Kingdom of Dublin explained

Native Name:Norse, Old: Dyflin
Irish: Duibhlinn
Conventional Long Name:Kingdom of Dublin
Common Name:Dublin (Dublyni)
Government Type:Monarchy
Year Start:853
Year End:1170
Event End:Norman conquest
P1:Ciannachta
P2:Cualu
S1:Lordship of Ireland
Image Map Size:200px
Image Map Caption:Maximum extent of Dublin (pink) and other Norse settlements (green) in Ireland
Capital:Dublin
Year Leader1:c. 853–871 (first)
Year Leader2:c. 1160–1170 (last)
Title Leader:King

The Kingdom of Dublin (Old Norse: Dyflin[1]) was a Norse kingdom in Ireland that lasted from roughly 853 AD to 1170 AD. It was the first and longest-lasting Norse kingdom in Ireland, founded by Vikings who invaded the territory around Dublin in the 9th century. Its territory corresponded to most of present-day County Dublin.

History

The first reference to the Vikings comes from the Annals of Ulster and the first entry for 841 AD reads: "Pagans still on Lough Neagh". It is from this date onward that historians get references to ship fortresses or longphorts being established in Ireland. The Vikings may have first over-wintered in 840–841 AD. The actual location of the longphort of Dublin is still a hotly debated issue. Norse rulers of Dublin were often co-kings, and occasionally also Kings of Jórvík in what is now Yorkshire. Under their rule, Dublin became the biggest slave port in Western Europe.[2] [3] The hinterland of Dublin in the Norse period was named in .[4]

Over time, the settlers in Dublin became increasingly Gaelicized. They began to exhibit a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism, and are often referred to as Norse-Gaels.

In 988, Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill led the initial Gaelic conquest of Dublin. As a result, the founding of Dublin is counted by some from the year 988, although a village had existed on the site of Dublin nearly a thousand years earlier.

Coins were minted in Dublin by about 995, and on Mann by about 1025.[5]

In the mid-11th century, the Kingdom of Leinster began exerting influence over Dublin. Though the last king of Dublin was killed by the Norman conquerors of Dublin in 1171.

Geography

The extent of the kingdom varied, but in peaceful times it extended roughly as far as Wicklow (Norse, Old: Wykinglo) in the south, Glen Ding near Blessington, Leixlip (Norse, Old: Lax Hlaup) west of Dublin, and Skerries, Dublin (Norse, Old: Skere) to the north. The Fingal area north of Dublin was named after the Norse who lived there.

Kings of Dublin

RulerReignNotes
c. 853–871Co-king; titled "King of the Foreigners" in 863
c. 857–873 Co-king; titled "King of the Foreigners" in 863; titled "King of the Northmen of all Ireland and Britain" in 873
c. 863–867 Co-king; titled "King of the Foreigners" in 863
Oistin mac Amlaíb873–875 Probable co-king; not explicitly named as king in the annals
873–881 Probable co-king; titled "head of the Northmen" in 881
Albann^ 875–877 Claimed Dublin but never ruled
881–888
888–893/896 Rulership disputed by Sitriuc Jarl in 893
Sichfrith Jarl^ 893-? Claimed Dublin in 893 but unclear if ever ruled
Glúniarann? Not explicitly named as king in the annals; speculated to have succeeded Sitriuc
?-902 Driven from Dublin in 902 by native Irish
align=center colspan=3 Dublin abandoned by the Norse from 902 to 917.
Sihtric ua Ímair (a.k.a. Sihtric Cáech) 917–921 defeated Niall Glundub; also king of Jórvík
921–934grandson of Ímar
934–941 son of Gofraid ua Ímair
941–945
Sigtrygg (Sitric) 941–943
945–947
Blácaire mac Gofrith 947–948 restored
align=center 948–951
Amlaíb Cuarán 952–980 restored
980–989
989–993
994–995
Sigtrygg (Sitric) Silkbeard Olafsson 995–1036
1036–1038
1038–1046
1046–1052
1052–1070
1070–1072
1072 Member of the Uí Briain; seized overlordship of Dublin following Diarmait's death; given kingship by the Dubliners in 1072; allowed Dublin to be locally ruled by Gofraid mac Amlaíb meic Ragnaill under his overlordship.
1072–1075 Member of the Meic Ragnaill (Uí Ímair); ruled under the overlordship of Toirdelbach; expelled from kingship by Toirdelbach in 1075; possibly identical to Gofraid mac Sitriuc, King of the Isles (died 1070).
1075 Member of the Meic Murchada (Uí Chennselaig); gained kingship following the expulsion of Gofraid mac Amlaíb meic Ragnaill; may have seized Dublin without the consent of the Uí Briain, or else ruled under their overlordship; died within the year.
1075–1086 Member of the Uí Briain; installed king by his father, Toirdelbach.
1086–1089 Member of the Uí Cheinnselaig; seized kingship following death of Toirdelbach; killed in 1089; control of Dublin appears to have been gained by Muirchertach not long afterwards.
c. 1091–1094 Possibly a close relative of Ímar mac Arailt and thus a member of the Uí Ímair; founder of the Crovan dynasty; ruler of the Isles; seized kingship in about 1091 and expulsed by Muirchertach in 1094.
Member of the Meic Taidc (Uí Briain); possibly installed king by his uncle, Muirchertach, after Gofraid Crobán's expulsion; certainly installed as ruler of the Isles at about this time.
Member of the Uí Briain; possibly installed king by his father, Muirchertach, after Gofraid Crobán's expulsion; certainly held kingship at a later date.
1102–1103 Ruler of Norway; appears to have seized Dublin in the early twelfth century, having taken Orkney and the Isles before the turn of the century; seems to have intended for his son, Sigurðr, to rule as king of these newly won overseas Norse territories.
Defended Dublin from Leinster attack in 1115; possibly installed king by his father long before battle, immediately before, or immediately afterwards.
×1117. Member of the Meic Murchada (Uí Chennselaig); died 1117.
1117–1118 Seized kingship after Diarmait 's death.
×1118 Member of the Uí Conchobair; drove Domnall Gerrlámhach from kingship.
×1122–1126 Member of the Meic Murchada (Uí Chennselaig); either seized kingship or was installed king by Toirdelbach; reigned under Uí Conchobair overlordship.
1126–1127 Member of the Uí Conchobair; installed king by his father, Toirdelbach; deposed in 1126.
1141–1142Member of the Uí Briain; gained kingship in 1141; died in 1142.
1142–1148 Member of the Meic Ottair; gained kingship in 1142; slain by the Meic Torcaill in 1148; may not have reigned continuously from 1142 to 1148.
1144×1146 Member of the Meic Torcaill; styled king on his death in 1146, which could be evidence that his reign interrupted that of Ottar; another possibility is that he was merely a subordinate of Ottar.
×1160 Member of the Meic Torcaill; killed in 1160.
1150s or 1160s Member of the Crovan dynasty; ruler of the Isles; held kingship of Dublin briefly at the behest of the Dubliners, although the chronology of his short reign is uncertain.
×1170 Member of the Meic Torcaill; deposed in 1170; killed attempting to regain kingship in 1171.
^ Disputed * Speculative

Timeline of Kings of Dublin

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from: 853 till: 875 color: n text:pre-Uí Ímair from: 875 till: 902 color: w text:Uí Ímair from: 917 till: 1052 color: w text:Uí Ímair from: 1052 till: 1072 color: s text:Uí C. from: 1072 till: 1075 color: w text: from: 1075 till: 1086 color: l text:Uí B. from: 1086 till: 1089 color: s text: from: 1089 till: 1094 color: a text: from: 1094 till: 1102 color: l text: from: 1102 till: 1103 color: y text: from: 1103 till: 1115 color: l text: from: 1115 till: 1117 color: s text: from: 1117 till: 1118 color: l text: from: 1118 till: 1122 color: b text: from: 1122 till: 1126 color: s text: from: 1126 till: 1127 color: b text: from: 1141 till: 1142 color: l text: from: 1142 till: 1148 color: t text: from: 1148 till: 1160 color: d text: from: 1160 till: 1165 color: a text: from: 1165 till: 1170 color: d text:

width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:Rulers

from:853 till: 871 color:n text:"Amlaíb I Conung" from:857 till: 873 color:n text:"Ímar I" from:863 till: 867 color:n text:"Auisle" from:873 till: 875 color:w text:"Oistin"

from:873 till: 881 color:w text:"Bárid" from:875 till: 877 color:n text:"Albann" from:881 till: 888 color:w text:"Sichfrith" from:888 till: 896 color:w text:"Sitric I" from:893 till: 893 color:l text:"Sichfrith Jarl" from:896 till: 900 color:w text:"Glúniarann I" from:900 till: 902 color:w text:"Ímar II"

from:917 till: 921 color:w text:"Sitric II Cáech" from:921 till: 934 color:w text:"Gofraid I" from:934 till: 941 color:w text:"Amlaíb II" from:941 till: 945 color:w text:"Blácaire" from:945 till: 947 color:w text:"Amlaíb III Cuarán" from:947 till: 948 color:w text:"Blácaire" from:948 till: 951 color:w text:"Gofraid II" from:951 till: 980 color:w text:"Amlaíb III Cuarán" from:980 till: 989 color:w text:"Glúniarann II" from:989 till: 995 color:w text:"Ímar III" from:995 till: 1036 color:w text:"Sitric III Silkbeard" from:1036 till: 1038 color:w text:"Echmarcach"

from:1038 till: 1046 color:w text:"Ímar IV" from:1046 till: 1052 color:w text:"Echmarcach"

from:1052 till: 1070 color:s text:"Murchad" from:1070 till: 1072 color:s text:"Diarmait I"

from:1072 till: 1072 color:t text:"Toirdelbach I"

from:1072 till: 1075 color:w text:"Gofraid III"

from:1075 till: 1075 color:s text:"Domnall I"

from:1075 till: 1086 color:l text:"Muirchertach"

from:1086 till: 1089 color:s text:"Donnchad"

from:1091 till: 1094 color:a text:"Gofraid IV Crobán"

from:1094 till: 1094 color:l text:"Domnall II" from:1094 till: 1102 color:l text:"Domnall III Gerrlámhach"

from:1102 till: 1103 color:y text:"Magnus Barefoot"

from:1103 till: 1115 color:l text:"Domnall III Gerrlámhach"

from:1115 till: 1117 color:s text:"Diarmait II"

from:1117 till: 1118 color:l text:"Domnall III Gerrlámhach"

from:1118 till: 1122 color:b text:"Toirdelbach II"

from:1122 till: 1126 color:s text:"Énna"

from:1126 till: 1127 color:b text:"Conchobar I"

from:1141 till: 1142 color:l text:"Conchobar II"

from:1142 till: 1148 color:t text:"Oitir"

from:1144 till: 1146 color:d text:"Ragnall" from:1148 till: 1160 color:d text:"Brodar"

from:1160 till: 1165 color:a text:"Gofraid V"

from:1165 till: 1170 color:d text:"Ascall"

barset:skip

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Clarke, Howard. Medieval Dublin, the making of a metropolis. Irish Academic Press. 1995. 978-0716524595. 44.
  2. Web site: The Viking slave trade: entrepreneurs or heathen slavers? . Downham . Clare . May–June 2009 . History Ireland . History Publications Ltd . 2020-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190809094845/http://www.historyireland.com/medieval-history-pre-1500/the-viking-slave-trade-entrepreneurs-or-heathen-slavers/ . 2019-08-09 . live.
  3. Web site: The Slave Market of Viking Dublin . O'Donnell . Jim . 2013-04-23 . Around the World in Eighty Years . 2020-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190717113836/https://www.aroundtheworldineightyyears.com/viking-dublin . 2019-07-17 . live.
  4. Church . Peter J. . 2021 . Why Are There Very Few Scandinavian Place-names in Ireland? . . 52 . 22–37.
  5. [#B1|Barrett (2016)]