BattlefieldsRuari mac Somerled Founds Garmoran 1175
Medieval

Ruari mac Somerled Founds Garmoran 1175

1175
Inverness, Scotland
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Inverness, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
rival claimants to the northern Argyll sea-lanes
VS
Victor
Ruari mac Somerled
Forces
Ruari mac Somerled warband
Outcome
MacRuari dynasty established in Garmoran and the southern Outer Isles; sea-lordship maintained over the western sea passages north of Ardnamurchan.
The Battle

History & Significance

Ruari son of Somerled founded the MacRuari dynasty controlling Garmoran — the territory of Moidart, Knoydart, Morar, Ardnamurchan and the Outer Isles of Barra and Uist. The MacRuari sea-lords maintained the most authentically Norse-Gaelic character of Somerled successors and their territory would pass to the MacDonalds in the 1340s forming the backbone of the future Lordship of the Isles.

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