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Dublin's Viking Dawn

An exploration of the Hiberno-Norse settlement that shaped Ireland's early medieval landscape, from its establishment to its eventual expulsion.

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Overview

A Pivotal Center

Early Scandinavian Dublin served as a crucial Viking settlement and a significant hub of Hiberno-Norse power in Ireland. Its influence spanned from its founding in the mid-9th century until the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170. This period marked a transformative era for Ireland, introducing new cultural, economic, and political dynamics.

Timeline of Influence

The establishment of Dublin by Vikings marked a shift from sporadic raids to more organized settlement. The mid-9th century saw the founding of a stronghold by Turgeis, leading to periods of conflict, alliances, and eventual expulsion and return of Viking forces, shaping the island's political landscape for centuries.

Complex History

The history of this era is marked by shifting alliances between various Viking factions (Dubgaill and Findgaill) and native Irish kingdoms. Contemporary records are often fragmented or biased, making the precise sequence of events and the roles of key figures like Turgeis and Ímar subjects of ongoing historical analysis.

Early Viking Raids

The First Wave

The Viking Age in Ireland commenced in 795 with hit-and-run raids along the coast. Initially small-scale and focused on plunder, these raids targeted vulnerable ecclesiastical settlements. The Vikings, likely originating from Norway, primarily abducted people for slavery or ransom before retreating to Scandinavian or British bases.

Transition to Settlement

By the early 9th century, Viking activities evolved. Raids became larger, more organized, and extended inland. Crucially, naval encampments, known as longphorts, were established, allowing Vikings to winter in Ireland. This marked a transition from mere raiding to permanent settlement and territorial control.

Shifting Origins

Early raids are thought to have originated directly from southwest Norway. However, later waves, particularly after 821, likely stemmed from Viking settlements in Scotland and the Isle of Man (termed Laithlind), suggesting a developing network across the Irish Sea.

The Figure of Turgesius

An Uncertain Identity

Turgesius (also known as Thorgest or Turges) is a prominent figure associated with Viking activities in Ireland during the mid-9th century. Historical accounts suggest he founded a stronghold at Dublin around 841, plundered Leinster and Meath, and potentially ruled the northern half of Ireland. However, his exact identity remains debated among historians, with theories linking him to figures like Ragnar Lodbrok or Danish royalty, though chronological inconsistencies exist.

Reign of Terror and Downfall

From approximately 832 to 845, Turgesius is depicted as terrorizing the country and establishing Norse settlements. His reign reportedly ended when he was captured and drowned in Lough Owel by Mael Sechnaill mac Mael Ruanaid, the High King of Ireland. This event is considered a turning point in the conflict between the Irish and the Vikings.

Exaggerated Role?

Some modern scholarship suggests that the historical role of Turgesius might have been significantly exaggerated by later chroniclers. While he likely played a part in Viking activities, the extent of his direct involvement in founding Dublin or ruling large territories is questioned, with some evidence pointing to his primary association with an encampment on Lough Ree.

Norse Settlements in Dublin

The Longphort

In 841, Vikings established a longphort (naval encampment) at Dublin, likely near the present-day Dublin Castle, overlooking the Black Pool (Duiblinn). This settlement served as a base for raids across Leinster and the Midlands. The exact location and nature of this initial longphort remain subjects of archaeological debate.

Housing and Daily Life

Archaeological excavations, particularly at Wood Quay, reveal that Norse settlers constructed houses using post-and-wattle techniques with mud-and-dung plaster. These typically single-room dwellings, often around 10-50 m², were simple, with basic furniture and thatched roofs. Evidence suggests a settled community of farmers and artisans.

Distribution of Settlements

Beyond the main Dublin settlement, archaeological finds indicate scattered Viking dwellings along the River Liffey. Cemeteries unearthed at locations like Kilmainham and Islandbridge suggest a broader Norse presence, though dating these sites precisely to the First Viking Age can be challenging.

Internal Conflicts & Alliances

Dubgaill vs. Findgaill

The arrival of the Dubgaill ("Dark Foreigners") in 851 led to conflict with the earlier settlers, the Findgaill ("Fair Foreigners"). The precise origin of these terms is debated, but they signify distinct Viking factions, possibly Danish versus Norwegian, or differing political loyalties. This internal strife weakened Viking control.

Leadership Struggles

Following the deaths of key leaders like Ímar (c. 873) and Amlaíb (c. 874), Dublin experienced internal power struggles. Various sons and relatives of these leaders vied for control, often supported by or in conflict with native Irish kings, leading to a period of instability.

Shifting Allegiances

Viking leaders frequently formed strategic alliances with Irish kings (e.g., Mael Sechnaill, Cerball mac Dúnlainge, Áed Findliath) to advance their own agendas. These alliances were fluid, shifting based on political and military circumstances, complicating the historical narrative.

Campaigns Abroad

Raids in Britain

Dublin served as a base not only for Irish campaigns but also for operations in Britain. Figures like Ímar and Amlaíb were involved with the Great Heathen Army that ravaged Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the late 9th century, capturing York and campaigning across Northumbria and East Anglia.

Scottish Campaigns

In 866, Amlaíb and his brother Auisle raided the Pictish kingdom of Fortriu in Scotland, returning to Dublin with numerous hostages. These cross-channel activities highlight the extensive reach and interconnectedness of Viking activities during this period.

The Archaeological Record

Evidence from Excavations

Extensive excavations, notably at Wood Quay, Fishamble Street, and Winetavern Street, have provided crucial insights into Viking Dublin. The preservation of wooden structures in waterlogged soil has offered a rare glimpse into the settlement's layout, housing, and daily life, revealing a community distinct from the later, more urbanized Dyflinn.

Burials and Grave Goods

Over a hundred Viking burials have been found in the Dublin region. These often contain typical grave goods like swords, spearheads, shields, and hacksilver. Isotope analysis on some remains suggests origins from Scandinavia and the British Isles, corroborating the migratory nature of the settlers.

Clondalkin Fortress

A significant Norse power base was established at Clondalkin, west of Dublin. This fortress was strategically built upon the site of an older monastic settlement, a practice also potentially followed at the original Duiblinn site, underscoring the Vikings' integration with or appropriation of existing Irish centers.

Expulsion and Lasting Impact

The Expulsion of 902

In 902, a combined force of Irish kings from Leinster and Brega launched a decisive attack on Dublin, driving the Vikings out. This event marked the end of the First Viking Age in Dublin, leading to the dispersal of many Norse settlers to Wales, England, and France.

Interlude and Return

Dublin remained under Gaelic control for approximately fifteen years. Although the ruling dynasty was expelled, archaeological evidence suggests many Norse inhabitants remained. This period concluded with the return of Viking forces, notably Sitric Cáech, marking the beginning of the Second Viking Age and the establishment of a more enduring Norse kingdom in Dublin.

Foundation of a City

Despite the initial expulsion, the foundations laid by the early Norse settlers were crucial. Dublin evolved from a military encampment into a significant trading center, laying the groundwork for its future development as Ireland's capital city.

Study Aids

Key Concepts

Understanding the early history of Scandinavian Dublin requires grasping key terms and events: the distinction between longphort and settlement, the roles of figures like Turgesius and Ímar, the conflict between Dubgaill and Findgaill, and the impact of Viking raids and campaigns on both Ireland and Britain.

Further Reading

Consulting detailed historical analyses and archaeological reports provides deeper context. The provided references offer starting points for exploring primary sources like the Annals of Ulster and secondary works specializing in Viking history and Irish archaeology.

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References

References

  1.  The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, C.900-c.1024. (1995). Storbritannien: Cambridge University Press. p. 91
  2.  The World of the Khazars: New Perspectives. Selected Papers from the Jerusalem 1999 International Khazar Colloquium. (2007). Nederländerna: Brill. p. 232
  3.  The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, C.900-c.1024. (1995). Storbritannien: Cambridge University Press. p. 504
  4.  Ã“ Corráin (1998): "... we know from good archaeological evidence that early Viking raids on Ireland originated [in Rogaland]."
  5.  Ã“ Corráin (1998), though this opinion is not undisputed. Lochlainn, a corruption of the supposedly Norse term Lothland, was used in later centuries to refer to Norway.
  6.  Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum Book 9
  7.  AU 831.6. Conaille Muirthemne was a dynastic sept that ruled a minor kingdom in County Louth in the overkingdom of Ulaid or Ulster.
  8.  Ã“ Corráin (1998): "The kings and sons of kings mentioned in the Irish annals cannot, therefore, be linked to any Norwegian dynasty."
  9.  AU 837.3; CS 837; CGG 12; AClon 834 [=837]. According to the latter there were sixty-five ships in this fleet.
  10.  AU 845.8: According to the Annales Islandici, Ragnar Lodbrok died in 845.
  11.  AU 848.6; CS 848. The location of Dísert Do-Chonna is unknown, but St Mochonna was associated with the coast of north County Dublin, which was in Brega.
  12.  Ã“ Corráin (1998), p. 24. Dumville (2005) and Downham (2007), however, believe that Amlaíb and his kinsmen belonged to the Dubgaill, who supplanted the Findgaill around this time.
  13.  Ragnarssona þáttr.
  14.  CS 858. Ara Tíre is near Nenagh in County Tipperary, Munster. The Cenél Fiachach, however, were subjects of Máel Sechnaill.
  15.  AU 859.3 and Haliday (1884), p. 126; CGG 23 seems to imply that Máel Gualae's men were ultimately victorious against the invaders, despite the loss of their king.
  16.  AU 860.1; AFM 858.4 [=860]; CS 860; FAI 279. According to the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland, Amlaíb was among the defeated, being now married to Áed's daughter.
  17.  CS 861; AFM 859.3 [=861]. See here for the location of Drumomuy.
  18.  AU 864.1; AU 864.2; AFM 862.8 [=864] and 862.9 [=864]; CS 864; CGG 23; AClon 862 [=864]; Haliday (1884), p. 126.
  19.  AU 866.1. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba and AClon place this invasion in the year 864.
  20.  AU 867.6; FAI 347; AClon 865 [=867]. In CGG two accounts of Auisle's death are given: in CGG 24 "Ossill" dies in battle in Munster; in CGG 29 "Ossil" is murdered by his brother Amlaíb.
  21.  Ã†thelweard, p. 25; ASC(A) 866 [=late 865]. An early no-longer-extant copy of the ASC was Æthelweard's principal source.
  22.  See Ivar the Boneless and its Talk Page for further discussion.
  23.  In 878 a "brother of Inwære and Healfdene" landed in Devonshire in Wessex, but he was slain in the ensuing battle (ASC(A) 878). Amlaíb, Ímar, Auisle and Albdann were all dead by 878.
  24.  AU 868.4; CS 868; FAI 366. AFM 866.9 [=868]; AB 255; AClon 866 [=868]; AI 868. CGG 29 records that 500 Findgenti fell in this battle, which would seem to imply that the ruling dynasty of Dublin – to which Carlus belonged – were Findgenti.
  25.  AU 870.2; AClon 868 [=870]. Dublin and Gowran were on the borders of Leinster, so the expression may mean "the whole of Leinster".
  26.  The Norse sources understood "boneless" to mean that Ivar was impotent, had no legs, or that his limbs were so enfeebled he had to be carried about on a shield.
  27.  CGG 24. CGG 27 also refers to a son of Ímar burning Lismore, but this probably refers to Sichfrith Ivarsson, who sacked the monastery in 883.
  28.  CS 891 refers to an Eolair son of Barith, so there may be some confusion between two rival of the same name. A son of Barith would certainly have some claim to the throne his father held.
  29.  CS 891. Tirawley is an Anglicisation of Tír Amalgada, "Amalgaid's Land". It is possible that this Eolair was not Barith's son but the son of Járnkné referred to above.
  30.  AFM 897.7 [=902]. The event is antedated by five years and the old name of Ireland's Eye, Inis Mac Nesáin has been corrupted in transmission.
  31.  Wallace, P. F., Aspects of Viking Dublin (1988); Wallace, P. F., The Viking Age Buildings of Dublin (1992).
A full list of references for this article are available at the Early Scandinavian Dublin Wikipedia page

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