Christina of the Isles

Another fourteenth-century source declares that, when Robert mounted a counteroffensive following Edward II's demise, the Scottish king received critical assistance from an unnamed kinswoman, a woman who may have been Christina herself.

The recorded royal forfeiture of a certain "Roderici de Ylay" may refer to Raghnall, and could be evidence of him countering Christina's attempt to alienate the family lands.

Further violent repercussions of Christina's contract with the Caimbéalaigh may have been felt well into the next century, since James I, King of Scotland is recorded to have executed two chieftains who may have been continuing the feud.

[49] At some point between the deaths of Ailéan and Alexander III, King of Scotland,[50] Isabella married Ingram de Umfraville.

[57] In February 1306, Robert Bruce VII, Earl of Carrick, a claimant to the Scottish throne, killed his chief rival to the kingship, John Comyn of Badenoch.

[59][note 3] According to the fourteenth-century Gesta Annalia II, Christina played an instrumental part in Robert's survival at this low point in his career, sheltering him along Scotland's western seaboard.

[79][note 6] But when he had borne these things for nearly a year alone, God, at length, took pity on him; and, aided by the help and power of a certain noble lady, Christiana of the Isles, who wished him well, he, after endless toils, smart, and distress, got back, by a round-about way, to the earldom of Carrick.

[86] According to the fourteenth-century Bruce, whilst Robert consolidated power in Carrick, he received provisions and military manpower from a woman described as a closely related kinswoman of his.

[98] In fact, there was little distinction between legitimate and illegitimate offspring in Gaelic Scotland, as society tolerated temporary sexual unions amongst the elite as a means of furthering the continuation of the male line of the clan.

[100] Nevertheless, Ruaidhrí seems to have only gained formal recognition of his rights to the lordship after Christina's resignation of her own claims,[101] by way of a charter confirmed by Robert himself.

[122] At the time of his death, Ruaidhrí's son, Raghnall, may well have been under age,[104] and it is apparent that Christina and her confederates again attempted to seize control of the inheritance.

[126] Whilst the constableship may have been awarded to the senior-most Artúr[127]—the apparent founding ancestor of the Strachur branch of the Caimbéalaigh[128]—Christina's transaction appears to have concerned the constable's son,[129] a man who may have been intended to marry her.

If so, the forfeiture could have stemmed from resistance advanced by Raghnall to counter Christina's attempts to alienate the Clann Ruaidhrí estate from him and transfer it into the clutches of the Caimbéalaigh.

[141][note 10] These men all seem to have been close adherents of Robert against Clann Dubhghaill, and all represented families of power along the western seaboard.

[144][note 11] There is reason to suspect that the establishment of the Caimbéalaigh constabulary of Dunstaffnage formed part of a plan to create a new western sheriffdom based at Tarbert.

[147] In fact, it may have been at the Scone parliament of 1323—perhaps at the same time that work on Tarbert Castle was authorised—that the constabulary was granted to the Caimbéalaigh, along with lands in Benderloch, Ardnastaffnage, Inverawe, and other places in Lorn.

One possibility is that Christina intended for these island territories to be retained by herself or perhaps a male representative of Clann Ruaidhrí, whilst diverting the bulk of the family estate to the Caimbéalaigh.

[151] Two later charter confirmations record that, at some point during her career, Christina granted Teampull na Trionaid (Church of the Holy Trinity), and certain lands in Carinish and Illeray on Uist, to Inchaffray Abbey.

[137] The first of these confirmations is a 1389 grant of Gofraidh Mac Domhnaill,[153] a man whose mother was Áine Nic Ruaidhrí, Christina's niece.

For example, the records could have been fabricated to include Christina as a means of furthering the territorial claims of the Clann Domhnaill branch descended from Gofraidh.

[157] Furthermore, if the confirmations are to be believed, Christina's patronage of Inchaffray Abbey could be further evidence of her association with the Bruces, since this religious house in known to have been patronised by Robert himself.

[159] According to a twentieth-century Uist account of dubious authority,[167] Christina was associated with a school at a local nunnery where girls were taught manual crafts.

Black and white photo of a mediaeval seal
The seal of Robert I . [ 54 ]
Refer to caption
The arms of the Earl of Carrick depicted in the fourteenth-century Balliol roll . [ 71 ] Christina's mother may have been a member of the comital kindred of Carrick .
Refer to caption
The arms of the Earl of Mar depicted in the Balliol roll . [ 94 ] Christina's husband, Donnchadh, was a member of the comital kindred of Mar , although his precise parentage is uncertain.
Illustration of a mediaeval battle
An early twentieth-century depiction of the Battle of the Pass of Brander , [ 108 ] a conflict in which Robert I defeated Clann Dubhghaill in about 1308, probably with the aid of Clann Ruaidhrí and Clann Domhnaill . [ 109 ] Warriors from the Clann Ruaidhrí lordship may have also played a major part in Robert I's victory at Loudoun Hill . [ 110 ]
Black and white photo of a mediaeval seal
The seal of Alasdair Óg Mac Domhnaill . [ 117 ] The device shows a manned galley. [ 118 ] Christina's resignations to Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí [ 102 ] and Artúr Caimbéal stipulated that the men owed the Scottish Crown the service of an armed ship. [ 119 ] Such conditions exemplify the importance placed upon sea power at the time. [ 120 ]
Photo of a stone castle
The establishment of the constabulary of Dunstaffnage Castle in the 1320s appears to have been undertaken in the context of royally sanctioned encroachment into Clann Ruaidhrí territories. Christina attempted to transfer the Clann Ruaidhrí lordship into the hands of the constable's son.
Photo of the ruins of a stone church
Although the now-ruinous Teampull na Trionaid is traditionally said to have been constructed by Christina's niece, Áine Nic Ruaidhrí , [ 136 ] this church is recorded to have been in existence during Christina's floruit . [ 137 ]
Photo of Eilean Tioram
Eilean Tioram, the tidal island upon which sits Castle Tioram , is first attested in Christina's charter to Artúr. [ 2 ]
Photo of the ruins of a stone abbey
Now-ruinous Inchaffray Abbey is recorded to have been patronised by Robert I [ 152 ] and Christina herself. [ 137 ]
Photo of a cemetery and a ruined stone church
The ruins of Saddell Abbey , a religious house originally founded by ancestors of Clann Ruaidhrí, [ 158 ] and patronised by Christina herself. [ 159 ]