Eóghan of Argyll

Eóghan MacDubhghaill (Anglicized: Ewan MacDougall, Ewan of Argyll or Ewan of Lorne) was a 13th-century Scottish nobleman and warrior who was styled "King of the Isles", "Lord of Argyll". He was the son of Donnchadh, son of Dubhghall, son of Somhairle mac Gille Brighde.

According to Scandinavian sources, after the death of Harald Olafsson in 1248, King Haakon IV of Norway appointed Eóghan as King of the Isles, though within a year that title went to Dubhghall mac Ruaidhri.

In response to Eóghan's assumption of this title perhaps, in 1249 King Alexander II of Scotland launched an expedition against Eóghan after the latter refused to renounce his homage to King Haakon IV of Norway. Alexander II fell ill and died on this expedition, but Eóghan seems to have been temporarily deprived of his Argyll possessions.

In 1250, Eóghan tried to obtain rulership of the Isle of Man, but was expelled by the inhabitants. He then travelled to Norway, hoping for recognition as King of the Isles. This attempt was unsuccessful. By 1255, King Henry III of England had secured a deal for Eóghan whereby he regained Lorne and came into full Scottish allegiance.

When Haakon campaigned against the Scots in 1263, Eóghan refused the Norwegian king service and remained a Scottish loyalist. After Haakon's defeat at the Battle of Largs, Eóghan regained formal recognition as ruler of the Isles. His last recorded appearance is in 1268.

Eóghan's son Alexander followed him as Lord of Argyll. His daughter, Maria (died 1302), married three times: 1st Magnus Olafsson King of Mann, 2nd Maol Íosa II, Earl of Strathearn, 3rd Sir William FitzWarin.

He may have been the Mac Somurli responsible for the death of Jordan de Exeter during a pirate raid in Connemara in 1258.

References

• Sellar, W. D. H., "MacDougall, Ewen, lord of Argyll (d. in or after 1268)", in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 , accessed 5 Dec 2006

Preceded by Donnchadh

Lord of Argyll 1244 x 1248-c. 1268

Succeeded by Alasdair