Ragnall Ua Imar

The representative of the Scandinavian clan Ua Imar (Ivar's house). The grandson of Ivar I (died in 873), the king of Dublin (856–873) and York (866–873).

In 902, the kings of Leinster and Brega seized the port city of Dublin, expelling the Scandinavian king Ivar II (896-902) and other members of the Ua Imar family from there. Many of them became "sea kings" and began to make devastating raids on Scotland, England and Ireland. Ragnall Ua Imar, having bases on the Isle of Man and the Inner Hebrides , launched raids on the west coast of Scotland and Strathclyde .

In 914, the sea kings Ragnall Ou Imare and Sitrik the Blind possessed a large fleet in the Irish Sea . In the same year, Ragnall, near the Isle of Man, defeated a fleet under the command of Bard, son of King Waterford Ottir the Black (died in 918). In the battle, Bard Ottirsson died. Later, Ottir Black became an assistant and ally of Ragnall.

In 917, the kings of Ragnall Ua Imare and Sitrik the Blind, commanding individual fleets, landed on the east coast of Ireland . Ragnall captured Waterford and partly Munster. He began the struggle against the High King of Ireland, Niall Glundub (916-919). The battle of the Magus Femene between the Irish High King and the Vikings ended without result. However, the army of Leinster King Augarere poppy Ailella , who came to the aid of Niall Glundub, was defeated by Sitrik Blind in the battle of Kenn Fayte . At the end of 917, Sitrik the Blind occupied Dublin, which again became the capital of the Irish Viking kingdom .

In 918, Ragnall Ua Imare sailed with his troops to Northern England. The Irish Annals and the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba report on his participation in the Battle of Corbridge (Northumbria). The Scandinavian army under the command of Ragnall Ua Imara defeated the army of the Scottish king Constantine II , who was assisted by the Eldormen of Northumbria Eldred. After defeating the Scots, Ragnall captured York. Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Elder was forced to recognize Ragnall king of York and the ruler of Denlo . According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , in 920, in the town of Bakewell, King Ragnall of York recognized the supreme authority of the English king Edward the Elder.

In 921, Ragnall passed away in York. The Annals of Ulster , reporting his death, call Ragnall the "king of just and dark aliens." In the same year, after the death of Ragnall, his relative and King of Dublin, Sitrik the Blind, arrived in York and inherited the royal throne.

The grandson of Ragnall was probably Ivar (died 1000), King of Waterford (969? —1000) and Dublin (989-993 and 994-995).

• Alex Woolf . From Pictland to Alba 789 ~ 1070 The grandsons of Cinaed and pagesmar pages 122-176. The New Edinburgh History of Scotland. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh (2007) ( ISBN 9780748612345 ) (en)
• Ann Williams, Alfred P. Smyth, DP Kirby. A Bibliographical Dictionary of Dark Age Britain (England, Scotland and Wales c.500-c.1050). Seaby London (1991) ( ISBN 1 852640472 ) (en)
• Alfred P. Smyth. Warlords and Holy Men Scotland ad 80 ~ 1000 Edinburgh University Press (1984) ( ISBN 0748601007 ) (en)
• Donnchadh Ó Corráin. Vikings in Ireland & Scotland 1998 ( ISBN 2503506240 ).