Sihtric
Encyclopedia
Sitric Cáech (died 927) was a Norse
King of Dublin who later reigned as King of York
. His epithet means the 'Squint-eyed'. He belonged to the House of Ivar
.
The Annals of Ulster
records the arrival of two viking
fleets in Ireland
in 917, one led by Ragnall and the other by Sitric, both of the House of Ivar. They fought a battle against Niall Glúndub
in which the Irish were routed, and according to the annals Sitric then "entered Áth Cliath", i.e. Dublin, which we must assume means that he took possession of it. Ragnall ua Ímair, after occupying Waterford
, went on to Scotland
, and then conquered York and became king there.
Sitric fought several battles with Niall Glundub. Warfare is recorded in 918, and in 919 Niall and several other Irish petty kings where killed in a major battle at Dublin. This was probably the most devastating defeat ever inflicted on the Irish by the Norse, and Sitric's possession of Dublin seemed secure. Sitric however left Dublin already in 920 or 921, the pious annalist claims he left "through the power of God". The truth of it was that Sitric had ambititions elsewhere, and following Ragnall's death he became king of York. His kinsman Guthfrith ruled in Dublin.
Sitric attacked Mercia
from the Mersey which formed part of the border between Mercia and the Viking Kingdom of York. He also commanded Viking forces in the Battle of Confey
and other battles.
In 926 he married King Athelstan of England
's sister (possibly St Editha) in a political move designed by Athelstan to build up his influence in the north of England. Sitric died suddenly only a year later in 927 and Athelstan assumed his throne.
Sitric's son, Amlaíb Cuarán, aka Óláf Sigtryggsson later succeeded him both as king of Dublin and of York and married the infamous Gormilath, who was married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland.
His son Guthfrith Sitricesson ruled Dublin. A third son Harald ruled Limerick
and died in 940.
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
King of Dublin who later reigned as King of 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...
. His epithet means the 'Squint-eyed'. He belonged to the House of Ivar
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...
.
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...
records the arrival of two 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...
fleets 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...
in 917, one led by Ragnall and the other by Sitric, both of the House of Ivar. They fought a battle against 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...
in which the Irish were routed, and according to the annals Sitric then "entered Áth Cliath", i.e. Dublin, which we must assume means that he took possession of it. Ragnall ua Ímair, after occupying 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...
, went on to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and then conquered York and became king there.
Sitric fought several battles with Niall Glundub. Warfare is recorded in 918, and in 919 Niall and several other Irish petty kings where killed in a major battle at Dublin. This was probably the most devastating defeat ever inflicted on the Irish by the Norse, and Sitric's possession of Dublin seemed secure. Sitric however left Dublin already in 920 or 921, the pious annalist claims he left "through the power of God". The truth of it was that Sitric had ambititions elsewhere, and following Ragnall's death he became king of York. His kinsman Guthfrith ruled in Dublin.
Sitric attacked Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
from the Mersey which formed part of the border between Mercia and the Viking Kingdom of York. He also commanded Viking forces in the Battle of Confey
Battle of Confey
The Battle of Confey was a battle fought in Ireland between Norse invaders and the King of Leinster Augaire mac Ailella. The battle was fought in 917 AD and led to the recapture of Dublin by the Norse dynasty that had been expelled from the city fifteen years earlier by Augaire's predecessor...
and other battles.
In 926 he married King Athelstan of England
Athelstan of England
Athelstan , called the Glorious, was the King of England from 924 or 925 to 939. He was the son of King Edward the Elder, grandson of Alfred the Great and nephew of Æthelflæd of Mercia...
's sister (possibly St Editha) in a political move designed by Athelstan to build up his influence in the north of England. Sitric died suddenly only a year later in 927 and Athelstan assumed his throne.
Sitric's son, Amlaíb Cuarán, aka Óláf Sigtryggsson later succeeded him both as king of Dublin and of York and married the infamous Gormilath, who was married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland.
His son Guthfrith Sitricesson ruled Dublin. A third son Harald ruled 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...
and died in 940.