Maccus mac Arailt
Encyclopedia
Maccus mac Arailt or Maccus Haraldsson was a Scandinavia
n or Norse-Gael king. He and his brother Gofraid
were active in the lands around the Irish Sea
in the 970s and 980s. Maccus's name is sometimes incorrectly given as Magnus; it is instead a name of Middle Irish
origin.
Maccus and Gofraid are usually assumed to be members of the Uí Ímair
, a kin group tracing its descent from Ímar (died 873), sometimes identified with the saga
-character Ivar the Boneless
. Their father Aralt or Harald is usually identified with the Aralt mac Sitric, king of Norse-Gael Limerick
, who was killed in Connacht
in 940. This identification would make Maccus and Gofraid nephews of Amlaíb Cuarán, the King of Dublin. An alternative proposal, advanced by Benjamin Hudson
, makes Gofraid and Maccus sons of a Viking
chief named Harald who was active in Normandy
, but this has received little support.
The first record of Maccus may be in 971 when the Brut y Tywysogion
records an attack on Penmon in Wales
, site of an important church, by "Marcus" son of Harald. Welsh annals record an attack on Anglesey
two years later by a son of Harald. The Brut y Tywysogion states that it was Maccus's brother Gofraid who led this attack. That same year, 973, Maccus is listed by John of Worcester
and William of Malmesbury
as one of the kings present in attendance with King Edgar of England
at the meeting at Chester
. Maccus is called "king of many islands", suggesting that he ruled over the Hebrides
, and perhaps also the Isle of Man
, although this last is uncertain. Maccus is listed as a witness to a charter of King Edgar which is dated to around this time, S 808, but this is generally thought to be a late forgery.
The Annals of Innisfallen record the plundering of Scattery Island and the capturing of Ímar of Limerick by "the son of Harald" in 974. The Annals of the Four Masters
name Maccus as the son of Harald in question and add that "the lawmen of the Isles" accompanied him on this expedition, again suggesting links to the Hebrides.
Maccus may have appeared again in 982, joining Gofraid in an attack on Wales. In 984 the brothers came to Waterford
, where they joined up with Brian Bóruma, king of Munster, and with Ivar of Waterford
, king of Waterford, their combined armies and fleets attacking Dublin. After this, Maccus disappears from the chronicles.
An unnamed son of Harald won a battle on the Isle of Man in 987, but whether this was Maccus or Gofraid is unclear. No children of Maccus are known.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n or Norse-Gael king. He and his brother Gofraid
Gofraid mac Arailt
Gofraid mac Arailt , in Old Norse Guðrøðr Haraldsson, was a Scandinavian or Norse-Gael king. He and his brother Maccus were active in the lands around the Irish Sea in the 970s and 980s.-Origins:...
were active in the lands around the 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...
in the 970s and 980s. Maccus's name is sometimes incorrectly given as Magnus; it is instead a name of Middle Irish
Middle Irish language
Middle Irish is the name given by historical philologists to the Goidelic language spoken in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man from the 10th to 12th centuries; it is therefore a contemporary of late Old English and early Middle English...
origin.
Maccus and Gofraid are usually assumed to be members of 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...
, a kin group tracing its descent from Ímar (died 873), sometimes identified with the saga
Saga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
-character Ivar the Boneless
Ivar the Boneless
Ivar Ragnarsson nicknamed the Boneless , was a Viking leader and by reputation also a berserker. By the late 11th century he was known as a son of the powerful Ragnar Lodbrok, ruler of an area probably comprising parts of modern-day Denmark and Sweden.-Invader:In the autumn of AD 865, with his...
. Their father Aralt or Harald is usually identified with the Aralt mac Sitric, king of Norse-Gael 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...
, who was killed in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
in 940. This identification would make Maccus and Gofraid nephews of Amlaíb Cuarán, the King of Dublin. An alternative proposal, advanced by Benjamin Hudson
Benjamin Hudson
Benjamin T. Hudson is an American medievalist based at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Pennsylvania State University, received his Masters at University College, Dublin, and his Ph. D. at Worcester College, Oxford...
, makes Gofraid and Maccus sons of a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
chief named Harald who was active in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, but this has received little support.
The first record of Maccus may be in 971 when the Brut y Tywysogion
Brut y Tywysogion
Brut y Tywysogion is one of the most important primary sources for Welsh history. It is an annalistic chronicle that serves as a continuation of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae. Brut y Tywysogion has survived as several Welsh translations of an original Latin version, which has...
records an attack on Penmon in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, site of an important church, by "Marcus" son of Harald. Welsh annals record an attack on Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
two years later by a son of Harald. The Brut y Tywysogion states that it was Maccus's brother Gofraid who led this attack. That same year, 973, Maccus is listed by John of Worcester
John of Worcester
John of Worcester was an English monk and chronicler. He is usually held to be the author of the Chronicon ex chronicis.-Chronicon ex chronicis:...
and William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
as one of the kings present in attendance with King Edgar of England
Edgar of England
Edgar the Peaceful, or Edgar I , also called the Peaceable, was a king of England . Edgar was the younger son of Edmund I of England.-Accession:...
at the meeting at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
. Maccus is called "king of many islands", suggesting that he ruled over 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...
, and perhaps also 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...
, although this last is uncertain. Maccus is listed as a witness to a charter of King Edgar which is dated to around this time, S 808, but this is generally thought to be a late forgery.
The Annals of Innisfallen record the plundering of Scattery Island and the capturing of Ímar of Limerick by "the son of Harald" in 974. The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
name Maccus as the son of Harald in question and add that "the lawmen of the Isles" accompanied him on this expedition, again suggesting links to the Hebrides.
Maccus may have appeared again in 982, joining Gofraid in an attack on Wales. In 984 the brothers came to Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, where they joined up with Brian Bóruma, king of Munster, and with Ivar of Waterford
Ivar of Waterford
Ivar of Waterford was the Norse king of Waterford from at least 969 until his death in the year 1000, and also reigned as King of Dublin, possibly from 989 to 993, and certainly again for less than a year between 994 and 995, returning after his expulsion from the city in 993 by Sigtrygg...
, king of Waterford, their combined armies and fleets attacking Dublin. After this, Maccus disappears from the chronicles.
An unnamed son of Harald won a battle on the Isle of Man in 987, but whether this was Maccus or Gofraid is unclear. No children of Maccus are known.