Gofraid ua Ímair
Encyclopedia
Gofraid (Old Irish
: Gofraid ua Ímair, Old Norse: Guðrøðr) (died 934) was a Norse-Gael king of Dublin and, for a short time, king of Northumbria. Gofraid was one of the grandsons of Ímar, the dynasty is known as the Uí Ímair
, and along with his kinsmen Sihtric Cáech and Ragnall
, he was active in Ireland
and in northern Britain
.
The Ímar from whom the Uí Ímair were descended is generally presumed to be that Ímar, "king of the Northmen of all Britain and Ireland", whose death is reported by the Annals of Ulster
in 873. Whether this Ímar is to be identified with the leader of the Great Heathen Army
, or with Ivarr the Boneless, is less certain. In the period between the death of Ímar and the expulsion of the Northmen and Norse-Gaels from Dublin in 902, it is not certain that any descendants of Ímar played a notable part in the politics of the region. Members of the kindred appear to have led armies against the Picts
following their expulsion, but these were killed and the armies destroyed in 904 by Constantín son of Áed, the king of Alba.
In the following decade it is supposed that the grandsons of Ímar may have been in some part of the Atlantic
or Irish Sea
coasts of Britain where the historical record sheds almost no light on events, the area in question extending from the Isle of Man
through the Hebrides
to the Northern Isles
, as well as the coasts opposite. They reappear again in 914 when Ragnall and his kinsman Sihtric are recorded leading fleets in the Irish Sea. The first report of Gofraid is in 918, when he accompanied Ragnall's expedition to Northumbria
and fought at the second, or perhaps only, battle of Corbridge
against Constantín son of Áed and Ealdred son of Eadwulf
. The battle was not decisive, but this allowed Ragnall to take power at York
. Sihtric had established himself as ruler of Dublin in late 917, and defeated and killed the High King of Ireland
Niall Glúndub
on 14 September 919. Sihtric joined Ragnall and Gofraid in Northumbria in 920, and succeeded Ragnall in 921. Gofraid then returned to Ireland to rule in Dublin.
On 10 November 921, Gofraid's army seized Armagh
, the home of the cult of Saint Patrick
and one of the chief church centres of Ireland. The Annals of Ulster state:
. An expedition to Limerick
in 924 may have had mixed results: the Annals of Ulster say that it ended in failure, while the Annals of Innisfallen report that Gofraid "took the hostages of the south of Ireland".
Gofraid's son Alpdann (Old Norse Hálfdan) was killed in 927 at Linn Duachaill—now Annagassan
, County Louth
—by Muirchertach and the survivors of his army besieged until Gofraid brought an army from Dublin to rescue them. Sihtric Cáech died the same year, and the Annals of Ulster state that Gothfrith left Dublin with a fleet. He appears to have been chosen as king at York
to succeed Sihtric, but within six months he was back in Dublin, having been driven out of Northumbria by King Æthelstan.
Back in Ireland, Gofraid raided Osraige and Leinster
in 930 and outraged the annalists by pillaging Derc Ferna in modern county Kilkenny
.
Gofraid died in 934, the Annals of Ulster describing him as "a most cruel king of the Norsemen". He was followed as king of Dublin by a son Amlaíb, and another son, Blácaire
would also rule Dublin.
Old Irish language
Old Irish is the name given to the oldest form of the Goidelic languages for which extensive written texts are extant. It was used from the 6th to the 10th centuries, by which time it had developed into Middle Irish....
: Gofraid ua Ímair, Old Norse: Guðrøðr) (died 934) was a Norse-Gael king of Dublin and, for a short time, king of Northumbria. Gofraid was one of the grandsons of Ímar, the dynasty is known as the Uí Ímair
Uí Ímair
The Uí Ímair , or Dynasty of Ivar, were an enormous royal and imperial Norse dynasty who ruled Northern England, the Irish Sea region and Kingdom of Dublin, and the western coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides, from the mid 9th century, losing control of the first in the mid 10th, but the rest...
, and along with his kinsmen Sihtric Cáech and Ragnall
Ragnall ua Ímair
Ragnall was a Norse overlord or emperor of northern Britain, including Northumbria, the entire Irish Sea region including the Isle of Man, south to Waterford and briefly much of the Irish province of Munster, and then returning to Britain, briefly York as distinct from Northumbria at this time...
, he was active in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and in northern Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
The Ímar from whom the Uí Ímair were descended is generally presumed to be that Ímar, "king of the Northmen of all Britain and Ireland", whose death is reported by the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
in 873. Whether this Ímar is to be identified with the leader of the Great Heathen Army
Great Heathen Army
The Great Heathen Army, also known as the Great Army or the Great Danish Army, was a Viking army originating in Denmark which pillaged and conquered much of England in the late 9th century...
, or with Ivarr the Boneless, is less certain. In the period between the death of Ímar and the expulsion of the Northmen and Norse-Gaels from Dublin in 902, it is not certain that any descendants of Ímar played a notable part in the politics of the region. Members of the kindred appear to have led armies against the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
following their expulsion, but these were killed and the armies destroyed in 904 by Constantín son of Áed, the king of Alba.
In the following decade it is supposed that the grandsons of Ímar may have been in some part of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
or Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
coasts of Britain where the historical record sheds almost no light on events, the area in question extending from the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
through the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
to the Northern Isles
Northern Isles
The Northern Isles is a chain of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The climate is cool and temperate and much influenced by the surrounding seas. There are two main island groups: Shetland and Orkney...
, as well as the coasts opposite. They reappear again in 914 when Ragnall and his kinsman Sihtric are recorded leading fleets in the Irish Sea. The first report of Gofraid is in 918, when he accompanied Ragnall's expedition to Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
and fought at the second, or perhaps only, battle of Corbridge
Battle of Corbridge
The Battle of Corbridge took place at Corbridge in 918. it was important in deciding the fate of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria and the English earldom of Bamburgh...
against Constantín son of Áed and Ealdred son of Eadwulf
Ealdred I of Bernicia
Ealdred was the son of Eadwulf. He was a ruler or nobleman in Northumbria in the early tenth century.Ealdred's father, called "king of the Saxons of the North" by the Annals of Ulster, but only reeve of Bamburgh by the chronicler Æthelweard, died in 913. He may have been ruler of Northumbria...
. The battle was not decisive, but this allowed Ragnall to take power at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Sihtric had established himself as ruler of Dublin in late 917, and defeated and killed the High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
Niall Glúndub
Niall Glúndub
Niall Glúndub mac Áedo was a 10th century Irish king of the Cenél nEógain and High King of Ireland. While many Irish kin groups were members of the Uí Néill, tracing their descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages , the O'Neill dynasty took their name from Niall Glúndub rather than the earlier Niall...
on 14 September 919. Sihtric joined Ragnall and Gofraid in Northumbria in 920, and succeeded Ragnall in 921. Gofraid then returned to Ireland to rule in Dublin.
On 10 November 921, Gofraid's army seized Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, the home of the cult of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
and one of the chief church centres of Ireland. The Annals of Ulster state:
the prayer-houses with their complement of culdees and sick he spared from destruction, and also the monastery, save for a few dwellings which were burned through carelessness.Ó Cróinín and Woolf contrast this with the earlier phases of the Viking Age in Ireland. Gofraid's raid into the north, while initially successful, ended with defeat by an army led by Muirchertach mac Néill
Muirchertach mac Néill
Muirchertach mac Néill , called Muirchertach of the Leather Cloaks , King of Ailech.-Family ramifications:Muirchertach belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill...
. An expedition to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
in 924 may have had mixed results: the Annals of Ulster say that it ended in failure, while the Annals of Innisfallen report that Gofraid "took the hostages of the south of Ireland".
Gofraid's son Alpdann (Old Norse Hálfdan) was killed in 927 at Linn Duachaill—now Annagassan
Annagassan
Annagassan is a village in the townland of Ballynagassan, County Louth, Ireland. It sits where the River Glyde enters the Irish Sea.It was first mentioned as Linn Duachaill in AD 841 when the establishment of a Viking longphort was recorded...
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
—by Muirchertach and the survivors of his army besieged until Gofraid brought an army from Dublin to rescue them. Sihtric Cáech died the same year, and the Annals of Ulster state that Gothfrith left Dublin with a fleet. He appears to have been chosen as king at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to succeed Sihtric, but within six months he was back in Dublin, having been driven out of Northumbria by King Æthelstan.
Back in Ireland, Gofraid raided Osraige and Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
in 930 and outraged the annalists by pillaging Derc Ferna in modern county Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
.
Gofraid died in 934, the Annals of Ulster describing him as "a most cruel king of the Norsemen". He was followed as king of Dublin by a son Amlaíb, and another son, Blácaire
Blácaire mac Gofrith
Blácaire mac Gofrith , in Old Norse Blákári Guðrøðsson, was King of Dublin. Son of Gofraid ua Ímair, he was a great-grandson of Ímar, ancestor of the Uí Ímair kindred which dominated the Scandinavianised and Norse-Gael regions of Britain and Ireland in the tenth century.According to the Annals of...
would also rule Dublin.