Gofraid Donn Rögnvaldsson, king of the Isles

Gudröd Don Ragnvaldsson, King of Mann and the Isles

Gofraid mac Ragnaill (meaning "Gofraid, son of Ragnall"; Old Norse: Guðrøðr Rögnvaldsson) was a 13th century Hebridean king, who descended from a long line of kings who ruled the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. He is recorded within two 13th century chronicles with a byname meaning "the brown" (Gaelic: Gofraid Donn); although within a 13th century saga, and within Hebridean tradition dating from the 17th century, he is given the byname "the black" (Old Norse: Guðrøðr Svarti; Gaelic: Gofraid Dub). Gofraid Donn's father was Ragnall mac Gofraid, King of Man and the Isles; his mother was Ragnall's wife, who is described by a 13th century chronicle as the sister of a daughter of a nobleman from Kintyre. Gofraid Donn's male-line ancestry can be traced back with certainty to his great-great grandfather, Gofraid Méránach, King of the Isles, King of Dublin (d. 1095). Gofraid Méránach is thought to have taken control of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles in about the year 1079, and is recorded as the King of Dublin in 1091.

In 1187, on the death of Gofraid Donn's paternal grandfather, Godred II Olafsson, King of Man and the Isles, Gofraid Donn's father, Ragnall, usurped the kingdom from the legitimate heir, his younger half-brother Olaf the Black Gudrödsson. In consequence, a bitter family feud broke out, in which Gofraid Donn played a part. According to a 13th century chronicle, when Olaf the Black's marriage to the sister of Ragnall's wife was nullified, Gofraid Donn was tricked by his mother into attempting to kill his uncle Olaf the Black. Sometime later, he had his revenge, as Gofraid Donn was captured, and one of his followers blinded and castrated him. Olaf the Black later successfully took the throne, and Ragnall was soon after assassinated. Olaf II was constantly under threat of Ragnall's powerful ally Alan, Lord of Galloway. In about 1230, Olaf the Black was forced to flee Man, and went to Norway to plead for assistance from the king. He arrived just before the king sent a fleet into in the Hebrides to pacify the western coast of Scotland. Both Olaf the Black, and Gofraid Donn, travelled with the fleet, and upon the commander's death, Olaf the Black took control and retook the Isle of Man. Olaf the Black and Gofraid Donn then divided the kingdom between themselves, with Gofraid Donn controlling the Hebridean portion. Not long after the Norwegian fleet left the Hebrides, Gofraid Donn was killed on the Outer Hebridean island of Lewis, in 1231.

Sources

• English Wikipedia: Gofraid Donn
• espell.se: Godred Don Isle of Man

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Crovan dynastin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crovan_dynasty) omfattar ättlingar till
Gudröd I Corvan Haraldsson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godred_Crovan)
Kung på Isle of Man och Hebriderna 1079-1095
Gudröd Corvan grundade kungadynastin på Söderöarna (Isle of Man och Hebriderna).

Kung 1230 på Isle of Man

Godred Don har varit kung på Isle of Man, och jag bedömer att han varit medregent 1230 till Olof II Gudrödsson, som var kung 1226-1237. (Directory of Royal Genealogical Data, Hull, England).

Olaf (Svarte) and Godred (son of Reginald) arrived 1230 together in the Norwegian fleet, and immediately divided the kingdom between themselves. (Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys, notes 37)

Kung 1230 på Isle of Man, England.

Hustru: Ukendt

Børn: 1. Harald III, d. 1287 ca

RAGNALD (-killed in battle Tynwald 1228, bur St Mary of Furness). The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum names “Reginaldum, Olavum et Yvarum” as the three sons of King Godred, adding that their father had nominated his legitimate son Olav as his successor, but that the Manxmen chose Ragnald as king because he was older[1302]. The birth date of his daughter, wife of the Welsh princes, indicates that Ragnald must have been much older than his legitimate half-brother. King of Man. The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that Olav recovered Man from his half-brother in 1226[1303]. "Ragdnaldus…rex Insularum" donated "totam medietatem terre…Ormeshan…apud portum de Corna et aciam terram Asmundertoftes" to St Bees by undated charter, witnessed by "…Gospatricio filio Henrici…"[1304]. The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that Olav was murdered in 1228 and buried at St Mary of Furness[1305]. m ---, daughter of --. Her parentage is confirmed by the Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum which records that King Ragnald arranged the marriage of his half-brother Olav to “filiam cujusdam nobilis de Kentyre germanam uxoris suæ, nomine Jauon”[1306]. ["the daughter of a nobleman of Kentyre a sister of his wife, namely Jauon". Sharon Doubell July 2021] Ragnald [& his wife] had four children:

i) daughter ([1182/83]-after 17 Feb 1205). Her parentage, betrothals and two marriages are confirmed by the following documents. Pope Innocent III, by letter dated 24 Nov 1199, requested an enquiry after “R. princeps Norwaliæ” requested permission to marry “filiam...prinicipis Insularum” notwithstanding that “patruo eius eadem infra nubiles annos exstitit desponsata”, in particular investigating whether she was still under 7 years old [youngest canonical age for marriage at the time] when “a nepote, vel patruo desponsata”[1307]. Pope Innocent III, by letter dated 19 Apr 1203, reported the enquiry after “N. princeps Norwalliæ” requested permission to marry “filiam...principis Insularum”, referring to his previous letter, confirming that “L. principe Norwalliæ” had been betrothed to “puella, completis octo annis”, that she was later betrothed to “patruo...suo”, that the enquiry found against the marriage but allowed it to stand to bring peace to the dispute[1308]. Pope Innocent III issued a third letter dated 17 Feb 1205, after further facts emerged, annulling the marriage and recording that “ejusdem L. patruus ipsam” was betrothed to the girl when in her ninth year, married her in her tenth, and cohabited with her, including “in Manniam rediens” before returning “in Walliam” by himself leaving his wife behind, for 2 years, 2 months and 15 days since their marriage[1309]. Her marriage date suggests that she was much older than her sister who married Thomas of Galloway. Maybe they were born from different marriages. Remfry notes that Dwnn’s Visitation incorrectly names “Rhunallt, the daughter of the king of Man” as wife of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (see the document WALES) and suggests that this may represent confusion with the first/second wife of Llywelyn[1310]. m firstly ([1191/92]%29 RHODRI ap Owain Lord of Anglesey, son of OWAIN King of Gwynedd & his second wife Christina of Deheubarth (-[1194/95]). m secondly (Betrothed [1190]?, betrothal terminated [1191/92]), [1195/96], separated [annulled] [1203/05]) as his [first/second] wife, LLYWELYN ap Iorwerth Fawr ("the Great") Prince of North Wales, son of IORWERTH "Drwyndwyn/flat nose" Prince of Gwynedd & his wife Marared of Powys ([1173]-11 Apr 1240, bur Aberconway).
ii) daughter (after [1182/83]-after [1194/95]). Her existence is confirmed by the letter of Pope Innocent III dated 17 Feb 1205 (see above) which records that, after the death of Rhodri, “predictus L.” asked “a rege Manniæ juniorem filiam in conjugem”, which was refused as Llywelyn had already been betrothed to the older daughter[1311].
iii) GODRED (-killed Lewes after 1230). The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum names Godred as son of King Ragnald when it records that his mother sent him to kill his uncle Olav, but that he was surprised by Olav’s followers, blinded and emasculated, dated to 1223[1312]. The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that King Olav agreed to divide his territories in 1230 with Godred, who ruled in the Isles but was killed in Lewes[1313]. m ---. The name of Godred’s wife is not known. Godred & his wife had one child:

(a) HARALD (-1252 or after). The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that “Haraldus filius Godredi Don” usurped the kingdom in 1249 after the death of King Ragnald, but that Magnus returned in 1252 and was installed as king[1314]. King of Man.

iv) daughter . The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that King Ragnvald married his daughter to Alan of Galloway’s son[1315]. Her marriage date suggests that she was much younger than her sister who married the Welsh princes. Maybe they were born from different marriages. m (1226[1316]%29 THOMAS of Galloway, illegitimate son of ALAN Lord of Galloway & his mistress ---.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTTISH%20NOBILITY.htm#OlavMandied...

Please see Peter Bartrum: Rheinallt; https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000173392536950 (Steven Ferry, September 16, 2024.)