Battle of Largs

The Battle of Largs took place in Largs, North Ayrshire in 1263 between Scotland and the forces of King Magnus III of Man and the Isles as well as the manxmen's ally, King Haakon IV of Norway. The prelude to the battle were Scottish incursions into the territory of the Norse Kingdom of Man and the Isles. Fighting the Scots were the Manx fleet and that of Haakon IV of Norway, who was wounded in the battle and died in the Orkneys shortly thereafter.

Under Dispute

Varying historical reports and interpretations call the battle either a victory for the Scots or a victory for the Norwegians. No definitive outcome is known, but what is assuredly so is that in the years following the battle, the Western Isles came under Scottish dominion, where they have remained ever since, hence the fashion for proclaiming it a Scottish victory despite clear evidence one way or the other. The isles were ceded to the scots for a sum of 4000 silver marks and the scottish king had to pay a yearly sum to the norwegian crown, who for some decades after the battle still were regarded as the juridical owners of the islands.

Related Topics:
Scots - Norwegians - Western Isles

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