Norse and Self-ruling Norðreyjar and Suðreyjar?

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Nordreyjar(Orkney and Shetland Islands) and Sudreyjar(the Hebrides and Mann) had long been under Norse control that eventually gave way to Scottish influence. The Northern Isles, ruled via the Earldom of Orkney, were absorbed in the 15th century, while the Southern Isles, under the Kingdom of the Isles and Mann, had long since been absorbed in the 13th century. Though Norse was spoken on the Northern Isles, it largely disappeared by the 18th century; Norse in the Southern Isles overtook the local Gaelic in terms of prestige and place names but otherwise remained spoken long past the fall of Norse control. What POD would it take for 1) both archipelagoes to remain Norse in culture and language and 2) maintain some form of self-governance (independence, autonomous region)? Bonus points if the Faroes get roped in as well.

An easy solution would be for Norway to retain control over the islands but they are far-off and greatly coveted by Scotland as in OTL.
 
England plants its boot firmly on Scotland's neck with the help of Norway, and in return English kings guarantee continued Norwegian control over the islands ?
 
Perhaps a union of Scotland and Norway while the isles are still under Norwegian control. They would then settle in between the crowns and could end up with autonomy.
At any rate there'd be no need to promote them as Scottish and thus the local Norse might survive longer.
 
@Magnum That could work though it would depend on the time of the PoD for sure. If it was on the tailend of the Viking Age with Hardrada's stillborn invasion of England in the 11th c, then such an alliance would be unlikely. In truth, I don't know much about Anglo-Norwegian relations during the late Medieval Age; England's diplomatic focus was on Aquitaine, Normandy, and France with Scotland toeing that fine line. A late medieval POD would be better in that case, but it still might be too late for the Kingdom of the Isles. It all depends on how quickly the Scots become threats to England and how much they are willing to trust a nation that, though weakened greatly, still had once invaded their land.

@The Professor An interesting proposition! Though that would require a more complete subjugation of Alba by the Norse in the height of the Viking Era. At the same time, such a policy of autonomy might backfire in terms of Norsification(?) as Gaelic was already prevalent and by their proximity to Scotland might become Gaelicized instead of the other way around.
 
@The Professor An interesting proposition! Though that would require a more complete subjugation of Alba by the Norse in the height of the Viking Era. At the same time, such a policy of autonomy might backfire in terms of Norsification(?) as Gaelic was already prevalent and by their proximity to Scotland might become Gaelicized instead of the other way around.
One can do it later than the Viking Era. Look at all the marriages between Scotland and Norway that came close to a personal union.
 
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