 Domhnall Dubh was born in the late 15th century in the Western isles of Scotland, the son of Aonghas Óg, chief of Clan Donald, and the grandson of John of Islay, Earl of Ross, and Lord of the Isles.In 1476 John of Islay was stripped by the Scottish crown of many of his lands and titles, retaining the title Lord of the Isles, but only at the pleasure of the Crown.Domhnall's father Aonghas, disgusted by this family humiliation, turned against John of islay, rebelling against first his father and then the Scottish crown, both of which he defeated before being murdered by his Irish musician in 1490.