This article lists the monarchs who have ruled the Isle of Man. The island has been ruled by Brythonic, Irish, Scottish, Hiberno-Norse, English, and British monarchs. Currently, the island is ruled by the Lord of Mann, Charles III, who is represented by Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Lorimer.

Mythology

According to Manx mythology, the first ruler of the Isle of Man was Manannán mac Lir.[1]

Ulaid rule (578 ‒ 582)

The Annals of Ulster record an expedition of the Ulaid to the Isle of Man in 577 and their return in 578 in which King Báetán mac Cairill imposed his authority on the island.[2] In 582 after his death, the annals record the taking of Man by Áedán mac Gabráin.[3]

Name (Birth–death)ReignNotesRoyal house
StartEndLength
Báetán mac Cairill (d. 581)5785824 yearsAlso King of UlaidHouse of Ulaid

Dál Riada rule (582 ‒ c.600)

In 582, Dál Riada are recorded taking the island under King Áedán mac Gabráin.

Name (Birth–death)ReignNotesRoyal house
StartEnd
Áedán mac Gabráin (d. 581)582c.600Also King of Dál RiadaCenél nGabrain

Bernician-Deiran rule (620 – 633)

PortraitName (Birth–death)ReignNotesRoyal house
StartEndLength
Edwin of Bernicia & Deira (c.586─632)620[4]63313 yearsAlso King of Bernicia and DeiraHouse of Deira

Kings of Ynys Manau (633 ‒ 825)

Name (Birth–death)ReignNotesRoyal house
StartEnd
Cynin b. Early 600s633Mid 600sSon of Anllech ap TudwalHouse of Alt Clut
Mermin Fawr (b. c.630)Mid 600s682Son of Cynin ap Anllech
Anaraud (b. c.650)682Late 600sSon of Mermin Fawr
Tudwal III (b. c.670)Late 600sEarly 700sSon of Anaraud ap Mermin
Iudgual (b. c.690)Early 700sMid 700sSon of Tudwal ap Anarawd
Celemion (b. c.690)Mid 700sLate 700sDaughter of Tudwal ap Anarawd; Possibly ruled jointly with her husband Sandde
Sandde (b. c.685)Mid 700s790

Husband of Celemion ferch Tudwal; Ruled jure uxoris;

Male-line descendant of Llywarch Hen

Coeling
Elidyr (b. c.730)790Early 800sSon of Sandde ap Alcwn and Celemion ferch Tudwal
Gwriad (b. c.750)Early 800sEarly 800sSon of Elidyr ap Sandde; married Esyllt, daughter of Cynan, King of Gwynedd
Merfyn Frych (c.770─844)Early 800s825Son of Gwriad ap Elidyr

Gwynedd rule (825 ‒ 836)

In 825, Merfyn Frych becomes King of Gwynedd bringing Mann under Welsh rule.

PortraitName (Birth–death)ReignNotesRoyal house
StartEndLength
Merfyn Frych (c.770─844)82583611 yearsSon of Gwriad ap Elidyr; Also King of GwyneddCoeling

Early Norse rule (902 ‒ 914)

In about 900, Mann came under the rule of a series of primarily Hiberno-Norse kings and incorporated into the Kingdom of the Isles. Paradoxically, the Norse were responsible for the cementing of the Gaelic language on the island, which utterly replaced the native Brittonic. The island has produced a more densely distributed Viking Age archaeology than anywhere else in the British Isles, but the written records for this time period are poor.[5][6]

Name (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal houseVassalage
StartEnd
Otir912[7]914[8]Jarl and "Master of the Isle of Man"OtirPossibly as a vassal of Ragnall ua Ímair[9]
Bárid mac Oitir914914N/ALikely son of OttirIndependent?

Kingdom of the Isles (914 ‒ 1265)

Main article: List of rulers of the Kingdom of the Isles

Since the emergence of Somerled and his descendants in the 12th century, the Manx kings began to lose territory and power in the Hebrides. Before the reigns of the three sons of Olaf the Black, the Manx kings styled themselves "King of the Isles". By the time of the reigns of Olaf's sons, the kings had begun to style themselves "King of Mann and the Isles".

Name (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal houseVassalage
StartEnd

Ragnall ua Ímair

(d. c.921)

914921King of NorthumbriaDefeated Bárid in a naval battle off Man in 914;[10][11]Grandson of Ímar, King of DublinUí ÍmairIndependent
Northumbria
Gothfrith ua Ímair (d.934)920s930sKing of Northumbria; King of DublinGrandson of Ímar, King of DublinNorthumbria & Dublin
Olaf Guthfrithson (d.941)930s941King of Northumbria; King of DublinSon of Gofraid ua Ímair; Married a daughter of Constantine II of Scotland
Amlaíb Cuaránc.941980King of the Isles[12] (and possibly King of Mann);[13] King of Northumbria; King of Dublin[14]Son of Sitric Cáech; Died on Iona in 981.[15]
Maccus mac Arailt980?King of the Isles[16]Said to have been "brought under subjection" by Edgar the Peaceful, King of England who died in 975[17]Kingdom of England
Gofraid mac Arailt[18]?989King of the IslesBrother of Maccus mac Arailt
Gilli990?JarlOperated under Sigurd the Stout, Earl of Orkney & Mormaer of Caithness. Married to Sigurd's sister. Sigurd himself was a vassal of the King of Norway.Jarldom of Orkeny
Ragnall mac Gofraid?1005[19]King of the Isles[20][21]Son of Gofraid mac ArailtUí Ímair
Sigurd the Stout10051014Earl of Orkney & Mormaer of CaithnessOrkneyKingdom of Norway
Einar Sigurdsson10141016?Joint Earl of OrkneyJarldom of Orkeny
Håkon Eiriksson10161030[22]Ruler of the Suðreyar; Governor ofNorwayNephew of Cnut the GreatLadeNorth Sea Empire
Olaf Sigtryggsson10301034[23]King of Mann and many of the other islands of Denmark[23]Son of Sitric Silkbeard and grandson of Amlaíb CuaránUí ÍmairIndependent
Thorfinn the Mightyc.1035c.1058Earl of Orkney & Mormaer of CaithnessOrkneyKingdom of Norway
Ímar mac Arailtc.1045?[24]?King of DublinRuler of Dublin and possibly Mann. In 1045 Ímar crushed the Ulaid in a raid on Rathlin which may be evidence that he also controlled Mann at this point.[24]Uí ÍmairDublin
Echmarcach mac Ragnaill10521061[25][26]King of MannProbably ruler of both Dublin and Mann prior to 1052, when he was expelled from the former by Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó.[26] Possibly son of Ragnall mac Gofraid and thus possibly a King of Innse Gall as well.[22][25][27]
Murchad mac Diarmata10611070King of Dublin and Mann?[28]Uí Ceinnselaig
Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó10701072King of Dublin and the Isles[29]Father of Murchad, but who ruled after him over Dublin "and, one assumes, Man"[28]
Godred Sitricson10721074King of Man[30]Uí ÍmairIndependent
Fingal Godredson (d. c.1070)10741070sKing of Man[31]Son of Godred Sitricson[31]
Godred Crovan (d.1095)1070s1095King of Dublin and the Isles[32]Son of "Harald the Black of Ysland"[33][34]Crovan Dynasty
Lagmann Godredsson10951098?Eldest son of Godred Crovan. Whether Lagmann began his reign before or after Magnus Barelegs's arrival is not known for certain.
MacMarasd. 1098Jarl of ManEach Earl of "one half of Man" in a civil war ending in the Battle of Santwat, in which both die. [35][36]?
Ottard. 1098Jarl of ManCotter
Magnus Barelegs10981102King of Norway Possibly King of the IslesDirect Norwegian rule[37][38]HardradaKingdom of Norway
Sigurd Magnusson11021103King of NorwayNominal control by under-age son of Magnus Barelegs[37]
Lagmann Godredsson11031110Eldest son of Godred CrovanCrovan DynastyIndependent
Domnall mac Taidc Uí Briain1111[39]1112Regent during the minority of Olave the RedNephew of Muirchertach Ua Briain. Expelled by the Islesmen.Meic Taidc (Uí Briain)
Olave the Red1112[40]1152Son of Godred Crovan[39]Crovan Dynasty
Godred the Black1154[40]1158King of Man and the Isles[41] King of Man (1156─1158)Son of Olave the Red Kingdom partitioned in 1156 after the Battle of Epiphany[42][43] but Mann remains under Godred until 1158.
Somerled11581164Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne[44]Son-in-law of Olave the Red, and son of GilleBride of the old royal house of Dalriada, and a Norse woman.[44] By 1158 Somerled was Rex Insularum, King of the Isles. His dominion covered 25,000 square miles and more than 500 islands.[45]Dál Riada
Reginald[46]11641164No recordHalf-brother of Godred the Black[47]Crovan Dynasty
Godred the Black[48]11641187King of the IslesRe-instated
Ragnvald11881226King of the IslesSon of Godred the Black[49][50]
Olaf the Black[48]12261237King of Mann and the IslesHalf-brother of Raghnall mac Gofraidh
Óspakr-Hákon12301230King of the Suðreyjar[51]Son of Dubgall mac Somairle?Dál Riada
Gofraid Donn12301230sSon of Raghnall mac GofraidhCrovan Dynasty
Harald Olafsson12371248King of Mann and the IslesSon of Olaf the BlackKingdom of Norway
Ragnvald Olafsson12481249King of Mann and the IslesSon of Olaf the Black, his rule was brief
Harald Godredsson12491250King of MannSon of Gofraid Donn and grandson of Raghnall mac Gofraidh
Magnus Olafsson12521265?King of Mann and the IslesSon of Olaf the Black

Scottish and English rule (1265 – 1333)

Between 1265 and 1333, Mann was ruled directly by the Kings of Scotland (1265–1290, 1293–1296, 1313–1317, 1328–1333) or the Kings of England (1290–1293, 1296–1313,[52] 1317–1328).

Name (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal house
StartEnd
Kingdom of Scotland (1265‒1290)
Alexander III[53] (1249–1286)12651286King of ScotsMann annexed by ScotlandDunkeld
Margaret (1283–1290)12861290Queen of ScotsGranddaughter of Alexander IIISverre
Kingdom of England (1290‒1293)
Edward I (1272–1307)12901293King of EnglandMann annexed by EnglandPlantagenet
Kingdom of Scotland (1293–1296)
John Balliol (1292–1296)12931296King of ScotsMann annexed by ScotlandBalliol
Kingdom of England (1296–1313)
Edward I (1272–1307)12961307King of EnglandMann annexed by EnglandPlantagenet
Edward II (1307–1327)13071327King of EnglandSon of Edward I
Kingdom of Scotland (1313–1317)
Robert I[54] the Bruce (1306–1329)13131317King of ScotsMann annexed by ScotlandBruce
Kingdom of England (1317‒1328)
Edward III (1327–1377)13171328King of EnglandMann annexed by EnglandPlantagenet
Kingdom of Scotland (1328–1333)
Robert I[54] the Bruce (1306–1329)13291329King of ScotsMann annexed by ScotlandBruce
David II[55] (1329–1371)13291333King of ScotsSon of Robert I
Kingdom of England (1317‒1328)
Edward III (1327–1377)13331333King of EnglandMann annexed by EnglandPlantagenet

Kings of Mann (1333 ‒ 1399)

Main article: King of Mann
Portrait/ArmsName (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal houseVassalage
StartEnd
William I (1301–1344)13331344King of Mann Earl of SalisburyIn 1333, Edward III of England renounced all royal claims over Mann, and recognised it as an independent kingdom.[56]MontaguKingdom of England
William II (1328–1397)13441392King of Mann Earl of SalisburySon of William I of Mann
William III (c.1350–1399)13921399King of Mann Earl of WiltshireTitle purchased from William II of Mann. He was executed for his support of Richard II in his struggle with Henry Bolingbroke and the Kingdom of Mann passed to the English Crown.Scrope

English suzerainty (1399 ‒ 1504)

Main article: King of Mann
Portrait/ArmsName (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal house
StartEnd
Henry IV (1367–1413)139919 October 1399King of EnglandClaimed Mann by Right of ConquestLancaster
Henry I (1367–1413)19 October 13991405King of Mann Earl of NorthumberlandHenry IV granted the Island, as a fiefdom under the English Crown to Henry Percy. He was officially made Lord of Mann but styled himself as King of Mann.[57] He was stripped of this title following a rebellion in 1405.[58]Percy
John I (c.1350–1414)14051414King of MannHenry IV granted the Island, as a fiefdom under the English Crown to Sir John Stanley.[58]Stanley
John II (c.1386–1437)14051437King of MannSon of John I of Mann
Thomas I (c.1405–1459)1437February 1459King of Mann Baron StanleySon of John II of Mann
Thomas II (1435–1504)February 145929 July 1504King of Mann Earl of DerbySon of Thomas I of Mann Married Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII of England
Thomas III (1485–1521)29 July 150423 May 1521King of Mann Earl of DerbySon of Thomas II of Mann

Lords of Mann (1521 ‒ present)

Main article: Lord of Mann

Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby, the son of Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby, did not take the style "King", and he and his successors were generally known instead as Lord of Mann.[59][60] However, the Latin style Rex Manniae et Insularum (King of Mann and the Isles) continued to be occasionally used in official documents until at least the 17th century.

In 1765, the title was revested in the Crown of Great Britain; thus today the title, Lord of Mann, is used by King Charles III.[61][62] Queen Victoria was styled as Lady of Mann, whereas, title "Lord" was used by Queen Elizabeth II.[63]

Portrait/ArmsName (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal house
StartEnd
Edward (1509–1572)23 May 152124 October 1572Lord of Mann Earl of DerbySon of Thomas III of MannStanley
Henry II (1531–1593)24 October 157225 September 1593Lord of Mann Earl of DerbySon of Edward of Mann
Ferdinando (1559–1594)25 September 159316 April 1594Lord of Mann Earl of DerbySon of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby

Succession dispute (1594–1607)

After Ferdinando's death, the succession is disputed between his daughters and his brother William, Earl of Derby. Ultimately the English Privy Council awarded the island to the daughters of Ferdinando.[64] However, they were all below the age of majority at the time so James I of England appointed two successive interim Lords of Mann to act as regents.[65]

Portrait/ArmsName (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesHouse
StartEnd
Henry Howard (1540–1614)16071608Lord of Mann Earl of NorthamptonMade interim Lord by letters patent of James I of EnglandHoward
Robert Cecil (1563–1612)16081609Lord of Mann Earl of SalisburyMade interim Lord by letters patent of James I of EnglandCecil

In 1609, the Parliament of England passed the (7 Jas. 1. c. 4 Pr.)[66] which established the title in law as Lord of Mann. The lordship was conferred by letters patent dated 7 July 1609 upon William Stanely, Earl of Derby.[67]

Portrait/ArmsName (Birth–death)ReignTitlesNotesRoyal house
StartEnd
William IV (1561–1642)7 July 16091612Lord of Mann Earl of DerbySon of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of DerbyStanley
Elizabeth (1575–1627)161210 March 1627Lord of Mann Countess of DerbyWife of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby who granted her the title Lord of Mann.De Vere
James (1607–1651)10 March 162715 October 1651Lord of Mann Earl of DerbySon of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby and Elizabeth Stanley, Countess of DerbyStanley

See also

References

  1. ^ Morrison, Sophia (1911). Manx fairy tales. London : D. Nutt.
  2. ^ AU 577.6; 578.2; Byrne, pg.110; Mac Niocaill, pg.78; Ó Cróinín (EMI), pg. 50; Ó Cróinín (NHI), pg.216.
  3. ^ AU 582.1; AT 580.1
  4. ^ Guy, Benjamin (2023-05-06), "Manaw of the Britons: The Pre-Viking Kings of the Isle of Man", Isle of Man Studies: The Proceedings of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Vol. 18, Martin, Dave (ed.), The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, pp. 145–161, doi:10.5284/1050092. ISBN 978-1-7394236-0-5, retrieved 2025-07-16
  5. ^ Woolf (2007) pp. 293–94
  6. ^ Downham (2007) p. 178
  7. ^ Woolf (2007) pp. 140–41
  8. ^ Howorth (1911) p. 12
  9. ^ Howorth (1911) p. 8
  10. ^ Woolf (2007) pp. 140–41
  11. ^ Downham (2007) p. 30
  12. ^ Gregory (1881) pp. 4–6 and/or as otherwise indicated. An asterisk (*) indicates the individual is not considered by Gregory.
  13. ^ Woolf (2007) p. 181
  14. ^ Woolf (2007) p. 174
  15. ^ Ó Corráin (1998) p. 11
  16. ^ Downham (2007) p. 253
  17. ^ Gregory (1881) p. 5
  18. ^ Downham (2007) p. 185
  19. ^ Downham (2007) p. 197
  20. ^ Downham (2007) p. 267
  21. ^ Etchingham (2001) p. 180
  22. ^ Woolf (2007) p. 246
  23. ^ Etchingham (2001) pp. 157–58
  24. ^ Duffy (2006) pp. 53, 55
  25. ^ Woolf (2007) p. 245
  26. ^ Duffy (1992) p. 100
  27. ^ Downham (2007) p. 187
  28. ^ Duffy (1992) pp. 100–01
  29. ^ Duffy (1992) p. 108
  30. ^ The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874) p. 51
  31. ^ The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874) p. 51
  32. ^ Duffy (1992) p. 108
  33. ^ Gregory (1881) p. 5
  34. ^ The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874) p. 51
  35. ^ "IOMNHAS vol 3 no 3 p222/229 - Battle of Santwat". www.isle-of-man.com. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
  36. ^ Duffy (1992) pp. 121–22
  37. ^ Gregory (1881) pp. 4–6
  38. ^ Hunter (2000) pp. 102–3
  39. ^ Duffy (1992) p. 115
  40. ^ Duffy (1992) pp. 125–26
  41. ^ Duffy (1992) pp. 127–28
  42. ^ Gregory (1881) pp. 9–17
  43. ^ Woolf (2006) p. 103
  44. ^ Gregory (1881) pp. 9–17
  45. ^ "Finlaggan Eilean Mor - the Lords of the Isles"
  46. ^ The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874) p. 75
  47. ^ The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874) p. 75
  48. ^ Gregory (1881) pp. 4–6 and/or as otherwise indicated. An asterisk (*) indicates the individual is not considered by Gregory.
  49. ^ Gregory (1881) p. 17
  50. ^ The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874) p. 79
  51. ^ Sellar (2000) pp. 194, 202
  52. ^ "pp139/140- Manx Soc vol 7 'Monumenta de Insula Manniae - Vol 2' - Resumption of Island by Edward I 1307". Isle-of-man.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  53. ^ "Alexander III (r. 1249–1286)". royal.gov.uk. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  54. ^ "Robert I (r. 1306–1329)". royal.gov.uk. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  55. ^ "David II (r. 1329–1371)". royal.gov.uk. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  56. ^ "pp183/184 - Manx Soc vol 7 'Monumenta de Insula Manniae - Vol 2'". Isle-of-man.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  57. ^ "pp215/219 Manx Soc vol 7 'Monumenta de Insula Manniae - Vol 2 - Concession of the Isle of Man by Service of the Lancaster Sword, 1399". Isle-of-man.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  58. ^ "Monumenta de Insula Manniae - Vol 2 - Respecting the Grant of the Isle of Mann, 1405". Manx Society. 7: 232/4.
  59. ^ "Castle Rushen – Kings and Lords of Mann – Castletown Website". Castletown.org.im. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  60. ^ "Kings & Lords of Mann - Isle of Man Government Manx National Heritage". www.gov.im. Archived 2007-05-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
  61. ^ "Lord of Mann receives congratulations for time in service". Three.fm. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  62. ^ "IOM Post Office commemorates Queen's reign". Manxradio.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  63. ^ Callow, Edward (1899). "Preface". From King Orry to Queen Victoria: A Short and Concise History of the Isle of Man. London, UK: Elliot Stock. Retrieved 2013-10-27. – via Isle-of-man.com.
  64. ^ "William, Sixth Earl of Derby, 1610-1627". Isle-of-man.com. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  65. ^ "Grant of the Isle of Man to the Earl of Northampton and the Earl of Salesbury". Monumenta de Insula Manniae. Vol. III. Douglas: Manx Society. 1861. p. 88. Retrieved 2013-10-27. – via Isle-of-man.com.
  66. ^ Mills, M.A. (1821). "An Acte for the Assuringe and Establishing of the Isle of Manne". Ancient Ordinances and Statute Laws of the Isle of Man. Douglas. pp. 522–527. – via Isle-of-man.com.
  67. ^ Mills, M.A. (1821). "Grant by James I of Island to Earl of Salisbury". Ancient Ordinances and Statute Laws of the Isle of Man. Douglas. pp. 514–522. – via Isle-of-man.com.