Lord of the Isles
The Lord of the Isles, King of the Hebrides (Tighearna nan Eileanan, ri Innse Gall), is the High Prince of the
Seed of Conn and the absolute ruler of the Lordship of the Isles. He is instilled by the right of his ancestors and has power
over his subjects like no other leader - he can simply appeal to ancient clan loyalties as long as he is acting in the best
interests of his people. If he is perceived as not acting in the best interests of his people, then it is well within the
power of the Council to decide if he should continue to rule, as he has forgotten the meaning of his inauguration and as a result it is meaningless. His rule is therefore illegitimate.
The Lords of the Isles do not need to be the eldest sons of the former Lord of the Isles (although
many were) as a combination of tanistry and feudal practice means that the unsuitable do not need
to be selected as heirs. Fostered sons, illegitimate sons, and relations through handfasting could become the Lord of the
Isles.
The ruling dynasty is Macdonald, and is one of the branches descended from Somerled, who was the King
of Argyll and the Hebrides in the 12th century. The other branches are MacRuari and Macdougall, the latter having
been the most powerful branch before their opposition to Rober the Bruce, King of Scotland, and his ally Aonghas Og Macdonald,
which saw the Macdonald dynasty gifted with many Macdougall lands that had both been accepted as theirs by
Robert the Bruce (he gave them, but the Highlands would not be in the control of a Scottish King for another
five hundred years, so he had no choice - it was more him accepting Macdonald ownership) and taken
by their own warriors.
The Macdonald name means 'son of world ruler' and 'son of Donald,' both of which are references to Domhnall
mac Raghnaill (Donald, son of Ranald), the grandson of Somerled, and what
he is reported to have styled himself, which first appeared in the patronymic of his son, Aonghas Mor (the
father of the afore-mentioned Aonghas Og Macdonald, as you may have guessed from 'mor' which means 'elder' in this case, and
'og,' which means young).
The men of the Lordship of the Isles belong to Clan Donald in the broadest sense, but the name Macdonald is
reserved by the Lords of the Isles, who use it as a royal title.