History Galloway

1 history

1.1 galloway landmarks on ptolemy s map
1.2 galloway
1.3 middle ages
1.4 modern history

history
galloway landmarks on ptolemy s map

landmarks according ptolemy.



galloway: modern names of landmarks on ptolemy s map.

the 2nd century geographer ptolemy produced map of britain in geography, in describes landmarks , peoples of island. landmarks identified long ago, , number of them relate galloway:

in west, city of rerigonium (literally royal place ), shown on ptolemy s map of world, strong contender site of pen rhionydd, referred in welsh triads 1 of 3 thrones of britain associated legendary king arthur, , may have been caput of sub-roman brythonic kingdom of rheged. rerigonium s exact position uncertain except on loch ryan , close modern day stranraer; possible modern settlement of dunragit (dun rheged).

early galloway

torhousekie stone circle dating 2nd millennium bc, 1 of best preserved sites in britain. approx. 60ft in diameter. photo ronnie leask



cairnholy chambered cairn.

the earliest inhabitants brythonic celts, recorded romans novantae tribe. according tradition, before end of roman rule in britain, st. ninian established church or monastery @ whithorn, wigtownshire, remained important place of pilgrimage until reformation. county rich in prehistoric monuments , relics, amongst notable of drumtroddan standing stones (and cup-and-ring carvings), torhousekie stone circle, both in wigtownshire , cairnholy (a neolithic chambered cairn). there evidence of 1 of earliest pit-fall traps in europe discovered near glenluce, wigtownshire.

middle ages

11th century

a brythonic speaking kingdom dominated galloway until region until late 7th century when taken on english kingdom of bernicia.

english dominance supplanted norse-gaelic (gall-ghàidheal) peoples between 9th , 11th century. can seen in context of widespread norse domination of irish sea, including extensive settlement in isle of man , in english region of cumbria south of galloway.

if had not been fergus of galloway established himself in galloway, region rapidly have been absorbed scotland. did not happen because fergus, sons, grandsons , great-grandson alan, lord of galloway, shifted allegiance between scottish , english kings. during period of scottish allegiance galloway contingent followed david, king of scots in invasion of england , led attack in defeat @ battle of standard (1138).

alan died in 1234. had 3 daughters , illegitimate son thomas. community of galloway wanted thomas king . alexander iii of scotland supported daughters (or rather husbands) , invaded galloway. community of galloway defeated, , galloway divided between alan s daughters, bringing galloway s independent existence end.

alan s eldest daughter, derbhorgail (latinized dervorguilla), married john de balliol, , son (also john) became 1 of candidates scottish crown. consequently, scotland s wars of independence disproportionately fought in galloway.

there large number of new gaelic placenames being coined post 1320 (e.g. balmaclellan), because galloway retained substantial gaelic speaking population several centuries more. following wars of independence, galloway became fief of archibald grim, earl of douglas , heirs. whithorn remained important cultural centre, , medieval kings of scots made pilgrimages there.

modern history

galwegian gaelic seems have lasted longer gaelic in other parts of lowland scotland, , margaret mcmurray (d. 1760) of carrick (outside modern galloway) appears have been last recorded speaker.

in years after union of crowns in 1603, galloway underwent radical change, during war of 3 kingdoms , covenanter rebellion.

in modern times, stranraer major ferry port, company have moved cairnryan.