black commonly known english black mid 13th century sea king ruled parts son king isles king dublin wife granddaughter high king ireland king younger son father elder brother likely different mother according chronicle appointed heir born case death instead appointed king capable adult mere child ruled dynasty island kingdom years time half brothers point given possession lewis complained lands response seize send king scots imprisoned seven years release undertook pilgrimage half brothers reconciled married sister wife marriage ally married daughter protégé earl ross chronicle claims bitter wife tricked son attempting kill narrowly escaped life fled protection father law mainland loyal follower later defeated formed alliance lord attempt fend married daughter sons son intended inherit island kingdom actions enraged deposed favour later killed battling fled norway seek military assistance members norwegian king response send fleet isles command member slain early campaign took control fleet secured island kingdom divided mutilated nephew ruling portion ruling soon killed lewis ruled kingdom isles peacefully death restoration seen success likely favourably viewed scots internal struggle rivals brought end succeeded son sons ruled dynasty island kingdom dynasty rule background member dynasty sea kings younger son king isles king dublin grandson king isles inherited vast island kingdom father encompassed situated western scotland located middle northern strategically important point approximately islands great_britain ireland mid 12th century lost control lord unable regain islands death like predecessors styled king secondary sources sons father styled king isles reigns sons leading members dynasty adopted latin title king isles epithet black considered refer hair colour recorded saga 13th century english document close roll ascension according chronicle instructed younger son succeed kingdom born contemporary sources record decades prior papal priest visited fortnight late december sailed scotland ireland chronicle records visit cardinal formally married daughter unnamed son high king ireland father likely king died chronicle detailing age uncertain born year father marriage years certain older chronicle indirectly implies son evidence strongly suggests different mother letter henry_ii king england describes evidence found praise poem states son unknown wife chronicle records child time father death chose rule instead describing vigorous man chronicle states began reign following year outer isles imprisonment chronicle states gave possession lewis described island lewis fact northern island lewis harris far largest island scotland northern island flat southern harris mountainous chronicle northern southern parts describes island mountainous rocky completely unsuitable cultivation declares island small population lived hunting fishing chronicle relates unable support followers poor land states led sorry life time isles confirmed sources attempted sail iceland norway consecrated saga accounts relate encountered severe storm blown far course forced landfall island landed certainly tiny tidal island linked larger neighbour westernmost small isles according saga pressured numerous times pay landing tax king named king encountered considered point history isles known encompassed small isles possibility like temporarily stranded tidal island taken advantage storm stricken offset poverty assigned chronicle chronicle relates went living asked land response according chronicle seized sent william king scots kept imprisoned seven years chronicle states seventh year william died death ordered release political prisoners william known died december chronicle relates gaining freedom met set pilgrimage significant number intended destination considered shrine spain marriages nephew return chronicle says welcomed marry daughter certain nobleman sister wife precise identification father law uncertain member possibly mac son styled lord documents contemporaneous reigns chronicle states gave lewis newly proceeded live arrival bishop isles later according chronicle bishop disapproved marriage cousin assembled chronicle records marriage marriage appears doomed deemed prohibited degree merely convenient excuse contention half brothers played demise possible released arranged marriage forced bishop appear close chronicle describes son sister notes glad coming lewis furthermore bishop marriage arranged fact previous died rival candidate position certain nicholas evidence suggest supported half brother supported bid nicholas chronicle states married daughter mac father law emerges historical obscurity mid time long marriage obtained ross king scots defeating northern rebellion chronicle declares separation enraged sister bitter queen sought half brothers chronicle believed queen secretly wrote husband son ordering seize kill chronicle states gathered force proceeded lewis laid waste island returning narrowly escaped men fled protection father law mainland ross powerful men isles time according chronicle sheriff named refused arms left live ross days secretly returned according chronicle learned stationed island location identity island unknown certain places islands possible chronicle tells rounded forces dragged ships described island subsequently surrounded island chronicle states assaulted island followers captured outside enclosure church slain seized blinded chronicle claims consent brutal unable prevent rise fall marriage daughter trusted northern lords lord assistance rendered suggest gained alexander approval summer following defeat chronicle states took hostages portion kingdom fleet ships landed confronted directly agreed kingdom split keeping title king retaining portions alexander began extend scottish royal authority today western coast scotland making expeditions time forced lands replaced alexander installing member place control lewis bordering domains appear potentially valuable ally alexander eyes wished dangerous members alexander played sides struggle encouraged powerful lords lord enter ally according chronicle attempted possession portion kingdom unwilling aid cause came expedition short time later chronicle records daughter married son marriage daughter illegitimate son thomas gave stake thomas likely succeed possibility control future ruler led alexander lend consent union marriage beneficial rely military fend troublesome half brother unfortunately chronicle records angered marriage consequently appointed king point gone exile court ally chronicle dates begun ruled kingdom peacefully years chronicle records chiefs away island attacked devastated brother thomas earl left force able regain control island sailed winter year landed burnt ships chiefs chronicle states stayed days won hearts southern inhabitants island forces arrived february attacked men chronicle claims killed men prior knowledge notes half brother death norwegian intervention isles chronicle states norwegian fleet sailed west coast scotland certain appointed king isles king norway fleet version authoritative version saga gives account specifically state travelled fleet norway saga states summer fleet left norway news isles reached norwegian king described faithful vassal norwegian king sons mac described saga relates norwegian king summoned assembly winter appointed king isles decided plan military force command isles suspected members attacking parts dynasty island kingdom possibly taking advantage lending support incursions isles case clear state affairs isles chaotic inability control situation formidable decided region fact saga notes son likely family connections king kingdom likely meant encompass territories control dynasty domain retained dynasty saga states coming spring ordered preparation fleet preparations way came king bergen reported unrest isles noting assembled powerful army causing unrest region fleet left norway accompanied board ship fleet reached ship commanders sailed defeated certain sea battle fleet united strengthened brothers followers size ships fleet sailed south force invaded island took castle whilst suffering heavy casualties fleet sailed fell ill died chronicle specifically states struck stone killed later buried chronicle continues stating took control fleet led divided kingdom retaining controlling portions fact possible originally intended split kingdom isles according saga left spring sailing north encountered battled strong force scots sides losing men ensuing battle saga recounts fleet sailed north lewis displaced certain travelling fleet sailed norway stated remained slain weeks later saga notes slain isles short time chronicle specifically places death lewis cast light circumstances certain death safe rival claim campaign regarded threat scottish kingdom john king england northern campaigning invasion restoration claimed success probably accepted scots considering relationship alexander protégé consolidation dynasty years chaos consequently ruled isles peacefully death seven years later chronicle states died isle buried possibility coffin lid grave slab found associated sons known buried family known survived children ruled kings right mother children known certain thought chronicle states immediate successor fourteen years old time father death dates birth time marriage evidence suggest fourth son named example chronicle relates governor described fled king set sail wales taking foster son fleeing ship reached welsh coast wrecked according chronicle perished board furthermore names witnesses thought date certain appears latin son king possibility raised sources refer man evidence confirm legacy sword state ceremonial sword annual day sits douglas isle man popularly said belonged sword steel blade inch hardwood said brought spain returned pilgrimage recent analysis sword determined dates earlier 15th century blade dates 17th century current understanding sword meetings scottish clans historically seated lewis traditionally ascribed descent claim descent popularly said son clan traditions dating late 18th century link evidence dating late 17th century earliest indication claim recent research traditional ancestry determined claims descent lewis clans linked traditions adversaries supporting evidence left descendants island ancestry
Olaf the Black