Alexander III, King of Scotland quickly responded by sending a great fleet, drawn from the Hebrides and Galloway, to invade the island and restore Scottish royal authority. The commanders of this enterprise were: John de Vesci (died 1289), John I Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (died ), Alan, an illegitimate son of Thomas fitz Roland, Earl of Atholl, Alasdair Mac Dubhghaill, Lord of Argyll (died 1310), and Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí (died ×1296).Young (2008); Tout; Ridgeway (2005); Brown (2004) p. 85; McDonald (2004) pp. 180–181, 183; Sellar (2004); Barrow (2003) pp. 86, 348; Carpenter (2003) ch. 12; Oram (2000) p. 156; Sellar (2000) p. 210; Stringer, K (1995) p. 88. The identities of these men suggest that the Scottish force was composed of a small component of heavily armed knights, a contingent of infantry troops levied from the common army of Galloway, and a fleet of galleys gathered from the Hebrides.Duncan (1996) p. 582.
