John of Argyll, gd, Eóin MacDubhgaill (
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
), John MacDougall, John of Lorne, Eóin Bacach MacDhùghaillor or Iain MacDhùghaill , was a Scottish nobleman of the early 14th century. He is often known to today as John Bacach, "the Lame", but there is no authority for that as a contemporary or near-contemporary
nickname
A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...
.
[Sellar, "MacDougall, John, lord of Argyll (died 1316)".]
Biography
![Sr Dargael, Balliol Roll](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Sr_Dargael%2C_Balliol_Roll.jpg)
The son of
Alexander MacDougall (''Alasdair MacDubhgall''),
Lord of Argyll
The sovereign or feudal lordship of Argyle was the holding of the senior branch of descendants of Somerled (''Somhairle''), this branch becoming soon known as Clan MacDougall
Construction of the Lordship of Argyll-Lorne essentially started with ...
, by a daughter of
John I Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
John Comyn (Cumyn) (c. 1215 – c. 1275) was Lord of Badenoch in Scotland. He was Justiciar of Galloway in 1258. He held lands in Nithsdale (Dalswinton, a Comyn stronghold, and Duncow) and Tynedale.
Life
The Comyn family were in effec ...
, John appears in the records in 1291 swearing fealty to
Edward I of England
Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he ruled the duchies of Aquitaine and Gascony as a vassa ...
.
[ From his father's and mother's background, he inherited the pro-Balliol sympathies that determined his family's and his own activities during the ]Great Cause
When the crown of Scotland became vacant in September 1290 on the death of the seven-year-old Queen Margaret, 13 claimants to the throne came forward. Those with the most credible claims were John Balliol, Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, ...
and the First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence was the first of a series of wars between English and Scottish forces. It lasted from the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 until the ''de jure'' restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty o ...
. As the Balliol stalwarts of the west, the Bruce heartland, the MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan, historically based in and around Argyll. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in Scotland, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as ...
s and Comyns of Badenoch eventually found themselves up against Bruce-backed MacDonalds, Campbells, the Menteiths, men of Lennox and the Stewarts, in addition to Bruce's own Carrick forces.
After the deposition of King John de Balliol
John Balliol ( – late 1314), known derisively as ''Toom Tabard'' (meaning "empty coat" – coat of arms), was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland entered an ...
in 1296, John's father Alexander opposed the power of his new overlord Edward I. The failure of Balliol's kingship fuelled conflict between the MacDougalls and other west Highland kindreds. One of John's most famous actions in later Gaelic
Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...
tradition was killing Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór Caimbeul (also known as Sir Colin Campbell; died after 1296) is one of the earliest attested members of Clan Campbell and an important ancestor figure of the later medieval Earl of Argyll, Earls of Argyll.
Cailean was the son of Gill ...
(or "Sir Colin Campbell"). It is not clear what the exact source of conflict was at the time. Cailean, Bruce's second cousin, was "Ballie" of Loch Awe
Loch Awe (Scottish Gaelic: ''Loch Obha'') is a large body of freshwater in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such ...
and Ardscotnish
Ardscotnish, also known as Ardskeodnish, is a former location, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland approximating to the present parish of Kilmartin
Kilmartin ( gd, Cille Mhàrtainn, meaning "church of Màrtainn") is a small village in Argyll and Bu ...
, a position he was granted either by King John Balliol
John Balliol ( – late 1314), known derisively as ''Toom Tabard'' (meaning "empty coat" – coat of arms), was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland entered an ...
or Edward I of England. Sometime after September 1296, Cailean was killed by John's forces at the "Red Ford" on the borders of Loch Awe and Lorne in a skirmish. In 1299, Alexander MacDougall killed Alexander Og MacDonald, Lord of the Isles
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
in Ireland.
The MacDougall kindred gradually grew more co-operative with King Edward as their rivals grew less so. In 1305 both John and his father became members of the advisory council of Edward's lieutenant in Scotland, John of Brittany
John of Brittany (french: Jean de Bretagne; c. 1266 – 17 January 1334), 4th Earl of Richmond, was an English nobleman and a member of the Ducal house of Brittany, the House of Dreux. He entered royal service in England under his uncle Ed ...
. The following year, Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick, went into open revolt against the English crown, declaring himself King of Scots
The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, the first King of Scots was Kenneth I MacAlpin (), who founded the sovereign state, state in 843. Historically, the Kingdom of Scotland is thoug ...
. The new King Robert met with an upset against pro-English forces at the Battle of Methven
The Battle of Methven took place at Methven, Scotland on 19 June 1306, during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The battlefield was researched to be included in the Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland and protected by Historic Sco ...
, and fled into the west. It was during this time in 1306 that Robert met John's MacDougall forces blocking their way at Tyndrum
Tyndrum (; gd, Taigh an Droma) is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.
Location and facilities
Tyndrum is a popular tourist village, ...
. At what became known as the Battle of Dail Righ ("King's field"), John defeated Bruce's forces.[
In the following year Edward rewarded MacDougall by appointing him ]sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
of Argyll and Inchegall. However, as MacDougall informed Edward by letter in 1308, Robert's power was becoming increasingly difficult to live with, and the position of MacDougalls was becoming critical. After experiencing defeat at the Battle of Pass of Brander
The Battle of the Pass of Brander in Scotland forms a small part of the wider struggle known as the Wars of Scottish Independence, and a large part of the civil war between the Bruce and Balliol factions, a parallel and overlapping conflict. ...
in 1308, the main MacDougall seat, Dunstaffnage Castle
Dunstaffnage Castle ( gd, Caisteal Dhùn Stadhainis) is a partially ruined castle in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland. It lies NNE of Oban, situated on a platform of conglomerate rock on a promontory at the south-west of the entrance to Loc ...
, was captured by Bruce forces. John fled into England with his father entering King Robert's peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
. By 1310, John's father Alexander had joined him in England, both attending a royal council at Westminster
Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster.
The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Bu ...
. Despite losing his father in 1310, in the following years John remained in English service. He was put in charge of English fleets in 1311 and 1314 as Admiral of the Irish Sea and in 1315 conquered the Isle of Man
)
, anthem = "O Land of Our Birth"
, image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg
, image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg
, mapsize =
, map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe
, map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green)
in Europe ...
for the English crown. John began receiving a pension from Edward II of England
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir apparent to ...
in 1316. In this year he died at Ospringe
Ospringe is a village and area of Faversham in the English county of Kent. It is also the name of a civil parish, which since 1935 has not included the village of Ospringe.
The village lies on the Roman road Watling Street (nowadays the A2 ro ...
in Kent, while making a pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
to Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour.
...
. He left the Galwegian Galwegian or Galwegians may refer to:
* Of Galway (disambiguation)
** Of or pertaining to Galway, Ireland, or to its residents.
** Galwegians RFC, rugby club in Galway, Ireland
* Of Galloway (disambiguation)
** Of, or pertaining to, Galloway, Scot ...
"Dungal MacDouall
Dungal MacDouall (died before 1327/1328) was a fourteenth-century Scottish nobleman, and a member of the MacDouall family. He was a vigorous opponent of Robert I, King of Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence, and was knighted ...
" (''Dungall MacDubhgall''), a fellow political exile from Scotland, in charge of his will.[
John left several sons and daughters, though his wife or wives are not known. Among his offspring known by name are:
* Ewen (Eóghan)
* Alan (Ailean)
* Somhairle
* Alexander (Alasdair) Óg
* Mary (Maire)
He had another daughter who married one Patrick Graham. John's son Eóghan returned to Scotland with ]Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol (; 1283 – January 1364) was a claimant to the Scottish throne during the Second War of Scottish Independence. With English help, he ruled parts of the kingdom from 1332 to 1356.
Early life
Edward was the eldest son of John Ba ...
's unsuccessful attempt at the Scottish throne in the 1330s. The MacDougalls re-emerged in Argyll in unknown circumstances later in the century. John's grandson, through Ailean, known as John Gallda ("the Foreigner"), is on record from 1338. Later, John Gallda was styling himself "Lord of Argyll".[
]
Notes
Citations
References
* Boardman, Stephen, ''The Campbells, 1250–1513'', (Edinburgh, 2006)
* Sellar, W. D. H., "MacDougall, Alexander, lord of Argyll (d. 1310)", in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 200
, accessed 1 Aug 2007
* Sellar, W. D. H., "MacDougall, John, lord of Argyll (d. 1316)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 200
, accessed 1 Aug 2007
{{Authority control
1316 deaths
Clan MacDougall
Medieval Gaels from Scotland
People from Argyll and Bute
Scottish clan chiefs
Scottish people of the Wars of Scottish Independence
Year of birth unknown
14th-century Scottish people
14th-century English Navy personnel