This classic Celtic love story begins, as virtually all Celtic legends begin, with a huge battle! Norse Viking raids of Scotland’s west coast had been launched from the Isle of Skye, Dublin, and the Isle of Mann. Ireland’s Brian Boru brought an end to the Vikings using Dublin to launch raids, but Óláfr Guðrøðarson was the Norse king of Mann and the Isles. The kingdom that he ruled was a mixture of Gaelic speaking and Norse speaking people. Óláfr is his Nordic name which was rendered Olabh or Amhlaibh (both pronounced Olav) in Gaelic. One Gaelic account calls him, “Olaus, son of the king of Lochlin, surnamed the ” Swarthy” from his dark complexion. (He) made a descent on the West Highlands of Scotland, in the twelfth century, with followers innumerable, and landed his men ere the clans could gather to oppose or prevent him.” After the local clans experienced devastating losses, the natives of Morvern and Argyll petitioned Somhairlidh mhór mac Gillebride mhic Gilledomnán to lead the clans to drive these Norse (Lochlannach or Viking) raiders from their home. Somhairlidh (pronounced Sorley) lead the clans’ forces which not only defeated the Vikings and slayed their leader Sweno but destroyed the raiders’ longboats preventing their retreat by sea (the way they had come). After totally defeating the raiders and taking many prisoners Somhairlidh brokered a lasting settlement with the Norse raiders’ King Olabh of Mann. Somhairlidh’s followers would release their prisoners and even assist them rebuilding longboats to return to their home on condition that they promise to end their raids. Somhairlidh then had his followers build his own fleet of hundreds of Celtic birlinn (galleys). Somhairlidh incorporated an improved navigational system into his birlinn, a fixed central rudder instead of the traditional wide oar (or steer-board) held over the right side (starboard) to steer the longboats. Somhairlidh then expanded his influence using those birlinn to outmaneuver the longboats and create the Kingdom of the Isles.

But then Somhairlidh fell in love with Sweno‘s betrothed, the spirited Ragnhilda Olafsdatter (Princess of Mann). It is not difficult to imagine why Ragnhilda did not reciprocate the love of the man who had killed her betrothed! Her name literally means “decision to fight” in Norse. Despite the odds against him, Somhairlidh devised a scheme to trick Olabh into granting him his daughter’s hand in marriage. He had a large hole drilled in Olabh‘s longboat and filled the hole with animal fat. The king’s longboat remained afloat in the harbor, but once at sea the plug popped out and the royal longboat began to sink. Somhairlidh just happened to be within earshot so when Olabh called to him for help, Somhairlidh replied he would rescue him if he promised Ragnhilda would be his wife. Olabh agreed, was rescued, and the royal longboat’s leak repaired. Ragnhilda responded to her new betrothal by asking permission to take the helm of Somhairlidh‘s birlinn leaving the Isle of Mann. Once out to sea she steered broadside of an oncoming wave. She could have drowned them all if Somhairlidh had not pushed her away and taken control. When safely ashore she accused Somhairlidh of assaulting her. Olabh‘s men were quick to prepare to battle the Gaels to defend the honor of the king’s daughter, but Somhairlidh calmly asked her to explain why he was forced to take the helm from her. When Ragnhilda confidently and truthfully told her father what she had tried to do, Olabh sided with Somhairlidh! To the king Somhairlidh had saved his daughter from herself.

So, Ragnhilda became Somhairlidh‘s wife, and despite a stormy beginning their marriage lasted many decades. Somhairlidh expanded his kingdom to include the Isle of Mann to the northern Hebridean Isles. Their union brought three sons: Dubhgall (Anglicized Dougal), Raghnall (Anglicized Ranal or Reginald), and Aonghas (Angus) or possibly Amhlaibh after his grandfather. Somhairlidh’s Kingdom of Argyll and the Isles enjoyed greater independence by giving allegiance to the Norwegian or English crown than to Malcolm IV’s Scottish crown. Somhairlidh‘s galleys defeated two Scottish attempts to invade his kingdom and finally retaliated with an invasion of Scotland in 1164 AD. A Celtic army made up of 15,000 Irish, Manx, and Hebrideans filled 163 birlinn nyvaigs and sailed up the Clyde river. How different British history may have read if Somhairlidh had not been assassinated in his sleep the night before the great battle. Suddenly, without the unifying leadership of their Celtic King of Argyll & the Isles, this eclectic army returned to their various homes after they had encroached deep into Scotland. Each son inherited parts of the sea kingdom to rule. Angus and his sons were killed in battle against the “men of Skye”. Dubhgall attempted to expand his kingdom by attacking his kinsmen and died in the process. Raghnall successfully defended his kingdom. Somhairlidh’s grandson Domhnall became the next King of the Isles expanding his kingdom to include all of Dubhgall‘s, Aonghas‘ and Raghnall’s inheritances” into what became the Triath nan Eileán.