Olaf_I The_Red Godredson
b: BEF 1102
d: 1143
Biography
!BIOGRAPHY: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Baronet, THE BARONAGE
OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, 1798, p. 374.
"Olave or Olaus, king Godfred''s youngest son, who being still a minor,
the government of the island was committed to the care of a nobleman of
Ireland, called Donald son of Tade; but he behaving tyrannically, and
oppressing the inhabitants, was expelled the island, and Olaus being then
of age, got the possession of his kingdom, anno 1102.
"He married Africa, daughter of Fergus lord of Galloway, then one of the
most powerful subjects in Scotland, by whom he had one son, Godfred,
his heir.
"He had also three natural sons.
1. Reginald.
2. Lagman.
3. Harold. --
"And several daughters; one whereof was married to Somerled
Macgilbred, thane of Argyle, ancestor of the Macdonald, who by her had
four sons, viz. Dungall, Reginald, Angus and Olave. This marriage was the
cause of the ruin of the kingdom of the isles to the present family, and
the foundation of the title of kings and lords of the isles, which was
afterwards assumed by the descendants of Somerled.
"King Olaus was a good prince, always lived in friendship and in league
with the kings of Scotland and Ireland; and, after a peaceable reign of
about 40 years, was treacherously murdered by the sons of his natural
brother Harold, anno 1143, and was succeeded by his only lawful son.
!BIOGRAPHY: John Burke, Esq., A GENEALOGICAL AND HERALDIC HISTORY
OF THE COMMONERS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, Vol. II, Baltimore,
Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1977, pp. 175-178.
III. Olaus, or Olave, surnamed the Swarthy, who being still in minority,
the government of the island was committed to a nobleman of Ireland,
named Donald, son of Thade, but the regent acting tyrannically, was
expelled the kingdom, and Olaus having then attained majority, assumed
the reins of government, anno 1102. This monarch espoused Africa,
daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway, at the time one of the most
powerful subjects in Scotland, and had one son, Godfred, his heir, with
several daughters, one of whom, Africa, married Somerled [See Burke''s
PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE, article, Lord Macdonald] Macgilbred, thane of
Argyll, ancestor of the Macdonalds, and by him had four sons, viz.
Dungall, Reginald, Angus, and Olave. Through this marriage the family
eventually lost the kingdom of the Isles, and upon it was founded the
title Kings and Lords of the Isles, assumed by the descendants of
Somerled, the Macdonalds; Olaus had likewise three illegitimate sons,
Reginald, Lagman, and Harold. He was a good prince, and always lived in
league and friendship with the kings of Scotland and Ireland. After a
peaceful reign of about forty years, he was treacherously murdered by
the sons of his natural brother, Harold, anno 1143, and was succeeded by
his only lawful son.
!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon, MACLEOD CHIEFS OF HARRIS AND
DUNVEGAN, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, 1969, pp. 3-4..
!BIOGRAPHY: Alick Morrison, THE CHIEFS OF CLAN MACLEOD, East
Kilbride, Scotland, Associate Clan MacLeod Societies,1986, pp. 16-17.
"Olaf, who succeeded Lagman, was a minor, when King Magnus Barefoot
raided Man and the Hebrides. He is variously known as Olaf Klining or
Bitling from his small stature or florid complexion. He reigned for some
50 years and brought a long period of peace to the Isles by keeping on
good terms with the Kings of Norway, Scotland, England and Ireland. He
married Ingibiorg, daughter of Earl Hakon of Orkney by whom he had one
son, Godred the Black. Some chroniclers also state that he married
Elfrica, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. He had several
illegitimate sons and many daughters, one of whom, Ragnhildis
(Raghnaid), married Somerled MacGhillebrighde, regulus of Argyle and
progenitor of the great Clan Donald, later to be Lords of the Isles.
"Olaf Bitling sailed to Norway at the end of his reign to pay his ''scat'' of
10 marks of gold to his superior. In consequence, he was ceremoniously
crowned at Trondheim and left his son Godred to be educated in Norway.
On his return to Man, he found that the sons of his deceased brother
Harold were conspiring to overthrow him. On the Feast of St. Peter and
St. Paul, 1153, Olaf arranged a meeting with the conspirators to
consider their claims. Unfortunately Reginald, son of Harold, took
advantage of the opportunity to dispatch his uncle with an axe."
Facts
  • BEF 1102 - Birth -
  • 1143 - Death -
  • Nobility Title - King of Man
Ancestors
   
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Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (U) ?
Birth
Death
Father?
Mother?
PARENT (U) ?
Birth
Death
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
MOlaf_I The_Red Godredson
BirthBEF 1102
Death1143
Marriageto Ingibiord
Marriageto Elfrica
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Olaf_I The_Red Godredson
BirthBEF 1102
Death1143
Marriageto Ingibiord
Marriageto Elfrica
Father?
Mother?
PARENT (F) Ingibiord
Birth
Death
Marriageto Olaf_I The_Red Godredson
FatherEarl Hakon
Mother?
CHILDREN
MLagman Olafson
Birth
Death
MHarold Olafson
Birth
Death
MReginald Olafson
Birth1187
Death7 FEB 1228Tynwald Hill,Isle of Man
FRagnhildis
Birth
Death
MarriageABT 1140to Somerled MacGHILLEBRIGHDE
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Olaf_I The_Red Godredson
BirthBEF 1102
Death1143
Marriageto Ingibiord
Marriageto Elfrica
Father?
Mother?
PARENT (F) Elfrica
Birth
Death
Marriageto Olaf_I The_Red Godredson
FatherFergus
Mother?
CHILDREN
MOchraidh Godred_II The_Black Olafson
BirthBEF 1154
Death1187
Marriageto Phingola (Fionghuala) MacLochlan
Descendancy Chart
Olaf_I The_Red Godredson b: BEF 1102 d: 1143
Reginald Olafson b: 1187 d: 7 FEB 1228
Somerled MacGHILLEBRIGHDE b: BEF 1141 d: 1164
Reginald MacGHILLEBRIGHDE b: BEF 1205 d: AFT 1228
Magnus Olafson b: BEF 1237 d: 1266
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Joan
Leod I Chief MacGillemuire Olafson b: ABT 1200 d: ABT 1280
Tormod [Norman] MacLeod b: AFT 1220 d: BEF 1280
Dorothea Ross d: (28 JAN 1322/1323)
Norman Roderick MacLeod b: ABT 1266 d: (1329/1371)
Kenneth MacKenzie b: BEF 1346 d: AFT 1346
Murdoch Dubh MacKenzie b: BEF 1360 d: 1373
Murdoch MacKenzie b: BEF 1380 d: 1416
Reginald [Rogn-wald] Godredson b: 1187 d: 7 FEB 1228
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Somerled MacGHILLEBRIGHDE b: BEF 1141 d: 1164