User:Finnrind/Viking Ireland

Viking Ireland concerns the Viking incursions made by raiders from Scandinavia in the ninth and tenth century, the subsequent establishment of permanent Scandinavian settlements in Ireland and the development of these into the first major towns in Ireland. In addition to describing the activities of the Scandinavian Vikings and settlers and their descendants, the impact they have had on Irish history, culture and society is discussed. The timeframe for "Viking Ireland" is often defined as 795–1172, from the first recorded Viking raid in Ireland to the execution of Asgall mac Torcáill, the last ruler in Dublin of Scandinavian descent.

Ireland before the Vikings
At the end of the 700s, Ireland was homogeneously Gaelic, in terms of society, culture and language. People lived in rural communities, and the only larger settlements was monastic towns of varying sizes. The monasteries played an important part in society not just with regards to religious and cultural life but also economy and politics. Christianization had begun in the 400s, and by the early 800s the island was almost wholly Christian. However, the Martyrology of Tallaght (written sometime in the 700s or 800s) hints that paganism had not yet been fully uprooted.

The Vikings
A Viking (pron. /ˈvaɪkɪŋ/) is one of the Scandinavian  explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates  who raided and colonised wide areas of Europe from the late eighth to the early eleventh century. These Norsemen used their famed longships to travel as far east as Constantinople and the Volga River in Russia, and as far west as Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. This period of Viking expansion is known as the Viking Age, and forms a major part of the medieval history of Scandinavia, Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe in general.

In Old Norse, the word is spelled víkingr. The word appears on several rune stones found in Scandinavia. In the Icelanders' sagas, víking refers to an overseas expedition (Old Norse fara í víking "to go on an expedition"), and víkingr, to a seaman or warrior taking part in such an expedition.

During the 20th century, the meaning of the term was expanded to refer not only to the raiders, but also to the entire period; it is now, somewhat confusingly, used as a noun both in the original meaning of raiders, warriors or navigators, and to refer to the Scandinavian population in general. As an adjective, the word is used in expressions like "Viking age", "Viking culture", "Viking colony", etc., generally referring to medieval Scandinavia. The pre-Christian Scandinavian population is also referred to as Norse, although that term is properly applied to the whole civilization of Old-Norse-speaking people.

Where did they come from?
Short account of the historical discussions, westcoast of Norway, Viken etc etc. Ó Corráins theory of already establised bases on the northern and western isles of Scotland -> Jump to Downhams conclusion that we don't know and we don't really care.

The first raids
The first recorded Viking raid in Irish history occurred in 795 when Vikings, looted the island of Lambay. This was followed by a raid on the coast of Brega in 798, and raids on the coast of Connacht in 807.

Notes to self: A rather detailed list of recorded raids, followed by a discussion
 * Why was churches/ monastic sites targeted (include chroniclers giving special attention to such sites), slavery as main objective.
 * Defence against Vikings organised at local level (not many records of regional/over-regional alliances), when confronted in force the Vikings was repelled more often than not.
 * Impact (was there really any?). Iona -> Kells/ Dunkeld.

Larger raids and longports

 * The first major fleets recorded
 * The myth of Turgesius occupation of Ireland (should be discussed I guess, sigh...)
 * The first overwintering
 * The first longports (Annagassan and Dublin)

The organisation of the Vikings

 * Internal conflicts: Dub(h)- and Fin(d)gaill
 * Gallgoidil as early mentioned in the annals
 * Olaf, Ivar and Loithlind/Lochlainn
 * The first alliances. Meath, Osraige.
 * Was there coordinated efforts in Britain and Ireland: Ui Imair revisited, relationship with Northumbria and the early "Danish" kingdoms in Mercia/Anglia, Man and the Isles.

Scandinavian settlements in Ireland
Start with the comeback in 917, then deal with the history each major settlement separately

Nature of the settlements/settlers

 * Buildings, fortifications, location (rivers, between or on the outskirts of established Irish kingdoms)
 * Customs: Clothing, metalwork, minting, ship-building
 * Demographics (Norse elite with most of the population indigenous)
 * Get hold of that paper on non-urban settlements...

Irish control

 * 980 -> loss of independence, the Norse becoming Christians and adopting Gaelic customs/language/names...
 * Relationship with Canute the Great post 1000
 * The settlements as powerbases for the post-Brian (would be) kings: Limerick - Ua Briain, Cork - McCarthy, Waterford - Leinster/Munster/(what was left of) Osraige, Dublin as the prize for would be high kings.

Lasting impact
(find sources)
 * Language?
 * Customs?
 * Historical impacts of no major ports in the north, the Northern Ui Neill /Ulaid strength in 9-10th century led to their weakness in the 11-12th...