The Kingdom of Dublin () was a Norse kingdom in Ireland that lasted from roughly 853 AD to 1170 AD. It was the first and longest-lasting Norse kingdom in Ireland, founded by Vikings who invaded the territory around Dublin in the 9th century. Its territory corresponded to most of present-day County Dublin.

History The first reference to the Vikings comes from the Annals of Ulster and the first entry for 841 AD reads: "Pagans still on Lough Neagh". It is from this date onward that historians get references to ship fortresses or longphorts being established in Ireland. The Vikings may have first over-wintered in 840–841 AD. The actual location of the longphort of Dublin is still a hotly debated issue. Norse rulers of Dublin were often co-kings, and occasionally also Kings of Jórvík in what is now Yorkshire. Under their rule, Dublin became a significant port in trading slaves.. The hinterland of Dublin in the Norse period was named in .

Over time, the settlers in Dublin became increasingly Gaelicized. They began to exhibit a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism, and are often referred to as Norse-Gaels.

In 988, Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill led the initial Gaelic conquest of Dublin. As a result, the founding of Dublin is counted by some from the year 988, although a village had existed on the site of Dublin nearly a thousand years earlier.

Coins were minted in Dublin by about 995, and on Mann by about 1025.Barrett (2016) p. 4.

In the mid-11th century, the Kingdom of Leinster began exerting influence over Dublin. The last king of Dublin was killed by the Norman conquerors of Dublin in 1171.

Geography The extent of the kingdom varied, but in peaceful times it extended roughly as far as Wicklow () in the south, Glen Ding near Blessington, Leixlip () west of Dublin, and Skerries, County Dublin () to the north. The Fingal area north of Dublin was named after the Norse who lived there.

Kings of Dublin RulerIrish nameReignNotesÓláfr hvíti c. 853–871 Co-king; titled "King of the Foreigners" in 863 Ívarr c. 857–873 Co-king; titled "King of the Foreigners" in 863; titled "King of the Northmen of all Ireland and Britain" in 873 Auðgísl c. 863–867 Co-king; titled "King of the Foreigners" in 863 Eysteinn Óláfsson* 873–875 Probable co-king; not explicitly named as king in the annals Bárðr Ivarsson 873–881 Probable co-king; titled "head of the Northmen" in 881 Halfdan Ragnarsson^ 875–877 Claimed Dublin but never ruled Sigfrøðr Ívarrsson 881–888 Sigtryggr Ívarrsson 888–893/896 Rulership disputed by Sigtryggr Jarl in 893 Sigfrøðr Jarl^ 893-? Claimed Dublin in 893 but unclear if ever ruled Iárnkné* ? Not explicitly named as king in the annals; speculated to have succeeded Sitriuc Ívarr II ?-902 Driven from Dublin in 902 by native Irish Dublin abandoned by the Norse from 902 to 917. Sigtryggr alias 917–921 defeated Niall Glundub; also king of York Guðrøðr Sigtryggsson 921–934 grandson of Ímar Olaf Guthfrithson 934–941 son of Gofraid ua Ímair Blákári Guðrøðsson 941–945 Sigtrygg (Sitric) 941–943 Óláfr kváran 945–947 Blákári Guðrøðsson 947–948 restored Guðrøðr Sigtryggsson 948–951 Óláfr kváran 952–980 restored Iárnkné 980–989 Ivar of Waterfordor Sigtrygg Silkbeard 989–993 Ivar of Waterford 994–995Sigtrygg Silkbeard Olafsson 995–1036 Margaðr Rögnvaldsson 1036–1038 Ívar Haraldsson 1038–1046 Margaðr Rögnvaldsson 1046–1052 Murchad mac Diarmata 1052–1070 Diarmait mac Mail na mBo 1070–1072 Toirdelbach Ua Briain 1072 Member of the ; seized overlordship of Dublin following Diarmait's death; given kingship by the Dubliners in 1072; allowed Dublin to be locally ruled by Guðrøð Olafsson under his overlordship. Guðrøð Olafsson 1072–1075 Member of the Meic Ragnaill (Uí Ímair); ruled under the overlordship of Toirdelbach; expelled from kingship by Toirdelbach in 1075; possibly identical to Gofraid mac Sitriuc, King of the Isles (died 1070). Domnall mac Murchada 1075 Member of the (); gained kingship following the expulsion of ; may have seized Dublin without the consent of the , or else ruled under their overlordship; died within the year. Muirchertach Ua Briain 1075–1086 Member of the ; installed king by his father, Toirdelbach. Donnchad mac Domnaill Remair 1086–1089 Member of the ; seized kingship following death of Toirdelbach; killed in 1089; control of Dublin appears to have been gained by not long afterwards. Guðröður Crovan c. 1091–1094 Possibly a close relative of Ímar mac Arailt and thus a member of the ; founder of the Crovan dynasty; ruler of the Isles; seized kingship in about 1091 and expulsed by Muirchertach in 1094. Domnall mac Taidc Member of the (); possibly installed king by his uncle, Muirchertach, after Gofraid Crobán's expulsion; certainly installed as ruler of the Isles at about this time. Domnall Gerrlámhach Member of the ; possibly installed king by his father, Muirchertach, after Godred Crovan's expulsion; certainly held kingship at a later date. Magnús berfœttr 1102–1103 Ruler of Norway; appears to have seized Dublin in the early twelfth century, having taken Orkney and the Isles before the turn of the century; seems to have intended for his son, Sigurðr, to rule as king of these newly won overseas Norse territories. Domnall Gerrlámhach Defended Dublin from Leinster attack in 1115; possibly installed king by his father long before battle, immediately before, or immediately afterwards. Diarmait mac Énna meic Murchada ×1117. Member of the (); died 1117. Domnall Gerrlámhach 1117–1118 Seized kingship after Diarmait 's death. Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair ×1118 Member of the ; drove Domnall Gerrlámhach from kingship. Énna Mac Murchada ×1122–1126 Member of the (); either seized kingship or was installed king by Toirdelbach; reigned under overlordship. Conchobar Ua Conchobair 1126–1127 Member of the ; installed king by his father, Toirdelbach; deposed in 1126. Conchobar Ua Briain 1141–1142 Member of the ; gained kingship in 1141; died in 1142. Óttar of Dublin 1142–1148 Member of the ; gained kingship in 1142; slain by the in 1148; may not have reigned continuously from 1142 to 1148. Ragnvald Þorkellsson 1144×1146 Member of the ; styled king on his death in 1146, which could be evidence that his reign interrupted that of Ottar; another possibility is that he was merely a subordinate of Ottar. Brodar Þorkellsson ×1160 Member of the ; killed in 1160. Guðrøð Olafsson 1150s or 1160s Member of the Crovan dynasty; ruler of the Isles; held kingship of Dublin briefly at the behest of the Dubliners, although the chronology of his short reign is uncertain. Hasculf Þorkellsson ×1170 Member of the ; deposed in 1170; killed attempting to regain kingship in 1171. ^ Disputed * Speculative

Timeline of Kings of Dublin

See also Early Scandinavian Dublin Irish nobility The Pale Uí Ímair

References Notes

Sources

Downham, Clare, Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland: The Dynasty of Ívarr to A.D. 1014. Edinburgh. 2007.

Forte, Angelo, Oram, Richard, & Pedersen, Frederik, Viking Empires. Cambridge University Press. 2005 . Hudson, Benjamin T., Viking Pirates and Christian Princes: Dynasty, Religion, and Empire in the North Atlantic. Oxford. 2005 . Larsen, Anne-Christine (ed.), The Vikings in Ireland. Roskilde: The Viking Ship Museum. 2001. Todd, James Henthorn (ed. and tr.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. Longmans. 1867. Woolf, Alex, "Age of Sea-Kings: 900–1300", in Donald Omand (ed.), The Argyll Book. Edinburgh. 2004. pp. 94–109.