The Vikings In Ireland And Their Effects On The Country

V​ikings have been well established as a critical part in the history of Western Europe. The evidence of their travels goes from as far west as Newfoundland, in North America, to Kiev in modern day Ukraine. Although their influence and trade goes as wide as this, Ireland has one of the greatest collections of information on the Vikings from writings like the Annals of Ulster. In this essay I will lay out the beginnings of the Vikings entering Ireland, the major players in the campaigns across the 9​th​-10​th ​Century, the effects of their actions in nationwide society, and their integration into Irish society as a whole over the course of the 8​th ​century C. E to the 11​th ​century. I have taken inspiration from P. H Sawyer’s timeline in his book “The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings” in writing this. ”

V​ikings, as is common with many of their “expeditions”, began with raiding. Their first recorded introduction to the people of Ireland began with a raid upon “Rechru”, now known as Rathlin Island. This sacking of the local Church on the island and the burning of buildings as we 2 know would become a common occurrence for the Irish people. The Vikings would attack many monasteries time and time again, sometimes only a few years apart, an example is the community of Iona. The monks of Iona were raided firstly in c. 795, then again in c. 802, and c. 806 as evidence shows. The people of Iona retreated to Kells in County Meath for safety, later creating round towers and stone buildings like many other communities in Ireland to protect themselves against the “heathens” or “pagans” as the Vikings were commonly called.

The raids by Vikings in the late 8​th ​century and early 9​th ​century were not organised fleets attacking specific locations but exploratory ships sent as reconnaissance, to find areas of wealth and weak defense for attack. Many monasteries and communities on islands and near the coast were hit, every few years, their defense not particularly growing against these invaders. This was the first phase of Viking attacks, they would quickly raid and retreat, explore the coasts and attempt to find new lands.

T​hese first attacks were hard to predict for the locals, these were part of the first phase commonly known as the “hit and run” phase, and the places hit in Ireland often were monasteries. This first phase ranged from 795–c. 830 These specific communities used precious metals for their churches and for religious artefacts such as bible covers, crucifixes, candlestick holders and many other things. These did not need to be as protected as much as one's personal wealth, as for religious or superstitious reasons people wouldn't dare steal from God or the Church. This made it very easy for Vikings to quickly plunder communities as the majority of the precious metals and stones were kept in a single building or location. These easy targets caused more Vikings to target Britain and Ireland.

T​he attacks became more intense, leading into the second phase of the Vikings in Ireland. This was mainly overwintering and more organised raids. Beforehand the raiding mainly took place in the summer months when the harvest was rich and traversing waters was easier due to calmer weather conditions. However now raids were being done through the winter as what were

Vikings were now full time. Approximately from c. 840–902 this second phase took place. By 830 Dublin had been set up as a Viking base and the Irish were facing constant attacks and pressure from the Northmen. The Vikings began to use more organised precise attacks on church sites. The Vikings would attack a church or community on the day of its feast, when the higher profiled people and artefacts made from precious metals would be present. T​he raids during the second phase took many captives and often hit places many times over and over again until resources were exhausted and locals either moved or died out. These captured slaves were sold back in their homeland of Scandinavia, some later making their way to the east where slaves fetched a higher price and trade routes were already set up by the Vikings. Dublin acting as a base for the Vikings was where the main export of slaves and goods to other kingdoms and dominions took place. With stories of Vikings “hit and run” phase, many didn’t expect the Vikings to stay in Dublin as a permanent settlement but thought it was similar to the overwintering camps, that would be used as a fort for their regroupings, safe entry in and out of Ireland, and as a hub for trade temporarily. Dublin, as we know now would become a major base for the Vikings to execute their deadly raids and invasions against all of Ireland, whether it was remote islands such as Skellig Michael, or locations far inland such as Clonmacnoise. T​he brutal attacks over this time would garner the attention of other leaders and kings in Ireland recognising the impending raids from Vikings as they pushed further inland which would require the Vikings to bang together to stay strong. However during the 9th century, the Vikings who acted tribal and independant now began facing problems within their own settlements, especially Dublin. Prominent names and families attempted to use their high status to gain territorial power, forming dynasties and rule as kings. This caused great destabilisation within communities and settlements around Ireland. With this leadership divided it only made it easier for the Irish to be more successful throughout the 9th century in their active offense against the Vikings. In the year c. 902 the Vikings were driven out when Brega and Leinster collaborated and fought together, finally expelling the foreigners from Dublin after many grueling decades.

F​rom c. 902-917 Dublin was Viking-free and Ireland was not as promising for resources and settlements as it once had been, deterring Viking attempts to return for a short period. This exodus of Vikings was a momentous occasion for the Irish people, but meant that the Vikings attention was turned to England, Iceland, and Scotland. Many of the exiles of Dublin arrived in Scotland, quickly attempting to claim power and territory from the Picts, waging war with Pictland. The aggression of the Vikings did not die down once land was gained in Scotland as they quickly turned their eyes to England and Ireland once again. Once their strength had built up once again they landed in Waterford in 914, still not yet approaching their original home of Dublin yet. T​he Vikings now focusing on Ireland once again, began attacking Munster from Waterford. Prominent figures led armies against the Irish. These attacks and raids were organised with the clear goal of reclaiming land previously being under Viking rule, or existing as common raiding grounds. With this focus their goal was not primarily to seize captives and garner the precious metals and artefacts, but to claim land and carve through whatever enemy got in their way. One of the most prominent figures was a Viking named Ragnall, he went to battle with Niall Glúndub, the king of Tara. Niall and his armies marched to Cashel to clash with Ragnall and push him back out of Ireland once again. Niall was a Northman himself, understanding the threat of Ragnall and the Viking forces, he didn’t wait for the vikings to march north into his land, but pushed into Ragnall’s territory. With such great stakes no leader made any great engagement on the battlefield, but the campaign went on for over three weeks. Niall, convinced the armies of Leinster to ambush an encampment belonging to Sitric Cáech, a Viking leader who was a member of the Uí Ímair. Sitric came out victorious, crushing the forces of Leinster, and with their forces gone, Sitric reclaimed Dublin once again. O​nly after 15 years, Dublin fell back into the hands of the Vikings once again, but Sitric Cáech who at this point was the ruler of Dublin, left for York. Ragnall, however, left Scotland and led the attack on York, his conquest proving hard to resist. Once York was captured he submitted himself, claiming the title of king of Northumbria, to King Edward of the Anglo-Saxons. Dublin and York fell under a single dynasty which caused great tension. Dublin proved to be an important location to hold control of, as it was a big trading hub, with an easy route going from Ireland to England.

I​n c. 926 Sitric would do something not uncommon but would reinforce what could or could not be done in a viking raid, he became a Christian. Going forward, when raids landed on communities and towns under the rule of an enemy, Vikings were deterred from attacking charities of any sort or churches. He was not the first to do this however, as his kinsman, Godfrid would raid Armagh in c. 921, showing little mercy but of that mercy some was granted to the church and charities. This wouldn’t have been done for religious reasons as he was a slaver and showed no signs that would suggest he was a virtuous character. After his death in 934, he was recorded as “A most cruel king of the Norsemen. ” The rulership of Dublin throughout the 10​th Century would change many times, with battles going into other kingdoms, putting great pressure on the local lords and kings. However quickly after these successful campaigns, Dublin would find itself resisting invading forces as the Úi Neílls conquered the lands, freeing all the Irish prisoners including the king of Leinster. The leaders of Vikings in Ireland, themselves kings and highly esteemed warriors would fight amongst themselves for power, land and titles more furiously than ever before. W​ith greater and lessers kingdoms of Irish and Viking origin fighting, large names emerged. One particular king was Brian Boroimhé, also known as Brian Boru. Brian by the late 10​th ​century would take control of the Viking land of Munster. This conquest of the south gained him the title “Monarch of Leth Mogha. ” Leth Mogha being the southern half of Ireland. The rule of Brian and his army grabbed the attention of the Vikings in Ireland who rose to fight him back. Dublin fell under Dane rule again but not by pagan Northmen primarily, but Christian. Regardless of their faith, this new generation of Vikings were just as battle scarred and ruthless as their ancestors in battle, but they couldn’t hold off the tide of Brian’s armies invading Dublin. The Danish forces in the 10​th ​Century fell to Brian, king of the south and Mael Sechnaill, king of the southern Uí Néill. But in Brian's attempt to usurp the land of Dublin lead to his death in ​Mary Frances Cusack. ​An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800. This loss for the southerners was exactly was Dublin needed to remain independent and 10 self governing.

W​e first saw the Vikings enter Ireland by means of inconsistent raiding, hitting islands or coastal communities approximately c. 795 onwards but in the early 9th century this quickly turned to overwintering and settlements. Unknown to the local domains of Ireland the Vikings planned to stay but held their independence from foreign rule or culture and held their customs and pagan faiths fervently. As they gained more power in Britain and Dublin we saw their strength rise while holding independence around the 10th century. However during the 11​th century we see kingdoms combine, dynasties rise and fall and the assimilation of the Vikings into Irish society.

T​he first Viking age came to a close around c. 1066 and we see what was the “foreign invaders” become assimilated into every culture they had raided and settled. Places such as France, England, Scotland, Iceland, Ukraine and many other places would find a great impact culturally on them. The names of towns ending with the suffix “-by” or “-ton” for example was of Viking origin. Though they caused a great distress in Ireland from raiding and the usurpation of land overall they didn’t have a huge influence on the political in Viking-age Ireland. From the 11​th ​century onwards Vikings simply became the Norse-Gaels. Accepting Ireland as their home, and many accepting Christianity as their religion but bringing forth art styles, writings styles and languages that would solidify the unique Irish heritage that we know today.

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