THE NORSE OCCUPATION. 39 



Olave the Black was in some respects the best ruler that 

 Man and the Hebrides ever possessed. His was not a 

 virile nor an ambitious character; yet when duty called, 

 he showed that he could wield the sword as well as offer 

 the olive branch. One would suppose that this easy- 

 going, gentlemanly kinglet was hardly the sort of ruler 

 required for his turbulent subjects ; yet he retained their 

 allegiance to the last. He died in 1237, and his throne 

 was successively filled by his three eldest sons, Harald, 

 Reginald, and Magnus. 



In the first year of his rule, Harald paid a visit to 

 his Hebridean possessions, leaving his cousin, Lauchlan, 

 to govern Man during his absence. Lauchlan proved 

 unfaithful to his trust, and Harald hurried back to 

 assert his authority. His deputy fled from the island, 

 accompanied by Godred, his foster son who is said to 

 have been a son of Olave the Black and with about 

 forty adherents, both were drowned off the coast of 

 Wales. 



In 1240, Harald refused to do homage to his suzerain. 

 A force sent from Norway invaded Man and reduced its 

 ruler to obedience, the revenues of the island being appro- 

 priated to the Norwegian Crown. The quarrel was made 

 up by Harald marrying Cecilia, King Hakon's daughter, 

 but the ill-fated couple were drowned on the voyage from 

 Bergen to Man. 



The next King of Man and the Nordereys was Harald's 

 brother, Reginald, who, only a few days after his accession 

 in 1250, was killed by Harald, son of Godred Don, and his 

 supposed natural brother, a knight named Ivar. The heir 

 was Reginald's brother, Magnus, who was then in Lewis 

 with his father-in-law, Ewen of Lome, or John, King of 

 the Isles, as he is sometimes called. Harald MacGodred 

 seized the reins of government but was summoned to 

 Norway by King Hakon, who threw him into prison. 

 Ewen of Lome was in the difficult position of being a 

 vassal of the Scottish Crown for his possessions in Argyll, 

 while owing allegiance to Hakon for his possessions in the 





