The MacMathans were settled in Lochalsh in Wester Ross from an early period.  Kenneth MacMathan, constable of Eilean Donan is recorded in both the Norse account of the expedition of King Haakon IV against Scotland in 1263, and in the Chamberlain Rolls of that year, which culminated in the defeat of King Haakon at Largs. 

     Kintyre and the Western Isles had been acknowledged as the property of the Norwegian crown in a treaty between Edgar, King of Scots and Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway, in 1098.  By the mid 12th century the Norwegians appeared uninterested in their Scottish lands, and by 1156 Somerled, descended from Dalriada royalty, had become the son-in-law of Olaf, King of Man.  In 1263, Alexander III of Scotland, made an offer to King Haakon IV of Norway to buy Kintyre and the Isles back. 

     King Haakon rejected his offer and instead, hearing of Scots attacks on Skye, set sail with a fleet to do battle with Alexander.  Sailing via the Hebrides to collect additional men and ships, the fleet eventually numbered some two hundred ships.   Ewan MacDougall was now on the Isles.  Trying to remain neutral, he refused to join Haakon but surrendered the islands to him. 

     With his men hungry to pillage, Haakon sent part of the fleet to Bute and Loch Lomond, which was reached by dragging fifty galleys across the land at Tarbet.  The main fleet was sailed past Alexander’s position at Ayr and anchored off Largs. 

     On the 30th of Septembe, a gale struck the area, wrecking and sinking the galleys.  A sea battle began which lasted for four confused days.  When the gale subsided on the 5th of October, Haakon withdrew and headed for the Isles. 

     Ewan had, by this time, decided which horse to back, and attacked the remaining Norse fleet.  Haakon died in Orkney at the year’s end.  In 1266 the Treaty of Perth returned the Isles and Kintyre to Scotland.

     The Battle of Largs was the last Norse raid on the mainland of Scotland.  Their victory allowed the Scots to regain control of the western islands.  Enmity between Scotland and Norway was ended by a royal marriage as a result of which Haakon's great-granddaughter succeeded to the Scottish Crown in 1286.  The child is known in Scottish history as the Maid of Norway and her untimely death caused the disputed succession which led to the War of Scottish Independence.

 Maps
Battle of Largs Poem
Battle of Largs midi
Memorial
Index
Site Map