Aonghas Óg facts for kids
Aonghas Óg (died 1490) was an important Scottish leader. He was the last person to hold the title of the independent Lord of the Isles. Aonghas became a rebel, fighting against both his own father and the King of Scotland. This family conflict eventually led to the end of the Lordship of the Isles as an independent power.
Aonghas Óg: Early Life and Family
Aonghas was the son of John MacDonald, who was also known as John of Islay, Lord of the Isles. Over time, Aonghas began to disagree with his father and the Scottish King. This led him to become a rebel.
In 1476, Aonghas's father, John MacDonald, made a secret agreement with King Edward IV of England. When King James III of Scotland found out about this, he was very angry. The King took away many of John MacDonald's lands and titles. These included his earldom and control over areas like Nairn and Inverness.
However, the King allowed John MacDonald to keep some of his lands and the title of Lord of the Isles. Aonghas was John's heir, and he did not agree with this decision. He wanted to get back the lands and titles that his father had lost. Aonghas married Lady Mary Campbell, who was the daughter of Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll.
John MacDonald's power was weakened. His son Aonghas even forced him to leave Islay. John MacDonald then gathered support from other clans like the MacLean, MacLeod, and MacNeill families. He also had help from the Scottish King and John Stewart, Earl of Atholl. However, Aonghas had strong support from Domhnall Ballach and the rest of the MacDonald family.
Aonghas's Rebellion and Battles
Aonghas brought together his own forces and those of his allies. They fought against his father's armies in a big sea battle. This battle, called the Battle of the Bloody Bay, happened near Tobermory, probably in 1481. Aonghas won, defeating his father's ships.
In the same year, another battle took place at Lagabraad. Here, Aonghas defeated a royal army led by the Earl of Atholl. According to historical records, 517 of Atholl's men were killed. After these victories, Aonghas took back control of Dingwall Castle and the area of Easter Ross.
Aonghas had been helped by political problems in the south of Scotland. By 1483, these problems were over. The Earl of Atholl and the Earl of Huntly were able to focus on the north. This forced Aonghas to go back to the west. However, a major rebellion in 1488 gave Aonghas another chance. He was able to take control of Inverness.
Death and What Happened Next
In 1490, Aonghas was killed while he was sleeping. His harpist, Diarmaid O'Cairbre, was the murderer. The reasons why he did this are still not clear.
After Aonghas's death, the King of Scotland started a new campaign. The goal was to reduce the power of the Lord of the Isles. Aonghas's son, Domhnall Dubh, was captured by Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll. Aonghas's death marked the end of the independent Lordship of the Isles. From then on, the power of the House of Stuart and the Scottish Crown grew much stronger. Aonghas also had a daughter named Màiri. The famous Scottish Gaelic poet Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair was a descendant of hers.
