MacDonald of Dunyvaig and the Glens
(This photos shows the only path from the lower courtyard, up to the castle proper, complete with the gap in it, that was spanned by a drawbridge or removable timber bridge of some sort)
The MacDonalds of course, didn’t just vanish because they were no longer the Lords of the Isles. The senior line was now that of the MacDonalds of Dunyvaig and the Glens – a title almost as romantic sounding as that of ‘Lords of the Isles’. They descended from a second son of John, 1st Lord of the Isles. The reference to the Glens refers to the Glens of Antrim in Ireland, which they had inherited by marriage. They also controlled Kintyre, where they spent much of their time.
In 1519, Dunyvaig Castle, which had been acquired by the MacIains of Ardnamurchan after its forfeiture to the crown, was leased back to the MacDonalds. In the years that followed, the Islay MacDonalds devoted much of their time to trying to recover the Lordship of the Isles, which of course was not always done peacefully. James V visited the Western Isles with a strong naval force in 1540. He took several chiefs hostage and placed royal garrisons in a number of the more important fortresses. The MacDonalds were deprived of Dunivaig again and the captaincy of the castle given to Archibald Stewart of Bute.
MacDonald of Dunyvaig and the Glens
(This photos shows the only path from the lower courtyard, up to the castle proper, complete with the gap in it, that was spanned by a drawbridge or removable timber bridge of some sort)
The MacDonalds of course, didn’t just vanish because they were no longer the Lords of the Isles. The senior line was now that of the MacDonalds of Dunyvaig and the Glens – a title almost as romantic sounding as that of ‘Lords of the Isles’. They descended from a second son of John, 1st Lord of the Isles. The reference to the Glens refers to the Glens of Antrim in Ireland, which they had inherited by marriage. They also controlled Kintyre, where they spent much of their time.
In 1519, Dunyvaig Castle, which had been acquired by the MacIains of Ardnamurchan after its forfeiture to the crown, was leased back to the MacDonalds. In the years that followed, the Islay MacDonalds devoted much of their time to trying to recover the Lordship of the Isles, which of course was not always done peacefully. James V visited the Western Isles with a strong naval force in 1540. He took several chiefs hostage and placed royal garrisons in a number of the more important fortresses. The MacDonalds were deprived of Dunivaig again and the captaincy of the castle given to Archibald Stewart of Bute.