Lord of Galloway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lordship of Galloway

The lords of Galloway were a powerful family who ruled over the region of Galloway in southwest Scotland. This happened mostly during the High Middle Ages, a time from about 1000 to 1250 AD.

Many parts of Scotland, like Galloway and Moray, sometimes had their own kings or sub-kings. This was similar to how things worked in Ireland during the Middle Ages. The main Scottish king was seen as a "high king" (called Ard-Righ in Gaelic). The lords of Galloway would sometimes pay tribute to the Scottish king, or sometimes they would act completely on their own.

We have good records for the Lords of Galloway in the 1100s and 1200s. However, records from other times are not as clear. Over time, these rulers were called "kings" at home in Galloway, but "lords" when they dealt with the Scottish court. Eventually, they were known as "lords" everywhere.

The borders of Galloway changed a lot over time. Sometimes Galloway was much bigger than it is today. It included parts of southern Ayrshire, like Carrick, and areas like Upper Douglasdale and Nithsdale. This region was a very important place for Scottish Gaelic culture south of the Highlands during the Middle Ages.

Galloway's Early Rulers

The first recorded ruler of the Gall-ghàidhil (the people of Galloway) was Suibne mac Cináeda who died in 1034. However, we don't have clear records of who ruled after him until around 1138. The family line of Fergus ruled until 1234. The special "Laws of Galloway" were used until 1426. People believe these laws first got their power from the kings of Galloway.

Some people think Galloway was part of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. But there is no proof of this. Galloway, especially the area west of the Nith, was likely part of the Kingdom of Alba. This kingdom was Strathclyde's successor state in the area. Galloway, which often included all the land south and west of the Clyde and west of the River Annan, would recognize the Scottish kings as their "over-king" when it made political sense.

The year before he died, Fergus gave control of Galloway to King Mael Coluim IV of Scotland. Even though Galloway was on the mainland of Britain, it was also very much connected to the Irish Sea. It was part of the world of the Gall-Gaidhel lords from the Isle of Man, Dublin, and the Hebrides. For example, Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, a former King of Dublin and Man, was called Rex Innarenn (possibly "King of the Rhinns") when he died in 1065. The western parts of Galloway were strongly linked to the Isle of Man. Many Norse and Gaelic-Norse place names from the 900s and 1000s are found along the coasts of southwest Scotland and northwest England.

Magnus the Barefoot: A Viking King

In the late 1000s, the Norwegian King Magnus III Berrføtt (meaning "Barefoot") tried to take control of the Irish Sea area. In 1097, he sent his helper, Ingimundr, to take over the Kingdom of the Isles. But when Ingimundr was killed, Magnus himself launched two big attacks. These were in 1098-1099 and 1102-1103.

In his first campaign, Magnus took control of the Western Isles of Scotland. He also removed King Lagmann from Man. During this campaign, he also went to Wales. There, he killed two powerful English earls who were fighting the Prince of Gwynedd. It is almost certain that Magnus also brought Galloway under his control during this time. King Etgair mac Maíl Coluim, the king of Alba at the time, even recognized Magnus's conquests.

On his second campaign, Magnus went to Man. With a huge fleet, he attacked Dublin. He tried to force Muircertach mac Toirrdelbach, the King of Munster, to surrender. This campaign led to an alliance between the two kings. Magnus's son, Siguðr, married Muircertach's daughter, Bjaðmunjo. This alliance helped to stop the threat from Domnall Ua Lochlainn, the King of Ailech. It brought peace to the Irish Sea world and made Magnus's new "empire" safer. However, everything changed when Magnus was killed during a small raid in Ulster on his way back to Norway. Much of what Magnus had built fell apart.

The Fergus Dynasty: Lords of Galloway

Divisions within the Lordship of Galloway (green) and surrounding lordships in the 1100s.

Fergus of Galloway became the ruler of Galloway sometime between 1110 and 1120. He died in 1161, after giving control of Galloway to Scotland’s King Mael Coluim IV. Galloway was then left to his two sons, Uchtred and Gille Brigte (also known as Gilbert).

After Gilla Brigte died a few years later, the kings of Scotland and England met. They decided that Uchtred's son, Lochlann (also called Roland), would take the southern part of Galloway. Gilla Brigte's son, Donnchad (Duncan), was given the northern part. He became the first Earl/Mormaer of Carrick.

Lochlann married Helen, the daughter of Richard de Moreville, who was the Constable of Scotland. Lochlann then inherited his father-in-law's important title. Their son, Alan of Galloway, became the most powerful of the lords. When he died in 1234, his lands were divided among his three daughters and their husbands.

However, some people in Galloway tried to make Alan's son, Thomas, the new ruler. But this failed because King Alexander II of Scotland said that an illegitimate son could not take over. In response, Gille Ruadh led a rebellion against King Alexander. The rebellion failed. As a result, Galloway was divided among Alan's three living daughters. They were married to powerful Anglo-Norman lords: Roger de Quincy (married to Ela), John de Balliol (married to Derborgaill), and William de Forz (married to Cairistiona). Galloway's time as an independent area finally ended when John de Balliol was made the official Lord.

Douglas Lords of Galloway

In 1369, Archibald the Grim was made Lord of Galloway by David II of Scotland. This was because he worked hard to remove English influence from the area. Later, he built his strong castle, Thrieve, which is near today's Castle Douglas.

Here are some of the Douglas family members who were Lords of Galloway:

• Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway
• Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway
• Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway
• Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway

List of Lords of Galloway