Benedictine abbey
In 1114 Iona was seized by the King of Norway, who held it for fifty years before Somerled recaptured it, and invited renewed Irish involvement in 1164: this led to the construction of the central part of the cathedral. Ranald, Somerled's son, now the 'Lord of the Isles', in 1203 invited the Benedictine order to establish a new monastery, and an Augustinian Nunnery, on the Columban Monastery's foundations. Building work began on the new abbey church, on the site of Columba's original church.[16] The following year, in 1204, the site was raided by a force led by two Irish bishops. This was a response by Ireland's Columban clergy to the loss of its connections and influence at this significant site founded by St Columba.[17]
Ranald Somerled |
Somerled "King of the Sudreys, Lord of Argyll" MacGillebride II formerly Macgillebride
Born about 1115 in Morven, Argyll, Scotlandmap
Son of Gillebride mac Gille Adomnan and Brigid (Sigurdsdottir) Sigurdsdotter [uncertain]
Brother of Unknown (Isles) Ross and Mariotte MacGillebride [half]
Husband of Ragnhilda (Olafsdatter) Olafsdottir — married before 1140 in Morvern, Argyll, Scotlandmap
Husband of Raghnailt UNKNOWN — married 1140 [location unknown]
Father of Raghnaill UNKNOWN, Gille brigte Somerld MacGillebride, Dubhgal MacSomarlidasson, Angus MacSomerled, Olaf Sumarlidasson, Bethag (Macsomerled) Somerledsdottir and Ranald Somerled (MacSomerled) mac Somahirle
Died 1 Jan 1164 in Renfrewshire, Scotlandmap