Crovan dynasty

The Crovan dynasty, from the late 11th century to the mid 13th century, was the ruling family of an insular kingdom known variously in

Gaelic-Scandinavian origin, descending from a branch of the Uí Ímair, a dominant kindred in the Irish Sea

region which first appears on record in the late 9th century.

Leading members of the Crovan dynasty formed marriage-alliances with the

Papacy. The military might of the dynasty were their fleets of galleys, and their forces battled in Ireland, the Hebrides, Wales, and the Isle of Man. The importance of the galley to the sea-Kings of the Crovan dynasty is illustrated in its implementation upon seals

that certain members are known to have used.

Alex Woolf believes the Clann Somhairle can be regarded as a female line cadet branch of the Crovan dynasty.^[1]

After

Skye

.

Dynasts

Godred Crovan, died 1095
Logmann, d. 1103, son of Godfred
Olaf, d. 1153, son of Godfred
Godred, d. 1187, son of Olaf, who lost most of the Kingdom to Somerled's family
Reginald, fl. 1164, son of Olaf, half-brother of Godred, he and successors ruled only in Northern Isles
Godred, restored
Reginald, d. 1229, son of Godred
Olaf the Black, s. 1237, son of Godred, half-brother of Reginald
Godred, d. 1231, son of Reginald
Harald, d. 1248, son of Olaf
Reginald, d. 1249, son of Olaf
Harald, fl. 1249, son of Godred
Magnus, died 1265, son of Olaf

In Magnus's lifetime,

Haakon, the Norwegian king. Magnus remained titular king of Man. In the year after Magnus died, in 1266, the Treaty of Perth

was signed, transferring overlordship of the Isles and Man to the Scottish king.

Family tree

1
Godred
Crovan
died 1095

11
Reginald
died 1249

13
Magnus
died 1265

12
Harald
fl. 1249

References

^ Alex Woolf, The origins and ancestry of Somerled: Gofraid mac Fergusa and 'The Annals of the Four Masters', Medieval Scandinavia 15 (2005)

Bibliography

Downham, Clare (2007), Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland: The Dynasty of Ívarr to A.D. 1014, Edinburgh:
ISBN 978-1-903765-89-0
.

McDonald, R. Andrew (2007), Manx Kingship in its Irish sea Setting, 1187–1229: King Rǫgnvaldr and the Crovan dynasty, Dublin:
ISBN 978-1-84682-047-2
.

[1] Alex Woolf, The origins and ancestry of Somerled: Gofraid mac Fergusa and 'The Annals of the Four Masters', Medieval Scandinavia 15 (2005)

[1]

v t e Scandinavian Scotland
Rulers	List of kings Earls of Orkney Crovan dynasty Lords of Argyll Mormaers of Caithness Uí Ímair
Notable women	Aud the Deep-Minded Bethóc, Prioress of Iona Bjaðǫk Cacht ingen Ragnaill Gormflaith ingen Murchada Gunnhild Gormsdóttir Helga Moddansdóttir Ingeborg of Norway Ingibjörg the Earls'-Mother Isabel Bruce Máel Muire ingen Amlaíb Margaret, Maid of Norway Margaret, Queen of Norway Margaret of Denmark, Queen of Scotland Ragnhild Eriksdotter Ragnhildis Olafsdottir
Other notable men	Caittil Find Ingimundr Ljótólfr Olaf the White Olvir Rosta Páll Bálkason Ragnall ua Ímair Sweyn Asleifsson Thorbjorn Thorsteinsson Thorstein the Red
History	Kingdom of the Isles Dál Riata Gall-Ghàidheil Lochlann Orkney Outer Hebrides Shetland Davidian Revolution Scottish–Norwegian War (1262-66) Scotland Norway
Archaeology	Bornish Birsay Bishop's Palace Brough of Birsay Camas Uig Cubbie Roo's Castle Earl's Bu Jarlshof Kirkwall Castle Linton Chapel Maeshowe Old Scatness Port an Eilean Mhòir boat burial Rubha an Dùnain Scar boat burial St Magnus Church
Artifacts and culture	Birlinn Chronicles of Mann Darraðarljóð Galloway Hoard Hogbacks Lewis chessmen Manx runestones Orkneyinga saga Ounceland Sen dollotar Ulaid St Magnus Cathedral Udal law
Althings	Delting Dingwall Law Ting Holm Lunnasting Nesting Sandsting Tingwall Tynwald
Language	Middle Irish Norn Old Norse Pictish Old Norwegian
Etymology	Scottish island names Northern Isles Hebrides
Battles and treaties	Bauds Brunanburh Clontarf Dollar Barry Epiphany Isle of Man Largs Renfrew Skyhill Tara Vestrajǫrðr Treaty of 1098 Treaty of Perth
Associated clans and septs	Gunn Uí Ímair Somhairle Macaulay of Lewis Mac Coitir MacDougall MacLeod Macruari MacDonald