Warrior by Regan Walker that tells
9215-841: Was merged into the East Renfrewshire constituency . Since 2005, it has been part of the Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency. Gavin Newlands , SNP MP currently holds the seat for the constituency (2015–). In the Scottish Parliament , Renfrew is part of the Renfrewshire North & West Constituency. Scottish Government Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has held the seat for the SNP since 2011. The M8 motorway intersects Renfrew and two junctions at Arkleston and Braehead provide access to
9312-418: Was met with significant opposition, particularly from Muirchertach, Flaithbertach's secular overlord, the proposed move suggests that Somerled nursed ambitions beyond the Isles in northern Ireland. These ambitions came to nothing with his death later that year. Compared to his immediate descendants, who associated themselves with reformed monastic orders from the continent, Somerled appears have been something of
9409-430: Was soon seized upon by Walter and his succeeding son, Alan , who continued their family's westward expansion. Internal conflict wracked Somerled's descendants in the decades following his death. Locked in conflict with his brother Angus, Ranald appears to have forged an alliance with Alan to gain the upper hand. Either through this alliance, or through the exploitation of the internal conflict amongst Somerled's descendants,
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