Vikings in Ireland

In Europe in the early Middle Ages, the main theme of the terrible story came true was the famous plunder and plunder of the Vikings, who overflowed from their leading ships in a bloodthirsty state and longed for gold. As their threatening presence finally extended from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to North America, it seemed that no land was safe-in the early days of their global travel, the Vikings delineated Ireland's charming green coast. Since 795 AD, monasteries and towns have been looted or destroyed in continuous attacks, and then forts and settlements have been built, making these Norwegians a wildcard in Irish politics. Although the Vikings lost their autonomy from the end of 10 to the beginning of10/0/0, they have integrated into Irish society through intermarriage and close contact with local people, and left a lasting mark on business and culture.

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However, what prompted the Vikings to set sail for Ireland (or the whole British Isles) remains to be discussed. In western Norway, land that won't try to kill you or your crops is a little scarce, and finding new land may be a small driving factor. This seems to be consistent with the situation that the Norwegian vikings defeated their Scandinavians in the 7th century and expanded westward to reach orkney Island. It was the northern Europeans who finally reached the Irish coast.

At the end of the 7th century AD, Nordic people from all over the world increased their wealth through their commercial ties with Western Europe. They whispered stories about conflicts between Europe and the kingdom, and a pulling factor neatly put forward their own silver plates. More importantly, Scandinavians also learned the technical knowledge of sailing from Western Europe, enabling them to transform timid ships into fast and deadly ships. In this way, all the elements of a successful surprise expedition are available.

Early raids (795-837 AD)

During the first 40 years of attacks, the Vikings remained invisible ghosts, ravaging the coastal areas of Ireland and plundering many monastery centers.

The Chronicle of the Irish Middle Ages, written by monks and clergy among witnesses, records the first Viking attack in 795, when the monasteries on Raslin Island and St. Columba Island on the northeast coast of the mainland. Iona Island was attacked by a stranger. They came out of nowhere, went in and out on an expedition that might be quite uncoordinated, and took away their treasures. In the following years, the Vikings sailed their ships into the Irish Sea, such as burning St Patrick's Island in the north of Dublin in 798 AD. These initial efforts were made in a hit-and-run manner, with no more than two or three ships at a time-almost a fleet piled up by countless Norwegians.

By the year 807, the Vikings had also pushed into the western bay, and most of the targets they chose-monasteries and towns-were easy prey. They are unexpected and fast, and usually stay in navigable waters within 30 kilometers, which makes them highly mobile. Despite several successful local resistance, the Irish may have an underdeveloped fleet and no coastal fortress, and the 480-kilometer coastline that needs to be defended is unrealistic; A somewhat hopeless job. The attraction of the monastery is obvious: not only monks live here, but also exquisite metal products are made to decorate holy books and sacred objects, and the treasures stored are also rich and easy to transport. The community of Iona Island was attacked in 795 AD and was shocked after it was burned down in 802 AD.

Understandably, people are annoyed by this whole situation, and in the Ulster Yearbook of Ireland (the main source of our Viking attacks; Their count was reduced by one year, but the record in 820 AD was recorded here in a corrected way, which was understandable at that time:

The sea poured out a large number of foreigners on Irene. There were no safe havens, landing points, strongholds, forts and castles, but they were submerged by the waves of vikings and pirates. (820)

Forty years before the attackers knocked on the door of Ireland, the Vikings were still invisible ghosts, mainly raging in the Irish coastal areas in the northern half of Ireland, plundering many monastery centers. Before 837 AD, the Viking's name did not appear in any records of Ireland, and it was not until the middle of the 9th century AD that the Viking king began to appear. The early stage of the raid was just a prelude.

Increasing pressure and settlement (after 837 AD)

The early attacks clearly showed Ireland's potential in the eyes of treasure-hungry people. Viking organizations in northern Europe have increased their pressure since the 1930s. The Irish Chronicle listed about 50 specific attacks on monasteries and 9 major attacks on churches and people, such as the land between Leinster and Uí Néill. AD 830 and 845. Not only valuables were stolen; Capturing and demanding ransom is also a good way to make money.

It can be seen from 837 AD that the relationship between Vikings and Ireland entered a new stage. With the increasing scale of the attack, this year, a larger Viking fleet sailed inland along the Li Fei River and the Boyne River, attacking the Brega land in the south of Misher:

There is a navy composed of 60 powerful Nordic ships on the Boyne River, and one of the other 60 ships is on the Life River. These two forces plundered the plain of life and Brega, including churches, forts and houses. Brega's men defeated foreigners in Deonien, Muge dorna and Brega, and six northern Europeans fell. (Ulster Yearbook, page 837. 3)

These ships may have sailed from the Viking-occupied areas of Scotland, and it seems that they always carry 3000 healthy people. For the first time, they used their heads to oppose appropriate local resistance, and this theme was carried out as a theme of the Confederate army. Uí Néills also stood up against the Vikings, although not as successful as them, because they were "slaughtered countless times" (Ulster Yearbook, 837. 4). Pushing inland waterways in the eastern and central regions, they soon became frequent visitors, instead of needling along the coastline. Now the Vikings seem to be organized by the royal expedition of Scottish Vikings, and chiefs or kings are tied together, wasting resources to support these tasks. With this new inland focus, fortresses, farms and towns are now more and more threatened. Generally speaking, since 837 AD, the larger targets (such as the larger monastery towns Ama, Glendallo, kildare, slane, Clonad, Cromaknowitz and Lismore) have been under greater pressure than in the early days, while the smaller local churches have been less robbed and may have escaped the attack.

Greater exploration brings greater rewards. Although the religious relics plundered by northern Europeans usually do not have the highest metal value, the fact that they are meaningful to Christian Irish means that they can be redeemed. Unusual slavery for the local Irish was also a common feature of Viking attacks and helped fill the checkout counter.

Unfortunately for the Irish, at least from 840 AD, the Nordic people began to spend the winter in Ireland, instead of the cold winter interrupting the Viking attack season and giving them some breathing space. That year, they built a bunker in Lake Ne, and at least the first coastal fortress was built in 84 1 year. These forts also accommodate their ships, called longphorts, including one in Dublin. As the chronicler pointed out, in 84 1 year, "there was a naval camp in the tuib forest ..." (841.4), and then, almost surprisingly, in 842, the entry pointed out that "pagans were still in the tuib forest" (842. 2). Now there is no early warning in the middle of winter.

The vikings' energetic lifestyle has changed, and they have become a little sedentary on their long ships, which makes them more vulnerable to Irish stubborn resistance.

The Vikings' Long Beach became their strategic foothold, as a stepping stone to increase the predatory activities of the Irish coastline, and also indicated their longer-term settlement in wicklow, Watford, Wexford, Cork, limerick and Dublin, where they gradually incorporated the surrounding areas into the coastal kingdoms and competed with other neighboring Irish and Nordic kingdoms. However, compared with the situation in England and Scotland, the Nordic people never acquired any substantial Irish territory.

Resistance and convergence

These new developments have produced quite a few chain reactions. The Viking threat can no longer be ignored-even the Irish king who likes to attack each other's skulls and fight with each other-by 845 AD, Neil Kaye, the king of Tara, found himself capable of defeating the Vikings. A group of vikings in Donegal. Many Irish military successes, such as the success of Maé l Sechnaili (a descendant of the Southern Wunile Dynasty, claiming to be the supreme king of Ireland) in 848 AD, are said to have 700 Vikings set sail afterwards. The vikings' energetic lifestyle has changed, and they have become a little sedentary on their long ships, which makes them more vulnerable to Irish stubborn resistance.

Viking settlements not only angered the local people, but also attracted them into Irish politics, just like East Chad? As Corráin explained:

The King of Ireland is now at war with them [the Nordic people] and now uses them as allies and mercenaries. In the ever-changing alliance network, Uí Néill [an Irish dynasty] tried to make himself king of Ireland. (? The Viking history illustrated by Corráin in Oxford, 89-90)

Because the Irish and the Vikings were not unified, it can be found that the mixed-race groups of the two were opposite to each other. These alliances began to keep pace with the intermarriage of these groups at the highest social level, which made the Vikings more and more closely connected with the whole Irish society. By the second half of the 9th century, the existence of vikings had become a common sight in Ireland. Tributes collected from the land they controlled and their trade with the Irish also prompted the Vikings to establish business ties with their owners.

However, the Vikings, who were busy trying to squeeze the stubborn Irish, were not challenged. Decades after becoming the only magpies, in 849 AD, a Danish fleet came to inspect them and sailed into Irish waters. In the chronicle of Northern Ireland, it is recorded that:

Yougal's sea expedition with seven ships and ten followers was completely obeyed by foreigners in Ireland before, and then caused national chaos. (849)

The Danes clearly target the Nordic people, not the Irish. In 85 1 year, they attacked two pirates, Dublin and Longford, in Lynn Duachil. After three days of long sea, they defeated the Norwegian campaign in 853. After that, Northern Europe bounced back on Lake Carlingford, finally reaching the Danes. According to Dáibhí? According to Cróinín(250-25 1), since the Nordics and Danes are the competitors of the Vikings, it is not impossible for the Irish to take the initiative to form an alliance with the Danes and then sit back and watch things develop.

By the end of the 9th century, it was clear to the Nordic people that Ireland would not give up its wealth or land as easily as Franchia and other Viking territories. Apart from their few settlements and their participation in Irish society, the Vikings could not further expand their wings, and they were constantly caught in Irish resistance. This may have prompted them to seek easier picking in Iceland and northwest England, thus alleviating some pressure in Ireland.

Weijingdu Berlin

Wikyo Berlin's long-term stronghold, which began in 84 1, was taken over by the Scottish Viking branch led by Amleheb (or Olaf) around 853. This branch cooperated with another Viking leader, Imar (or ivar), and may have encountered similar difficulties. They all turned Dublin and the Irish Sea into Nordic activity centers from Scotland and England to the Isle of Man. For more than 20 years, their names have appeared in history again and again, because they have caused serious damage throughout the country and fallen into the politics of Northern Ireland. However, in? In 873 AD, after the death of Mal, the records of heavy Viking activities in Ireland became silent, and it was difficult to trace the actions of the Kingdom of Dublin, because at this time they might have split internally.

However, in 902, we were illuminated again; The remaining Dublin Vikings were driven out of town by the combined forces of Brega and leinster:

The pagans were driven out of Ireland, that is, from? Fort Chris [Dublin] ... They abandoned a large number of ships and escaped half-dead after being injured and broken. (Ulster Yearbook, 902. 2)

Dublin is now in Irish hands, and it seems that a large number of vikings got up and left Ireland to camp in England for the time being.

After only a short rest, the Waterford coast suddenly appeared on the horizon in 9 14, and a large number of Viking sails were getting closer and closer, and manned goods recaptured Waterford and ravaged the land around Munster. Other bases, such as Wexford, Cork and limerick, also returned to the Vikings at this time, while Dublin was taken over by the original Dublin Viking Group, which also ruled York and Northumbria at this time. This all-round dynastic connection greatly affected the trade and urbanization of Ireland as a whole, greatly increased the resources of a single king, and turned Dublin into an economic and political center from which Irish kings also benefited.

The Viking story in Ireland finally ended at the end of 10. (wwW.Lishixinzhi.Com) It started in Dublin when the Viking king Amlie Kahlan became a little overconfident and his mind was full of conquest. After stabbing the sword of the army into the necks of many Irish people, including King leinster, he was quickly defeated by the kingdom of Misbah in the Battle of Tara in 980 AD, and was called "the Red Massacre" by chroniclers. Price, 432 pounds). Mael Sechnaill, King of Mizpah, then successfully advanced into Dublin, and when Dublin surrendered, all the Uniyier land and Irish slaves in the Viking territory must be released. All Viking cities are now under the direct or indirect control of the King of Ireland.

With the leading ship almost set sail, the remaining Nordic people have steadily integrated into Irish politics. The Battle of Crontaft in A.D. 10 14-despite its legendary status-only strengthened this trend. With the help of the Vikings in limerick, the Irish King Bryan Brou invaded Dublin, and the people of leinster sided with the Vikings in Dublin. The typical mixed alliance is the characteristic of Irish politics in this period. The subsequent scuffle saw the fall of Brian Brou, but Dublin lost, so it piled up after the failure in early 1980, closely integrating Dublin and other Viking cities into the Irish political structure; They are now ruled by the Irish overlord, who regards them as "the source of income and power, not the fortress of fired foreigners" (? Klein, 267).

Impact on Ireland and Heritage

According to the records in the early Middle Ages, the images of attacking the Vikings and releasing their cruelty and destruction to Ireland seem very clear, and are often engraved in today's mind to a large extent. However, when carefully observing the context, one can only come to the conclusion that this is greatly exaggerated. As far as frequency is concerned, early attack is not completely a persistent risk. Between 795 and 829, only 25 attacks on monasteries were recorded, and Ireland has always had a veritable sea of monasteries and churches. Even those who have been hit many times obviously bounce back fast enough to be hit again. Generally speaking, most monasteries survived in this era.

The bloodthirsty curse trial related to the Vikings originated from the clergy in the front line, who were obviously very uneasy about these "infidels" or "infidels" entering and plundering their shelters. This hatred permeates their works, giving people an unfair impression of large-scale destruction; It's not so much that all the "safe havens" were flooded by the "Viking waves" (Ulster Yearbook, 820). Although this may cause trauma, the reality of the attack is much milder than this. In addition, during the Viking period, the Irish actually plundered more churches than the Nordic people. Of course, they don't need to learn any lessons about barbarism from the Nordic people, because they have received a good education in this field.

Although the territory occupied by the Vikings was not very large and had little influence on Ireland's geography, the Vikings did have a great influence on Ireland's politics, economy and culture in the end. The Irish took over some clues about the war in northern Europe, especially in weapons and tactics, but it was the Viking spears that developed into towns with commercial characteristics, which gave Ireland a great and lasting impetus for lacking suitable towns before. In addition, the Vikings' contacts with other parts of the British Isles and the European continent expanded, which generally expanded the scope of Irish trade.

The Viking Kingdom gradually integrated into Irish society, especially in the whole 10 century. Not only did the Vikings accept the same Christianity as the religious sites they originally attacked, but the Irish king was also influenced by the Viking concept of kingship, which is more important. Finally, the most tangible influence on us can be seen in art and language: Scandinavian style can be seen in all Irish metal products. At that time, the stone cross, these two names and terms related to typical Viking activities (such as shipping) were borrowed by Irish people, for example, the ornate ancient Nordic knattar-barki (a ship with nails) became Ireland's cnaturbarc.

Vikings' reputation for being too crazy ensured their survival in the collective memory of Europe. Although one or two nails have been cancelled for contextual reasons, their complex relationship with Ireland is both fascinating and worthy of attention.