John, First Lord of the Isles

John, who was known as Good John of Islay, largely because of his benefaction to religious communities, took the title Lord of the Isles Dominus Insularum, a Latin version of Ri Innse Gall -and ruled from circa 1329 to 1387. By paying lip-service to the kings of the mainland he kept his lands safe, and by clever changes of support of various factions he expanded his territories by treaties, as well as by marriage alliances.

His first wife was Arnie MacRuari, a cousin, and through her he extended his territory to the northward, but he divorced her later in order to marry Margaret, daughter of Robert Stewart, Regent of Scotland, in 1350. Robert became king in 1371.

The sons of John's first marriage were given lands from the MacRuari side of the family, but the line of the Lordship was to continue through the family of the second marriage with its royal connection.

John re-roofed the chapel on Eilean Mar, and is believed to have founded the churches at Kildalton, and Kilnave as well as encouraging the carving of stone crosses. He founded Oronsay Priory, probably at about 1350.

He died at Ardtornish Castle on the Sound of Mull, at the age of at least eighty years, in 1387, leaving a large and scattered Lordship, linked by the sea. Peace reigned within its borders, and continued for the next hundred years although increasingly there were wars on the mainland.