Éire from 951AD-1118AD :ireland:

[PhilipO'Hayda]

Hello am doing a Project and a Play on what Ireland was like from 951AD-1118AD
I need as lots of info, like

• Who was in Power at the time
• Who were the factions and Kingdoms at the time
• what was the World around Ireland like and how did it influences Ireland
• what are the Royal Family Trees like.

any and all Info would be great and Thanks very much!

[wowbanger]

The period up until 1014 was characterised by the Irish at war with the Vikings who had their base in Dublin. Of 25 battles fought between Irish and Vikings between 917 and 1014 the Vikings only won 10. The Viking threat was largely removed in 980 when Maelsechnaill II (the High King) defeated the Viking King of York and Dublin at Tara. After then it was more of a matter of driving the Vikings out of Dublin. This was achieved in 1014 when Brian Boru (King of Munster, made High King in 1002) defeated the Vikings and their Leinster allies at the Battle of Clontarf. However, Brian died in the battle along with his son, grandson and many other lesser kings (6 on the victors side and 4 on the losers side).

Unfortunately thats as far as my knowledge of Ireland goes for the period you were wanting.

[Ardruire Iacób]

Hello am doing a Project and a Play on what Ireland was like from 951AD-1118AD
I need as lots of info, like

• Who was in Power at the time
• Who were the factions and Kingdoms at the time
• what was the World around Ireland like and how did it influences Ireland
• what are the Royal Family Trees like.

any and all Info would be great and Thanks very much!

• No one, effectively, until the short acquisition of the High-Kingship by Brian Bórúma.
• Primarily the Eoghanaghta in Mumhain, the Leinster families whose names I routinely forget, the Danes of Dublin, and the Uí Néill up in Tír Eoghain and their cousins in Tír Connaill. I would like to pretend that my ancestors in Uí Máine were of note, but they really weren't.
• Vikingtastic but mostly disinterested in Ireland.
• Convoluted and mythologised.

[Arch-hereticK]

It was very very boring, two hairy people had a staring competition, a swan went blind and a monk emigrated to America, but was deported due to a misunderstanding with a pole dancer.

That's all basically true.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

In the period between c. 870 and 914, the Vikings appear to have directed their activities in Britain and there was a relative peace in Ireland. The following 25 years beginning in 914 AD were perhaps a highpoint of Viking agression. More permanent Viking settlement began in this period. Initially the Irish were unable to counter these threats, and Niall Glundub, the Cenel nEogain king of Tara, was killed in battle at Dublin in 919. Yet the threat gradually receded by 940's and the Viking rulers were drawn into the Irish political order, so that their military power usually served Irish political ends.

By the middle of the tenth century Norse and Danish Viking coastal settlements and trading ports had been established at Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. These Viking trading towns and their populations were gradually absorbed into the social and political system that surrounded them. The annals frequently make reference to Irish intermarriages and military alliances with the Vikings, as echoed in the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014 AD with Viking constituents on both sides. By the late 10th century the 'Foreigners' in Dublin [and elsewhere] were not seen as an enemy to be driven back into the sea but as a potential source of wealth and tribute for the Irish chieftains. Claimants to the High Kingship of Ireland soon came to understand that their power would often be gauged by their ability to control the important port of Dublin.

Although the early Vikings, or 'Ostmen', were well-known for their raids on the Irish and the Irish Church, their contributions to Ireland were to have a greater positive impact, This included the establishment of Ireland's first towns, the expansion of its seafaring trade, and the influence on its art.

Within the Irish political scene the power control of the kings of Tara (Ireland) alternated between the Northern and Southern Ui Niaill (Neill) clans. In the 9th century Maelsechnaill (I) of Clann Cholmain began to make forays into Munster attempting to strengthen the Southern Ui Niaill influence, creating enemies rather than allies of the Munstermen. This policy led to a disastrous reaction from Munster by the end of the 10th century, viz. Brian Borumha.

Excerpts from the Annals

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

860 AD - Maelseachlainn [of the Southern Ui Niaill], son of Maelruanaidh, son of Donnchadh, Monarch of Ireland, died on the thirteenth day of November precisely, on Tuesday, after he had been sixteen years in the sovereignty. He was succeeded by Aedh Finnliath [of the Northern Ui Niaill], son of Niall Caille, in sovereignty over Ireland.

876 AD - After Aedh Finnliath, the son of Niall Caille, had been sixteen years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he died at Druim Inesclainn, in the territory of Conaille, on the 20th day of November. He was succeeded by Flann Sinna [of the Southern Ui Niaill], the son of Maelsechlainn, in sovereignty over Ireland. He was still king in 902.

916 AD - After Flann Sionna had been forty years in the sovereignty of Ireland he was succeeded by Niall Glundubh ("Black Knee"), son of Aedh Finnliath.

919 AD - After Niall Glundubh, son of Aedh Finnliath had been three years in the sovereignty of Ireland he was succeeded by Donnchadh, son of Flann Sinna of the Southern Ui Neill. Niall was slain fighting the Danes at the Battle of Dublin in 919.

944 - After Donnchadh had been twenty five years in the sovereignty of Ireland he was succeeded by Congalach Cnogba, son of Máel Mithig.

956 - After Congalach had been twelve years in the sovereignty of Ireland he was succeeded by Domhnall Ardmacha Ua Niall, son of Muircheartach "na G-Cochaill Criceann" Ua Niall.

[Peteriscoolz]

I'm Pretty sure that some time in the early 1000s Ireland's Provinces where united under Brian Boru...

[PhilipO'Hayda]

I don't think Ireland is fully United do, just in name, N.Ireland is still owned by the Niaill's

[Ardruire Iacób]

Provinces didn't exist at that time, and it was the north of Ireland, not N.Ireland. Be careful with terminology.

[Arch-hereticK]

Unlike some who had previously held the title, Brian intended to be High King in more than name only. To accomplish this he needed to impose his will upon the regional rulers of the only Province that did not already recognise his authority, Ulster. Ulster's geography presented a formidable challenge; there were three main routes by which an invading army could enter the Province, and all three favored the defenders. Brian first had to find a means of getting through or around these defensive 'choke points', and then he had to subdue the fiercely independent regional Kings of Ulster. It took Brian ten years of campaigning to achieve his goal which, considering he could and did call on all of the military forces of the rest of Ireland, indicates how formidable the Kings of Ulster were. Once again, it was his coordinated use of forces on land and at sea that allowed him to triumph; while the rulers of Ulster could bring the advance of Brian's army to a halt, they could not prevent his fleet from attacking the shores of their kingdoms. But gaining entry to the Province of Ulster brought him only halfway to his goal. Brian systematically defeated each of the regional rulers who defied him, forcing them to recognise him as their overlord.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

Provinces didn't exist at that time, and it was the north of Ireland, not N.Ireland. Be careful with terminology.

is it not more like Ulster then?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Unlike some who had previously held the title, Brian intended to be High King in more than name only. To accomplish this he needed to impose his will upon the regional rulers of the only Province that did not already recognise his authority, Ulster. Ulster's geography presented a formidable challenge; there were three main routes by which an invading army could enter the Province, and all three favored the defenders. Brian first had to find a means of getting through or around these defensive 'choke points', and then he had to subdue the fiercely independent regional Kings of Ulster. It took Brian ten years of campaigning to achieve his goal which, considering he could and did call on all of the military forces of the rest of Ireland, indicates how formidable the Kings of Ulster were. Once again, it was his coordinated use of forces on land and at sea that allowed him to triumph; while the rulers of Ulster could bring the advance of Brian's army to a halt, they could not prevent his fleet from attacking the shores of their kingdoms. But gaining entry to the Province of Ulster brought him only halfway to his goal. Brian systematically defeated each of the regional rulers who defied him, forcing them to recognise him as their overlord.

Thought he died trying to take Ulster?

[Arch-hereticK]

Thought he died trying to take Ulster?

No, he died outside Dublin, after his last victory over viking rebels.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

No, he died outside Dublin, after his last victory over viking rebels.

also thought that was Ulster he was fighting. Think I'll have to read back over what info I have.

[Arch-hereticK]

also thought that was Ulster he was fighting. Think I'll have to read back over what info I have.

There were Ulster contingents on both sides in the battle of Clontarf, of course there was a larger contingent on the viking side.

And the best record (that I know of) is the annals of ulster, which obviously has a certain bias.

I'm not a history student, but I do study caligraphy and art restoration so what I've learned is patchy for the most part.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

Uí Néill family tree

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U%C3%AD_N%C3%A9ill

[PhilipO'Hayda]

Uí Néill family tree

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U%C3%AD_N%C3%A9ill

[Ardruire Iacób]

Boruma wasn't fighting Vikings, he was fighting the men of Leinster who were allied with Dublin. There were Vikings on both sides.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

Boruma wasn't fighting Vikings, he was fighting the men of Leinster who were allied with Dublin. There were Vikings on both sides.

I can't even recall the name of the battle.so I can't even look it up.

[Arch-hereticK]

Boruma wasn't fighting Vikings, he was fighting the men of Leinster who were allied with Dublin. There were Vikings on both sides.

Mael Morda wasn't in command, nor did his troops make up the majority, the vikings commanded and did most of the fighting (and drowning), but yes it was on behalf of the king of leinster.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

found it "The Battle of Clontarf,1014" A! yes Ireland equity to Englands "Battle of Hastings"