The Lordship of the Isles

During the 14th century most of the Hebrides, including Lewis, was brought together under a single lordship.

Under John of Islay – styling himself Lord of the Isles – from 1354 this became a very powerful lordship, virtually independent of the Scottish Crown.  The Lord of the Isles granted parts of the Lordship to relatives and followers.  Lewis continued to be held by ‘Siol Thorcuill’, the descendants of Torquil Macleod.

This was the golden age of medieval society and Gaelic culture in the Western Isles.  Justice was administered through the Council of the Isles in the form of meetings of the principal island chiefs with the Lord of the Isles at one of the strongholds.  Although warfare was a way of life, within the Lordship itself peace was generally maintained.