Treaty of Perth

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The Treaty of Perth ended military conflict between Norway under Magnus the Law-mender and Scotland under Alexander III over the sovereignty of the Hebrides, the Isle of Man and Caithness.

In Norwegian terms, the Western Isles were known as the Sudreys (meaning Southern Isles). They had become Norwegian territory during centuries when both Scotland and Norway were still forming themselves as coherent nation-states. Norse control was formalised in 1098, when Edgar of Scotland formally signed the islands over to Magnus III of Norway.

The Treaty of Perth was agreed three years after the 1263 naval Battle of Largs and, in Scotland, (page 90, Pimlico 1992, ISBN 0-7126-9893-0), Michael Lynch has compared the treaty's importance with that of the Treaty of York of 1237. The Treaty of York defined a border between Scotland and England which is almost identical to the modern border.

Largs is often claimed as a great Scottish victory, but the Norwegian forces, led by Håkon IV, were not fully committed to battle and the result was inconclusive. Håkon had planned to renew military action the following summer, but he died in Orkney during the winter. His successor, Magnus the Law-mender, sued for peace and secured the Treaty of Perth.

In the treaty Norway recognised Scottish sovereignty over the disputed territories in return for a lump sum of 4000 marks and an annuity of 100 marks. The annuity was actually paid during subsequent decades. Scotland also confirmed Norwegian sovereignty over Shetland and Orkney.