BattlefieldsSomerled Sons Division of Argyll 1164
Medieval

Somerled Sons Division of Argyll 1164

1164
Scotland
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Regional rival claimants
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Somerled heirs
Outcome
Argyll and Hebrides divided among Somerled sons creating MacDougall, MacDonald and MacRuari dynasties; division agreed without open conflict but created structural tensions exploited by the Scottish crown.
The Battle

History & Significance

After Somerled was killed at Renfrew in 1164, his sons divided the enormous territory he had built among themselves, creating the three main branches of the MacSorley kindred. Dougall took Lorn and Mull; Reginald took Islay and Kintyre; Angus took the southern Hebrides. This division was both practical and destabilising, as it generated inter-branch conflict that weakened the MacSorley position against the Scottish crown over the following century.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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