Fallen Kingdom: The MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles | FULL DOCUMENTARY

There’s much more to the MacDonalds than Glen Coe. In ‘Fallen Kingdom’ we chart the epic saga of the most powerful and influential sons of Somerled, from their earliest Celtic roots to the downfall of their Righ nan Èileanan - the vast, Gaelic-speaking Kingdom of the Isles.
Taken from Series 2 Episode 6 “The White Corries”.

[@blwkk2]

I’m a descendant of McDonald’s on my father’s side and my mother was a Campbell. And the war never stopped.

[@user-dc2im6gi2p]

Same here 😆

[@DeviantBris4nce]

OMG, I'm a MacDonald and Campbell, hello cousin!

[@cynthiaskidmore7545]

My 13th great grandfather was James MacDonnell, brother of Sorley Boy. We ended up in the American colonies. So much pain. Even my dad shared in the pain of being of this lineage. So much lost. Just heartbreaking. Pain doesn’t stop because your family is relocated. Again, absolutely heartbreaking. Never home. We can never go home

[@kumasenlac5504]

When the UK's Special Forces (The Royal Marines) needed a motto they adopted (and tweaked) Somerled's Per Mare, Per Terram.

[@azariahisrael5632]

Thanks for a great video. I can't believe this hasn't been viewed more. My 14th great grandmother is Flora Macdonald, daughter of John Macdonald/McDonell 8th of Glengarry, wife of Murdo MacLeod 8th of Gesto and Glenelg. So weird to hear all these names in your video and know they are my ancestors. I also decendant from Alasdar MacLeod. I have Macdonald ancestors of Sleat. I guess we all decend downward from Islay and Ragnhall. Somerled is my 27th great grandfather. I am very proud to be both a Macdonald and a MacLeod. The majority of Macdonald's are decendants of Robert the Bruce via his decendant Princess Margaret Stewart daughter of King Robert II. I am also a decendant of James IV and Edward IV via the Earls of Lumley who married into the Douglas-Hamilton/Stewart lines.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Absolutely fascinating stuff, you have a rich heritage indeed!! Many thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@mellissabrandon664]

I’m a descendant of this same family. We live in California now.

[@corablunt-zy2be]

I'm from england from my Dads side family name is Irish and from my mum's side is Scottish my grandad is Scottish native from the macdonald clan and we have roots with somerled Norse Gaelic Lord of the island and I'm pagan

[@tegan7885]

MacDonald’s are related to everyone twice

[@easymac24]

​@@mellissabrandon664same!

[@marlinmacdonald3419]

Thanks for this video. Alberta Canada.

[@Coupal1]

Somerled is my 21st great-grandfather though his son Ragnall and my 23rd great-grandfather through his son Dougal. Fascinating.

[@Texas1836]

Wow

[@davidcarpenter5274]

Yup, the traditions of Glastonbury . Go all the way through King Author , Boutica & the Tin-man . To the very family of Christ. Thanks .

[@davidcarpenter5274]

Somerled Being a common ancestor , to The Crown . (Stewart) . Somerled 20 million descendents , second only to Genghis Khan . Wow !!!

[@davidcarpenter5274]

That got my face leaking . Maybe lonely , but not alone .

[@madhatter7785]

I just found out that Cheif MacDonald who was killed on February 13, 1692 was my 12th Great Grandfather. His Son John who escaped the Glencoe Massacre was my 11th Great Grandfather. It shows in my family history that my 10th Great Grandfather Daniel Donald McDonald born 1700 in Barra, Inverness-shire, Scotland migrated to Catawba River, Catawba, North Carolina, United States in 1720 and changed the family's name from MacDonald to McDaniel and then died in 1756.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Wow! That’s really interesting, thanks for sharing. Nice detective work! 🕵️‍♀️

[@madhatter7785]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios thank you, I've been soaking up as much information as possible to learn more about my bloodline.

[@bretwalda8543]

Same, hes my 11th great grandfather, my great granny was a mcdonald

[@Daniel_Watkins]

@madhatter7785 I’ve recently received some DNA results that suggest my ancestry is from McDonalds of Glencoe. I live in SC, I would love to connect!

[@madhatter7785]

​@@Daniel_Watkinsthat would be awesome. I would like to connect as well.

[@mr.turnersneighborhood1741]

Great job and I really enjoyed this episode. As a kid, my father, William MacDonald, used to actually tell me some of these stories, especially ones about the Cambell's lol. It is just nice to know that because of channels like yours, untold and almost forgotten parts of history will still be able to be remembered, thanks guys.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Many thanks for the kind words and for watching. I found the research for this really enjoyable and entertaining - the stories are too good to be lost to history!

[@stuartmacdonald9289]

The opinion of the Scottish government hasn't changed. 😂joking aside, I've just discovered your channel and am mightily impressed with your fair and balanced approach to your topic. You have a new subscriber.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

That’s praise of the very highest order. Thanks so much for your support, it’s really appreciated. 👍

[@RobertMcQuillan-my3du]

I'm a subscriber and I'm learning allot from your channel and loving it so thank you my family history is Irish but love Scotland and have shared history.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

And many thanks for watching! Glad you’re finding it all useful! 🙂

[@joenolan4917]

Top notch story telling mate. You’d have been a valued bard back in the day

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Damn, that’s quite the compliment! Thanks dude, glad you enjoyed the film.

[@alastairjamesmainland2497]

Grew up in Lochaber, so many swirling un joined dots of information, this sewed a great deal of that mystery together. Excellently told.

[@amacd861]

Thanks for the video! Great content - Angus MacDonald

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Glad you liked it!

[@joyful_tanya]

Sir, can you tell me, for my genealogy research: What is the difference between "MacDonald" and "McDonald"? My husband's mother was "McDonald" from New York State. I can trace her grandparents through Nova Scotia but it stops there. James A. Mcdonald married to Mary (neé Close). James A. Born 1837 N. S. and died 1924 Monroe county New York.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

@tanyajoy There is no difference between Mac and Mc, the latter is simply an abbreviation. :)

[@Fell214]

Very enjoyable. Thanks for the effort.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Many thanks!

[@marianfrances4959]

Ah...bitter-sweet history! 👍🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@anthonygielty7242]

wonderful content

[@NUHUHHHNIJGFHTRFF]

Im a MacDonald my fam came from Nova Scotia to Connecticut

[@SeestheDayphotography71]

I am a McDonald. My father’s DNA shows that we descended from Somerled. However, there are a lot of gaps that I would love to fill . My 5th great grandfather was Capt John McDonald born in 1742 . He fought in the Revolutionary war. Capt John Mc. Arrived ( with Cherokee Indians) at Abaco Bahamas after the war in 1783. He settled there in a place now known as Cherokee Sound. That information is confirmed with historical record. I suspect that Capt John’s father and grandfather were both named Alexander MacDonald . The only sure record I have is from an interview with John McDonald - Magistrate & School master of Cherokee Sound, who stated that his grandfather was a Loyalist soldier, and his great grandfather a ship builder in the river Clyde. I’d LOVE to know more about

[@nickdeagle3271]

Really interesting. Would love to hear more of these folk’s stories.

[@Fires755]

Wow,my grandmother is Mac Donald,my mother side, my grandfather , William 1066this is my mom family, My father family is Rollo, Richardson, I did not know this about clan Mac Donald,its alot to take in, sad to me now, I have to learn more, thank you!!

[@macalad8486]

MacDonald here, from Sunderland, im guessing some of my ancestors settled here during the civil war when the Scots were fighting the royalists

[@haraldtheyounger5504]

2 great books on Somhairlidh mhór mac Gillebride mhic Gilledomnán (Somerled) by R. Andrew McDonald: The Sea Kings, and The Kingdom of The Isles.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Excellent recommendations!

[@VicariousAdventurer]

Whiskey was a big incentive (and factor?) in invention of the barrel

[@erikhoff5010]

I am from the Erwin's of Ireland and the Irwin's of Drum. Where did they fit in, if at all? Great video and information, thank you so much for your information. Skal from Oklahoma.

[@mattgwayman]

Great Chanel man, up there with the Scottish History Tour guy. Whats that beautiful music at the beginning? This specific song name

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Thanks man. It’s Andrew Prahlow’s title theme from the video game ‘Outer Wilds’. www.mobiusdigitalgames.com/outer-wilds.html

[@browneli]

Donald MacAngus MacDonald, 8th Chief Laird of Clan MacDonald of Glengarry is my 14th Grandfather on my grandmother Eula Hutson Brown's side of the family.

[@StephenMcLeod-r2d2]

Thank you. Terrific infotainment. I am a MacLeod. Is there an episode on the clan?

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

It’s on the to do list! Thanks for watching :)

[@madisennicolekirkpatrick5964]

I am Macdonald on my moms side. My moms dad, his mother , was hewitt/hewittson, which is a sept of clan Macdonald

[@fgaze72]

the outer wilds theme tune was a surprise 😂

[@christophersherman1198]

Thank God for written records of the past, Thank God and our children for changing the Fate of the world's Future. ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@austinm3377]

Awesome video. Who sings the background music? Wouldn't happen to be Alistair McDonald?

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Thanks. It is indeed; all music is listed in the end credits :)

[@austinm3377]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios awesome! Thanks!

[@KingEdwardtheTurbulentNeill26]

Will you be doing a video on the great clan the MacNeils of Barra

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Consider it added to the to-do list!

[@eileenavci7105]

My Grandfather was Alexandra Mac Donald of Ronald Moore .

[@michaeharvey1175]

My x6 grandfather was Ewan Macdonald grandson of William Macdonald of Aird and valley, Ewan was sent to tasmania as a convict more so a political prisoner with his sentence was also added he was never to return to GB...pretty handy for the women like men in power today 😂

[@darrenmcdonald5373]

Per Mare,Per Terras !

[@ethancorey1959]

What is the title of the alistair macdonald song that starts at part 4?

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

It’s great isn’t it? The music credits are at 38:45. It’s called ‘Smeòrach Chlann Dòmhnaill’; ‘The Songbird of Clan Donald’. The lyrics are wonderful if you can find a good translation (AI translation butchers it). The ‘holli-li-li-lili-ho’ refrain is purely phonetic and meant to simulate the bird’s call. “A songthrush of Clan Donald am I; A _mavis_ (colloquial: tuneful bird) on the floor at Phabuil…”

[@ethancorey1959]

Thank you for the prompt response. I believe Julie fowlis has a version of this as well, though I may be mistaken. Either way it is one of my favorite gaelic songs and I've never been able to find the title, so I thank you once again!

[@SAMinime_]

And now I know something about my ancestors

[@corablunt-zy2be]

I'm english from england and from my Dads side of the family name is Irish and from my mum's side my grandad is Scottish native from the macdonald clan and we have roots with somerled Norse Gaelic Lord of the island it's weird

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

That’s a rich and fascinating heritage! :) Thanks for watching.

[@corablunt-zy2be]

Thank you

[@matthewreyes2401]

Interesting as this Mexican (me) has my ancestry with the Macdonald’s. My 11th great grandpa father was Hugh of Glenmore Macdonald

[@hughmac13]

Good name.

[@matthewreyes2401]

@@hughmac13 hello my maybe distant cousin!

[@andymullins84]

I'm not related to the Campbell's or the McDonald's but I'm related to several families from Kintyre and Galloway

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Cool!

[@corablunt-zy2be]

And I'm learning about paganism

[@madisennicolekirkpatrick5964]

Not many people liked the Campbells. Pretty much everyone was at war with them. I know the Macgregor of Glenstrae and Campbell of Argyll were deadly enemies.

[@lloydertel1]

i don't know how to trace MY MacDonald lineage. I know my Grandfather was George MacDonald and was born in the homeland. I don't know where he was born. BUT he did speak with some strange words. he would never use the word street always routes. My mother was born somewhere( I have 2 birth certificates) one from Edinburgh and 1 from Toronto. where she grew up

[@aigslmnop]

lord of the isles title must've caused confusion with the wider island group or groups maybe 21:33

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Indeed.

[@aigslmnop6559]

​​@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios orkney was another mainland britain capital of old I've seen

[@jaycee2392]

My plinkit is noree mcdonal o~ Tookie..var gal.(norse) we still own it! Tha seas an landy Isle is mine!! A tell thee dat!!😊

[@xtramail4909]

Really informative video!! However, my understanding is that the Picts united with the Kingdom of Dal Riada (the Scotti/Irish), not the Anglo Saxons, to form the Kingdom of Alba and modern day Scotland.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Thanks for watching and commenting! The Kingdom of Dalriada was an Irish Sea domain. There were Anglo-Saxons in the borders and lowlands, but in the West the Vikings had control of most of the old Dalriada by the 9th Century. As such, there would certainly be Celtic ‘refugees’ who would have moved eastwards to escape them… but as to the extent of this, and its bearing on the constitution of Alba, we have little evidence to go on.

[@xtramail4909]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios at the height of Dal Riada, the Kingdom included Argyle and Antrim. Scotland was already inhabited by Celts prior to the Gaels arriving on their shores. The Gaels that formed Dal Riada met the Pictish Brythonic Celts. Kenneth MacAlpine was the first King of Scotland, in the 9th century, and this is what led to the Kingdom of Alba being created. Kenneth brought the Pictish Celts and the Gaelic Celts together under a single Royal line. While there was likely some displacement when the Vikings arrived, they ended up having significant cultural exchange which is evident in the Norse language and art adopted into Celtic languages and culture. These interactions also resulted in intermarriage between the Viking settlers and the Celtic population. As for the border areas, they are significantly more Celtic descent than Anglo Saxon descent, as Celtic peoples had been living there for thousands of years prior to the expansion of Anglo Saxons. The Anglo Saxons didn’t “replace” the Celts in the border areas and lowlands (not saying that’s what you said, but people often confuse the presence of Anglo Saxons in the Southern regions of Scotland as being the only people that inhabited those regions which is false). Anglo Saxon culture was adopted albeit not fully. British education covers up a lot of Scotlands predominately Celtic past. If you think I’m wrong please enlighten me. Great video though.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

@xtramail4909 Not at all, that’s a fair comment and you make very good points. In an enormously condensed history feature such as this I realise I’m, by definition, making sweeping statements that some will disagree with or identify as poorly communicated. Your feedback is to extremely important as I continually strive for accuracy and to correct poor phrasing or factual error. I may reupload this in the future with a more nuanced description of the instance you mention. Once again, thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated.

[@xtramail4909]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios it’s an extremely complex, long history that is a challenge to cover. Keep up the great work! ☺️

[@brucecollins641]

@xtramail4909...the dalriada may have been real(from scotland to ireland) tho.....the scotti coming from ireland is a myth. it's gallic in scotland most likely coming from the frankish regions of europe.

[@elisehoffman3653]

Disappointed that the full story of how the Lord of the Isles title came to Donald was not mentioned in this episode. The Mac Ruari's held the Lordship of the Isles through Somerled. Donald obtained this title through marrying Amy Mac Ruairi, who was the last MacRuari heir. But he wanted more power, and so divorced her after 3 children because he wanted an alliance with Robert II--he married his daughter, Margaret. But he got to keep his ex-wife's holdings! In other words, Donald was a CAD, and he and his successor's rapacity (instead of thoughtful leadership) led to political decisions that destroyed their own dynasty and eventually control of the Isles. The ensuing loss of stability in the Western Isles and how it affected the families involved over the next few hundred years cannot be under underestimated.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Thanks for watching! Given the scope of the subject it wasn’t possible to go into such detail but your comments are noted and I’ll endeavour to cover this in further MacDonald - connected episodes (Sgorr Dhonuill, Mull etc). :)

[@hughmac13]

Begone, Campbell. There is no joy without Clan Donald; there is no strength without them; the best clan in the world: every good man was one of them. The noblest clan ever born, who personified prowess and awesomeness; a people to whom tyrants made submission; they had great wisdom and piety. A brave, kind, mighty clan, the hottest clan in the face of battle, the most gentle clan among women and most valorous in war. Etc., etc.

[@IMacdonnell]

You dont know what you're talking about! Clann Ruaidhrí never held the Lordship - once - ever! They tried - failed! And Donald son of Raghnall son of Somerled never married Ami! That was John son of Donald son of Angus Og. So why believe anything you say? Yes, Donald did take Magaret as his second wife which was pretty dam common those days.

[@coldonemcdonald9036]

@@hughmac13 Thank you! That Blood still exist it made sure to get far to and warn it’s descendants tell the story. I didn’t get to hear it until I was 24 my grandfather told me it and I have researched as much as I can find. This is the greatest information I have found this far for Glencoe. I really like this Page. Time puts people different places. That blood is humbled and ready to stand for the people of the US and everyone who has good in they’re heart elsewhere. I hope to see Glencoe one day and return the blood that left over 332 years ago.

[@HalifaxPeacock]

VIKING VI=6 SIX KINGS

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

‘vik’ = a narrow inlet, cove, fjord ing = a person from

[@jamesmcshane5248]

Galgel bulit one of them ships

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Who?

[@jamesmcshane5248]

Galgel it's a work shop in glasgow there a charity foundation basd in glasgow ibrox there built one then another thay gave 1 to the transport museum if you goggle them you'll get a lot of information and mabi see it

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Brilliant, thanks!

[@jamesmcshane5248]

@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios a was just letting g u no case u wanted to see one its the first in almost 800 years or something

[@johngeddes4161]

spouting read from others is seldom right.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Pardon?

[@serviustullus7204]

It was likely a territory of Gaels since 200 bce.

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Like we said, “lively academic debate”! 😀

[@andrewheaney6858]

“ Warring Picts and Anglo Saxons united in defence “ ? 1500 hundred years ago the Anglo Saxons had been settling Northumbria from what’s now Edinburgh down the East coast for a mere 50 years, they were no where near the Western Isles ? and “when Scotland was inhabited by Picts and Anglo Saxon tribes” there were two wave of invasion? the Anglo Saxon were the invaders and what about the native Brythonic Briton’s who inhabited the west coast of Scotland from Dumbarton castle all the way down to Wales at the time, no mention? The historical inaccuracy’s in the first 5 minutes set a tone of fiction to come !

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Coming in hot there chief. What you call historical inaccuracies are legitimate academic theories for which there is evidence both for and against. Hence the “Lively academic debate”, this is a contested subject. We are all contributing to the debate.

[@andrewheaney6858]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios Takes a stretch of the imagination to think of the Anglo Saxons coming up to the western isles to join forces with the Picts to fight the Vikings thus forming Scotland no matter what academic theories you follow, just saying !🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Nowhere in the film is it suggested that Anglo-Saxons were in the western isles or even the west coast. Thanks for watching though!

[@andrewheaney6858]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios Go back and listen to to your opening narrative it’s as clear as day, from you reply though it’s sounds unintentional , thank you too for going to the trouble of making the video it’s very good, history matters and has brought us to where we are today, Slainte Pal

[@richardvanderpoll6885]

I hope you do not regard that as a great achievement.....

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

What?

[@oldmacdreadapexriddims1460]

To this day I never trust a Campbell

[@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios]

Given the last one to carry the name who held a prominent position in government (New Labour spin doctor Alasdair), we don’t blame you.

[@haraldtheyounger5504]

@@UtopiaPlanitiaStudios Yep, even back then the Campbell's were doing the dirty work on behalf of those in London. There's a great video done by Scotland History Tours on KZbin about the massacre... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3e9nKeLrKiaoZo

[@kumasenlac5504]

When the Great Liar needed a mouthpiece his hireling was a Campbell.

[@jordanmcdonald437]

Me neither

[@hilariousname6826]

Ah! Spite is so wonderfully satisfying, isn't it?

[@Duececoupe]

Old Norse (Swede) sitting in Glasgow taking notes, to retake the islands....🪓⚔️😉

[@Sofia.K.CheerYT]

IKEA got there first mate... those cinnamon buns (fika) 😍 ahhh