Editing North Uist (section)

===Kingdom of the Isles===

Whoever the occupants of "Jelly Baby" houses were, they were followed in the 9th century by [[Viking]] settlers, who established the [[Kingdom of the Isles]] throughout the Hebrides. Initially, Vikings built [[turf]]-based buildings; however, on the shore, the environmental and chemical composition of [[machair]] causes these buildings to rapidly degrade and turn [[mauve]]{{refn|group="note"|The distinctive purple colouring of their remains forms a useful marker for archaeologists}}. Following Norwegian unification, the Kingdom of the Isles became a crown dependency of the Norwegian king; to the Norwegians it was ''Suðreyjar'' (meaning "southern isles"). [[Malcolm III of Scotland]] acknowledged in writing that Suðreyjar was not Scottish, and [[Edgar of Scotland|King Edgar]] [[quitclaim]]ed any residual doubts.

However, in the mid-12th century, [[Somerled]], a [[Norse-Gael]] of uncertain origin, launched a coup, which made Suðreyjar entirely independent. Following his death, Norwegian authority was nominally restored, but in practice, the kingdom was divided between Somerled's heirs ([[Clann Somhairle]]), and the dynasty that Somerled had deposed (the [[Crovan dynasty]]). The [[Clann Ruaidhrí|MacRory]], a branch of Somerled's heirs, ruled Uist, as well as [[Barra]], [[Eigg]], [[Rùm]], the [[Rough Bounds]], [[Isle of Bute|Bute]], [[Isle of Arran|Arran]], and northern [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]].<ref>''Kingship and Unity, Scotland 1000-1306'', G. W. S. Barrow, Edinburgh University Press, 1981</ref><ref>''Galloglas: Hebridean and West Highland Mercenary Warrior Kindreds in Medieval Ireland'', John Marsden, 2003</ref><ref>''Lismore: The Great Garden'', Robert Hay, 2009, Birlinn Ltd</ref><ref>''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland'', 90 (1956–1957), A.A.M. Duncan, A.L Brown, pages 204–205</ref><ref>''The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard'', R. A. McDonald, 1997, Tuckwell Press</ref>

In the 13th century, despite Edgar's quitclaim, Scottish forces attempted to conquer parts of Suðreyjar, culminating in the indecisive [[Battle of Largs]].

In 1266, the matter was settled by the [[Treaty of Perth]], which transferred the whole of Suðreyjar to Scotland, in exchange for a very large sum of money{{refn|group="note"|4000 marks}}. The treaty expressly preserved the status of the rulers of Suðreyjar; the MacRory lands, excepting Bute, Arran, and Jura, became the Lordship of [[Garmoran]], a quasi-independent crown dependency, rather than an intrinsic part of Scotland.