The
Kingdom of the Isles comprised the
Hebrides, the
islands of the Firth of Clyde and the
Isle of Man from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. The islands were known to the Norse as the
Suðreyjar, or "Southern Isles" as distinct from the
Norðreyjar or
Northern Isles of
Orkney and
Shetland. The historical record is incomplete, and the kingdom was not a continuous entity throughout the entire period. The islands concerned are sometimes referred to as the
Kingdom of Mann and the Isles, although only some of the later rulers claimed that title. At times the rulers were independent of external control, although for much of the period they had overlords in Norway, Ireland, England, Scotland or Orkney. At times there also appear to have been competing claims for all or parts of the territory. The islands involved have a total land area of over and extend for more than from north to south.