Editing Cowal (section)

===Argyll===
{{See also|Argyll}}
When [[Scoti|the Irish invaded the region]], it became part of their kingdom of [[Dal Riata]]. The [[Cenél Comgaill]], a kin group within Dal Riata, controlled the Cowal peninsula, which consequently took their name (evolving over time from ''Comgaill'' to ''Cowal''). Prior to this, little is known, except as revealed archaeologically, though the region may have been part of the [[Picts|Pictish]] kingdom of [[Fortriu]].

Following a subsequent invasion by [[Norsemen]], the [[Hebrides|Hebridean islands]] of Dal Riata became the [[Kingdom of the Isles]], which following Norwegian unification became part of Norway, as ''Suðreyjar'' (historically anglicised as ''Sodor''). The remaining parts of Dal Riata attracted the name Argyll, in reference to their ethnicity. In an unclear manner, the [[kingdom of Alba]] was founded elsewhere by groups originating from Argyll.

However, an 11th-century Norse military campaign led to the formal transfer of [[Lorne, Scotland|Lorn]], [[Islay]], [[Kintyre]], [[Knapdale]], [[Isle of Bute|Bute]], and [[Isle of Arran|Arran]], to ''Suðreyjar''. This left Alba with no part of Argyll except Cowal, and the land between [[Loch Awe]] and [[Loch Fyne]]. After Alba united with [[Province of Moray|Moray]], over the course of the century, it became Scotland. In 1326, a [[Sheriffdom|sheriff]] was appointed for the Scottish parts of Argyll.

Although, following the [[Treaty of Perth]], Suðreyjar's successor state, the [[Lordship of the Isles]], fell under the nominal authority of the Scottish king, it was not until 1475 that it was merged with Scotland (the occasion being the punishment of [[John of Islay, Earl of Ross|its ruler]] for an anti-Scottish conspiracy). The sheriffdom of Argyll was expanded to include the adjacent mainland areas from the Lordship. Following local government reforms in the 19th century, the traditional provinces were formally abolished, in favour of counties aligned with sheriffdoms, so Cowal became merely a part of the county of Argyll.