Battle of Ronaldsway

Date	8 October 1275
Location	Ronaldsway, Malew, Isle of Man
Result	Decisive Scottish victory, end of Norse Sudreyan monarchy and firm establishment of Scottish rule on the Isle of Man.

Belligerents

King of Mann

Forces of the Kingdom of Scotland

Commanders and leaders

Guðrøðr Magnússon

John de Vesci, Lord of Alnwick

Strength

Casualties and losses

537 dead,
probably including Guðrøðr

The Battle of Ronaldsway took place in 1275 at Ronaldsway in the southern part of the Isle of Man between a Scottish army and the Manx. The battle crushed the final attempt by the Manx to re-establish the Norse Sudreyar dynasty. As the battle resulted in the death of the last Norse King of Mann, Guðrøðr Magnússon, and the emigration to Norway of the remaining members of the Manx royal family it also led to the firm establishment of Scottish rule on the Isle of Man.

Although the Isle of Man was formally ceded to Alexander III of Scotland in 1266 Scottish rule did not go unchallenged and in 1267 Alexander was forced to send an expedition against "the rebels of Man".

Between this expedition and the 1275 uprising all that is known is that Alexander III appointed bailiffs to the Isle of Man.

In response to the open uprising of the Manxmen under Guðrøðr, Alexander III dispatched a fleet to the Island led by John de Vesci of Alnwick and many nobles. The Scots landed on St Michael's Isle on 7 October 1275 and sent message to the rebels with terms of peace; "offering them the peace of God and of the King of Scotland on condition of their laying aside their absurd presumption, and of giving themselves up to the King and his nobles."

Guðrøðr and the Manxmen having rejected the terms offered, battle was joined before sunrise the following day, 8 October. In the following fighting the Manxmen were routed and suffered heavy casualties. Guðrøðr was probably among the dead, ending the male line of the Manx Norse dynasty, although some theorize that he might have survived and fled to Wales.

With the death of Guðrøðr, the Isle of Man came under Scottish rule. This lasted at least until the death of Alexander III in 1285, as it was listed among Alexander's heir Margaret, Maid of Norway's future possessions in 1284. The Island did not, however, remain in Scottish hands beyond September 1290, when Edward I of England issued decrees to the Manxmen as their ruler. Thereafter England and Scotland struggled for control of the island until 1333, when Edward III of England renounced all English claims over the Isle of Man and recognised William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury as King of Mann. English rule was reinstituted in 1399, the title of King of Mann changed to Lord of Mann in 1504, and from 1765 the title was purchased by the Crown of Great Britain.

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Wikipedia