Scandinavian history in the Viking age - Department of Anglo-Saxon ...

Scandinavian History in the Viking Age
[I198] G.F. Bigelow, ‘Issues and prospects in Shetland Norse archaeology’, (H8):9-32
[I199] B.E. Crawford et al., The Biggings, Papa Stour, Shetland: the history and excavation of a royal
Norwegian farm, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland monograph 15 (1999) [UL T486.b.18.15]
For place-names and settlement cf. (B875) and:
[I205] L.J. Macgregor, ‘Norse settlement in Shetland: a case study’, (A60) vol. 6 (1987), 27-45 [UL
L592.c.25.6]
Ireland
The pattern of Norse activity in Ireland is similar in outline, at least at first, to many colonies elsewhere.
The first raids are documented from the end of the eighth century and persisted throughout the early
ninth; there appear to have been rival Norwegian and Danish fleets in operation during this period, and
many Vikings seem to have hired themselves out to local rulers as mercenaries. The first period of
Scandinavian involvement in Ireland can perhaps be said to have ended with the expulsion of many
warlords around 902, seemingly helping to prompt a large-scale emigration to Iceland (G40 ff.). The
tenth century is characterised by the shifting kingdoms of Dublin and York under supposed descendants
of Ivar the boneless (I30 ff.), but the influence of their rulers faded after the middle of the tenth century,
culminating in the battle of Clontarf in 1014. In the course of the eleventh century, most of the Viking
towns or camps returned to Irish control, and the reign of the last major Viking ruler of Dublin, Sigtrygg
silkbeard (from 989 to 1042) signalled the serious assimilation of the Norse settlers. The annals are the
most important source for the Viking raids and activities, see (B122):148-59; for texts in translation,
(B120): I,255-75 and (B130 ff.). For initial guidance, see (I10 ff.), and the items in (A114).
[I210] P.H. Sawyer, ‘The Vikings and Ireland’, Ireland in early mediaeval Europe, edd. D. Whitelock et
al. (1982), 345-61 [UL 554:6.c.95.6]
[I211] B. Jaski, ‘The Vikings and the kingship of Tara’, Peritia 9 (1995), 310-51
[I212] A number of useful contributions can be found in (O82), see particularly: R. Ó Floinn, ‘The
archaeology of the early Viking age in Ireland’, 131-65; J. Sheehan, ‘Early Viking age silver hoards from
Ireland and their Scandinavian elements’, 166-202; C. Doherty, ‘The Vikings in Ireland: a review’, 288-
330; S. Stumman Hansen and A-C. Larssen, ‘Viking Ireland and the Scandinavian communities in the
north Atlantic’, 115-26; D. Ó Corráin, ‘Viking Ireland: afterthoughts’, 421-52
[I213] The Vikings in Ireland, ed. A. C. Larsen (2003): D. Ó Corráin, ‘The Vikings in Ireland’, 17-27;
C. Doherty, ‘The Viking impact upon Ireland’, 29-35.
[I214] H. Mythun, ‘The Vikings in Ireland: ethnicity, identity and cultural change’, (H11):113-137
The Viking raids
The earliest Viking activity in Ireland in the ninth century involved smash and grab raids, the proceeds of
which were maintained through a series of temporary, or not so temporary, forts. For surveys of this
activity in the Irish sea area, see (I125 ff.) and the more general items in (I10 ff.); for the effects on Irish
society, particularly in ecclesiastical terms, also:
[I215] C.D. Morris, ‘The Vikings and Irish monasteries’, Durham University journal 71 (1979), 175-85
[I216] C. Etchingham, Viking raids on Irish church settlements in the ninth century: a reconsideration of
the annals, Maynooth monographs series minor 1 (1996) [UL 1998.8.6817]
The Viking kings
These settlements gradually took on a more permanent nature, with the establishment of towns and the
Viking kingdom at Dublin; see (I30 ff.), and for urbanisation more specifically (N350 ff.). The history of
these various kings is a highly tangled one, as also is the question of whether figures from Scandinavian
history can be reasonably identified with any of the Viking leaders or their dynasties.
[I220] P. Hunter Blair, ‘Olaf the white and the Three Fragments of Irish annals’, Viking 3 (1939), 1-35
[I221] J. Stewart, ‘The death of Turgesius’, SBVS 18 (1970-73), 47-58
[I222] D. Ó Corráin, ‘High-kings, Vikings and other kings’, Irish historical studies 21 (1978-79), 283-
323
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