Gaelic Kingdoms

Ynys Manau / Isle of Man

This moderate-sized island is located in the Irish Sea, midway between southern Scotland and Ulster in Ireland. The Isle of Man (or Ynys Manau to the Post-Roman Britons and later Welsh) was taken by the Irish in the sixth century. Before that, for a short time, it governed the southern Picts of Galwyddel. That region was absorbed into Rheged, but became a dominion of Ynys Manau again from around 632 until circa 900, before being taken into Strathclyde.

The fate for the Isle of Man was different. It was conquered during the ninth century wave of Viking attacks, with local Viking rulers vying for control of the island against stronger forces from Viking Dublin, York and the Orkneys. Once Viking power had faded, Man became a political pawn between England and Scotland. However, it retained its identity, with the last native Manx speaker reputedly dying as recently as 1974.

fl c.400s?

Mannanan / Manawydan fab Llyr

Legendary first king of Ynys Manau.

Mannanan, or Mannanan mac Lir (Lir being the Celtic sea god), is the legendary founder of the Manx people, after whom the island is named, and the island's first king. In Celtic mythology he is the god of the sea, not necessarily surprising if he really was an early king of Man. Attributed to him are dealings with the early Irish High King, Cormac mac Airt, so it is possible that they were contemporaries.

c.485 - 550

The son of Cinuit of Alt Clut, Tutgwal Theodovellaunus, establishes himself in Galwyddel, perhaps as a legitimate division of Alt Clut on his father's death, an entirely normal and customary practise in Celtic kingdoms. It also seems that he and his successors rule Manau at the same time. in around 550, Galwyddel is invaded by Rheged and annexed to the kingdom, and the king, Sennylt, is forced to flee with his family to Ynys Manau.

fl c.550

Sennylt ap Dingat

Former king of Galwyddel.

c.570 - c.582

Llywarch Hen of South Rheged counts Ynys Manau as part of his holdings. However, towards the later years of his reign, the island is taken by the Dal Riada Scotti, and ruled by a client king or lesser member of the ruling family.

c.600s

Diwg

Dal Riadan Scot.

620 - 633

Ynys Manau is conquered by the Bernician Northumbrians.

c.630s

Gwyar

c.638

Ynys Manau apparently regains the region of Galwyddel.

c.670s

Teigid

? - 682

Merfyn Fawr

Descended from Magnus Maximus.

682 - ?

Anarawd Gwalchcrwn

Son.

c.700

Algwyn

c.710

Tudwal

Son of Anarawd.

c.730

Sandde

790 - ?

Elidyr map Sandde

Son. Heir to South Rheged. Transferred family from Powys.

? - 825

Gwriad map Elidyr

Son. King of Gwynedd. Fought Norse settlement invasions.

825 - 844

Merfyn Frych (Freckled) map Gwriad

Son. Offered throne of Gwynedd.

c.836

It is likely that the heirs of South Rheged abandon Ynys Manau around this time. Attacks by Danes are increasing, while at the same time they conquer a base in Ireland near the settlement of Dyflin. The attacks on Ynys Manau lead swiftly to conquest, settlement, and the founding of a Viking dynasty.

c.836 - 853

Godred I MacFergus

Hiberno-Norse Lord of the Hebrides.

c.853 - 866

Ketil Flatnose

c.866 - 870

Helgi Ketilsson

Son.

c.870 - 880

Caitill Find Tryggvi

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

c.880 - 899

Asbjorn Skerjablesi

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

c.900

Alt Clut (Strathclyde) gains control of the region of Galwyddel.

900 - 902

The isle is controlled by the Viking kingdom of Dublin, although this is disputed by the Scandinavian kingdom of York.

902 - 921

The isle is ruled directly by the Scandinavian kingdom of York.

921

The Scandinavian kingdom of York changes the governance of the isle by appointing client kings.

921 - 937

Gebeachan / Gibhleachan

Sub-king under Scandinavian kingdom of York rule.

937 - 942

Macragnall / Mac Ragnall

Sub-king under Scandinavian kingdom of York rule.

942 - 972

Manau is ruled directly by the Viking kingdom of Dublin.

972 - 977

Magnus I MacHarald

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

977 - 989

Guthred / Godfred I

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

989

From this point the isle is controlled by the Vikings of the Orkneys, who themselves are subjects of the Norwegian throne.

989 - 999

Harald I

Sub-king under Norse Orkney rule.

999 - c.1000

Godfred II

Sub-king under Norse Orkney rule.

c.1000 - 1005

Ragnald I Godfredson

Sub-king under Norse Orkney rule.

1005 - c.1014

Kenneth Godfredson

Sub-king under Norse Orkney rule.

c.1014 - 1034

Sven / Swein Kennethson

Sub-king under Norse Orkney rule.

1034? - 1038

Manau again falls under the control of the Viking kingdom of Dublin.

c.1034 - 1052

Harald II Svarte the Black

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

1052 - 1061

Margad MacRagnald / Ragnallson

Also king of Dublin (1036-38 & 1046-52). Sub-king under Dublin.

1061 - 1070

Murchaid MacDairmit

Also king of Dublin (1052-1070).

1070 - 1079

Fingal Godfredson

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

1079

The Norse kings of Man & the Isles establish independent control under distant Scandinavian overlordship when Godred invades the island three times and, following two defeats, he seizes control. Then he turns his attentions to conquering Dublin.

1079 - 1095

Godred II / Godfred IV Crovan

King of Dublin (1091?-1094). 'King Orry of Man'.

c.1091 - 1094

The Annals of Ulster record that the grandsons of Ragnall, the kings of Dublin, are killed on an expedition to attack Ynys Manau. Godred Crovan, in turn invades Dublin and takes the kingship until he too is kicked out. He dies the following year.

The attack and conquest of Dublin by Godred Crovan would have been launched from longboats just like this

1095 - 1102

Magnus II Barfod / Barefoot / Barelegs

King of Norway, and Dublin (1102-1103).

1096

Olav I

Probably a sub-king under Magnus II.

1096 - 1098

Donald

Probably a sub-king under Magnus II.

1098 - 1103

Manau is controlled loosely by the Vikings of the Orkneys.

1102 - 1104

Lagman

Son of Godred IV. Died 1111.

1104 - 1130

Sigurd

1114 - 1115

Domnall mac Teige

1115 - 1137

Murchadh O'Brian

1137 - 1153

Olav II Bitling the Red

1153 - 1158

Godred III / V the Black

1158 - 1164

Sumerled

Lord of the Isles (1140-1164). Ancestor of Clan MacDonald.

1164

The Isles break away from Man and become an independent kingdom.

1164

Godred III / V the Black

Restored.

1164

Ragnald / Reginald the Usurper

Died c.1210.

1164 - 1187

Godred III / V the Black

Restored for a second time.

1187 - 1226

Ragnald / Reginald I

1226

Man passes from the overlordship of the Scandinavian crown to that of the Scottish crown.

1226 - 1237

Olav II Odhar the Black

1230

Godred IV the Brown

1237 - 1248

Harold I

1249 - 1249

Ragnald / Reginald II

Viking. Killed.

1249 - 1250

Harold II

1250 - 1252

Ivar

1252 - 1265

Magnus III

Viking. Scot-controlled.

1265 - 1275

Man is annexed by and falls under the control of Scotland. From this point the island is controlled directly from either Scotland or England, as the two nations vie for power. The son of Magnus tries to seize the island by force in 1275, but the Battle of Ronaldsway, near Castletown, forever ends Manx independence.

1275

Godfrey Magnuson / Godred VI

Last king (but uncrowned). Illegitimate son of Magnus.

1275 - 1290

Man is under the control of Scotland.

1290 - 1293

Man is under the control of England.

1293 - 1296

Man is under the control of Scotland.

1296 - 1313

Man is under the control of England.

1313 - 1317

Man is under the control of Scotland.

1317 - 1328

Man is under the control of England.

1328 - 1333

Man is under the control of Scotland, until it is retaken by Edward III of England.

King of the Isles of Man
AD 1334 - 1765

The Isle of Man passed to Edward III of England in 1333. Edward invested local authority in the earl of Salisbury and his descendants. While not kings themselves, the unchanged traditions on the island titled them as such, and gave them all the royal trappings that had been accorded to their Viking predecessors.

1334 - 1344

William I

William Montague, earl of Salisbury.

1344 - 1393

William II

Earl of Salisbury. Died 1397.

1393 - 1399

William III

William le Scrope.

1392

William le Scrope constructs Peel Castle on the coastal St Patrick's Isle. The islet site is already covered in ruins which date back to around 1000, while the castle itself replaces an earlier Viking structure built between 1095-1102 during the reign of King Magnus Barelegs.

Peel Castle, home of the latter day 'Kings of the Isle of Man'

1399 - 1405

 Henry I

Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland. Died 1408.

1405 - 1414

John I

John Stanley.

1414 - 1437

John II

1437 - 1459

Thomas I

Thomas Stanley, Baron Stanley from 1456.

1459 - 1504

Thomas II

Earl of Derby from 1485.

1504

The title of 'King of the Isles of Man' is relinquished (officially), to be replaced with 'Lord of the Isles of Man'.

1504 - 1521

Thomas III

Earl of Derby.

1521 - 1572

Edward

Earl of Derby.

1572 - 1593

Henry II

Earl of Derby.

1593 - 1594

Fernando

Earl of Derby.

1594 - 1610

The Isle of Man is confiscated by the English Crown.

1610 - 1612

William IV

Earl of Derby.

1612 - 1627

Elizabeth

1627 - 1651

James I

Earl of Derby.

1651 - 1660

The Protectorate and Commonwealth of Britain takes direct control of the island, appointing a Puritan governor for most of the duration of its existence. Following the Restoration, the earls of Derby are reappointed to govern Man.

1651 - 1660

Thomas Fairfax

Puritan Governor.

1660 - 1672

Charles

Earl of Derby.

1672 - 1702

William V

Earl of Derby.

1702 - 1736

James II

Earl of Derby.

1736 - 1764

James III

James Murray, duke of Atholl.

1764 - 1765

John III

Duke of Atholl. Died 1774.

1765

John III, the final 'King of the Isles of Man' is pressured by the English crown into relinquishing the title in return for a substantial payment. Direct authority passes to the Crown, and the rampant smuggler trade which has made the most of the island's independence is suppressed by governors.