General Notes

Ragnall II Godredsson
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Ragnald IV or Rognvald Guthredssonn (killed 1229), was King of Mann and the Isles 1187-1229. He is referred to in some texts as Reginald, and was a son of Godred IV. Ragnald was a dominant figure in the West in later twelfth century.

Ragnald's younger half-brother Olaf was their father's intended successor. Ragnald IV was not happy with that prospect, and when however succeeded their father in the Manx kingdom, he sort of usurped; or was and is seen by some as an usurper of; the throne. He however got to face his brother's constant opposition, claims, and internecine war. After years of campaigning, his brother managed to have Ragnald killed, and took the throne in the year 1229.

In the 1190s, Ragnald's kinsman Harald Maddadson, Earl of Orkney and mormaer of Caithness faced troubles with William I of Scotland, who therefore had granted Harald's Scottish fief of Caithness to Earl Harold the Young, whom Harald Maddadson then had killed in about 1198. Ragnald was the King's next appointee to Caithness, to deprive Harald of that land. King William, the Orkneyinga Saga says, called upon Ragnald Guthredsson, Manx ruler, to fight against Harald.  By Scottish King Ragnald was spuriously assigned with claims to Harald's lands, because people remembered that Harald's mother was younger daughter of Earl Haakon Paulsson, whereas the elder daughter had married the king of Isle of Man (although Ragnald's father Godfrey had been that lady's stepson and not her own son). Earl Harald, however, retook Caithness from Ragnald.

In this campaign, dated to 1201, the Saga tells that Harald came to the stronghold of Bishop John of Caithness, at Scrabster. Bishop John went to meet Harald, apparently to greet him, but the Earl had him seized, tortured and mutilated.

The Gesta Annalia reports that Harald's treatment of Bishop John in 1201 stemmed from the fact that John was an informant set on making trouble between Harald and King William.  In 1219, Ragnald resigned his Manx rulership to the Holy See, imitating King John of England, though he remained as king of the island. On 14 February 1229 he was killed by his brother Olaf, by some opinions the rightful heir to the throne.

Early in the 13th century, Ragnald did homage to King John of England (reigned 1199 - 1216). That is the first we hear of English intervention in the affairs of Manx kingdom. A period of Scots domination would precede the establishment of full English control. During the whole of the Scandinavian period the isles remained nominally under the suzerainty of the kings of Norway, but the Norwegians only occasionally asserted it with any vigour.

From the middle of the 12th century until 1217 the suzerainty, because Norway had become a prey to civil dissensions, had remained of a very shadowy character. But after that date it became a reality and Norway consequently came into collision with the growing power of Scotland.

Reginald's brother and killer succeeded him as King Olaf II.