Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, the Stewart kings of Scotland had sought to quell the independent power of the Lordship of the Isles. This was effectively achieved in 1493 when John Macdonald, 4th Lord of the Isles, was forfeited and his lands annexed. The break up of the Lordship’s power base led to more turbulent times in the islands.
The religious centre of the Lordship, as in earlier times had been in Iona, and it was there that the Lords of the Isles and many of their principal island chiefs were buried. This tradition now waned and the patrimonial churches such as at Rodel in Harris grew in importance. However, it is likely that Eaglais na h-Aoidhe has always been the burial place of the Macleod chiefs of Lewis as well as their principal parish.
