Ivar of Waterford
Encyclopedia
Ivar of Waterford (died 1000) was the Norse
king of Waterford
from at least 969 until his death in the year 1000, and also reigned as King of Dublin, possibly from 989 to 993, and certainly again for less than a year between 994 and 995, returning after his expulsion from the city in 993 by Sigtrygg Silkbeard
, who would expel him for good the next time.
Like his relation and contemporary Ivar of Limerick
, and with whom he may actually be confused in one or two instances, Ivar's parentage is a little uncertain. However Clare Downham argues that his claim to Dublin and the names of his sons and grandsons suggest he did belong to the Uí Ímair
dynasty. In 1867 James Henthorn Todd
suggested him as a son of another Ímar, slain in battle against Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
in 950, and assumed to be a son of the powerful Ragnall ua Ímair
, King of Northumbria, who occupied Waterford and raided Munster
from it in the second decade of the 10th century before moving on to take Scandinavian York. Ivar of Waterford had children and grandchildren also named Ragnall. Mary Valante agrees with Todd.
of Dál gCais
, to defend the Osraige against an attack by Murchad mac Finn, King of Leinster. His activities are then unknown (in the surviving sources) for over a decade, but following the retirement and death of Amlaíb Cuarán, King of Dublin in 980–1, Alex Woolf
argues Ivar could have been assuming the role of leader of the Norse-Irish resistance to Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
, who had defeated Amlaíb in the Battle of Tara in 980 and to whom Amlaíb's son Glúniairn
and the Kingdom of Dublin were now subordinate. In 982 Ivar plundered Kildare
in Máel Sechnaill's territory. Next year he joined forces with the King of Leinster Domnall Claen in a major battle against Máel Sechnaill and Glúniairn, in which his side suffered a rout and many were slain, with his son Gilla Pátraic and others of distinction among the dead. Máel Sechnaill then ravaged Leinster
. A year later in 984 Ivar appears to have entered into an alliance with Brian Bóruma (successor of Mathgamain), and with the brothers Maccus
and Gofraid mac Arailt
, Kings of Mann and the Isles, turning from his alliance with Leinster to agree to attack both that kingdom and Dublin. According to Clare Downham, "their combined armies ravaged through the province but do not appear to have reached Dublin". She also suggests that Ivar's dynasty's long alliance with Dál gCais may have aided Brian in his later quest to dominate Ireland, and offers evidence of a similar long alliance with the Osraige.
Nine years later in 993 he is reported in the Annals of Inisfallen
as being expelled from Dublin, possibly after having reigned there from 989 after Glúniairn's death, by Glúniairn's brother Sigtrygg Silkbeard
, although according to the Annals of the Four Masters
this was achieved "through the intercession of the saints". A year or two later in 994 or 995 Ivar is noted for expelling Sigtrygg from the kingship, but he would only reign for a short time as Silkbeard returned to force him out later in 995. However, the Annals of Clonmacnoise
report the sequence of events a little differently, saying "Hymer raigned in Dublin after Awley. Randolphe [Ivar's son] was killed by the Leinstermen, Hymer was put to flight and Gittrick was king of Dublin in his place.", interestingly ignoring the reign of Glúniairn altogether. Ivar is attested in no other source in Dublin so early and the account may be confused.
His last known activity was a raid into Uí Cheinnselaig
in Leinster in 998, where his army lost some men and the greater part of their horses. The annals report him dying two years later, but do not mention the cause.
According to Geoffrey Keating
in his circa 1634 History of Ireland, which is based on the annals and other sources, Ivar at some point in his career joined forces with Domnall mac Fáelain, King of the Déisi Muman, to invade the province of Munster
, and they plundered the greater part of it before being defeated by Brian Bóruma, who burned Waterford in retaliation. No mention is made of any previous or following alliance between Ivar and the Dál Cais.
Outside of Ireland and returning to the early 980s, Alex Woolf suggests Ivar may have engaged in a number of raids in southwestern England which are reported in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
. These entries mention no leader specifically but he was the most active Norse-Irish ruler at the time.
, although the precise line of descent is uncertain, and the middle generation, that of the "Imhar, Tanist of the foreigners" slain in a major battle against Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
in 950, is only an educated guess made by Todd and followed by Valante.
The names of Ivar's wife or wives are unknown but one was likely the daughter of Donnubán mac Cathail
, king of Uí Fidgenti
, probably by a daughter or granddaughter of Ivar of Limerick
. Another may have been a daughter of an Osraige dynast, possibly Gilla Pátraic mac Donnchada, king of Osraige.
His known descendants were:
According to Seán Duffy, Ivar and his family engaged in a nearly century-long debilitating feud with the descendants of Amlaíb Cuarán, eventually resulting in the loss of control of Norse Dublin to the Irish Uí Cheinnselaig
and Uí Briain dynasties, although this argument depends on whether or not Echmarcach mac Ragnaill
was a descendant of Ivar. He argues Echmarcach was a son or grandson of one of the Ragnalls above (died 1018 or 1035). Benjamin Hudson has argued Echmarcach was not, and that his paternal grandfather was Gofraid mac Arailt
. Colmán Etchingham agrees with Hudson while Alex Woolf
has voiced (to Etchingham) agreement with Duffy. However Duffy has received his loudest support from Forte, Oram
, and Pedersen in their recent title.
Depending on the interpretation of the surviving sources, Cacht ingen Ragnaill
, Queen of Donnchad mac Briain
and usually assumed to be a sister of Echmarcach, may or may not have been a granddaughter or great-granddaughter of Ivar. Echmarcach's daughter Mór, wife of Tadg Ua Briain, may have surviving descendants.
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 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...
from at least 969 until his death in the year 1000, and also reigned as King of Dublin, possibly from 989 to 993, and certainly again for less than a year between 994 and 995, returning after his expulsion from the city in 993 by Sigtrygg Silkbeard
Sigtrygg Silkbeard
Sigtrygg II Silkbeard Olafsson was a Hiberno-Norse King of Dublin of the Uí Ímair dynasty...
, who would expel him for good the next time.
Like his relation and contemporary Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
, and with whom he may actually be confused in one or two instances, Ivar's parentage is a little uncertain. However Clare Downham argues that his claim to Dublin and the names of his sons and grandsons suggest he did belong to the Uí Ímair
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...
dynasty. In 1867 James Henthorn Todd
James Henthorn Todd
James Henthorn Todd was a biblical scholar, educator, and Irish historian. He is noted for his efforts to place religious disagreements on a rational historical footing, for his advocacy of a liberal form of Protestantism, and for his endeavours as an educator, librarian, and scholar in Irish...
suggested him as a son of another Ímar, slain in battle against Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin was king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources, High King of Ireland.The Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill had been excluded from the alternating succession to the High Kingship which had been largely dominated by the northern Cenél nEógain kings...
in 950, and assumed to be a son of the powerful Ragnall ua Ímair
Ragnall ua Ímair
Ragnall was a Norse overlord or emperor of northern Britain, including Northumbria, the entire Irish Sea region including the Isle of Man, south to Waterford and briefly much of the Irish province of Munster, and then returning to Britain, briefly York as distinct from Northumbria at this time...
, King of Northumbria, who occupied Waterford and raided Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
from it in the second decade of the 10th century before moving on to take Scandinavian York. Ivar of Waterford had children and grandchildren also named Ragnall. Mary Valante agrees with Todd.
Career
Ivar had a long and active career, and is first noted in 969 allied with, among several other parties, Mathgamain mac CennétigMathgamain mac Cennétig
Mathgamain mac Cennétig was King of Munster from around 970 to his death in 976. He is the elder brother of Brian Bóruma and the ancestor of the McMahon family of County Clare in Western Ireland ....
of Dál gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
, to defend the Osraige against an attack by Murchad mac Finn, King of Leinster. His activities are then unknown (in the surviving sources) for over a decade, but following the retirement and death of Amlaíb Cuarán, King of Dublin in 980–1, Alex Woolf
Alex Woolf
Alex Woolf is a medieval historian based at the University of St Andrews. He specialises in the history of the British Isles and Scandinavia in the Early Middle Ages, especially in relation to the peoples of Wales and Scotland. He is author of volume two in the New Edinburgh History of Scotland,...
argues Ivar could have been assuming the role of leader of the Norse-Irish resistance to Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill , also called Máel Sechnaill Mór, Máel Sechnaill II, anglicized Malachy II, was King of Mide and High King of Ireland...
, who had defeated Amlaíb in the Battle of Tara in 980 and to whom Amlaíb's son Glúniairn
Glúniairn
Glúniairn , in Old Norse Járnkné, was a Norse-Gael king of Dublin of the Uí Ímair kindred which ruled over much of the Scandinavianised and Norse-Gael parts of Great Britain and Ireland in the tenth century....
and the Kingdom of Dublin were now subordinate. In 982 Ivar plundered Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
in Máel Sechnaill's territory. Next year he joined forces with the King of Leinster Domnall Claen in a major battle against Máel Sechnaill and Glúniairn, in which his side suffered a rout and many were slain, with his son Gilla Pátraic and others of distinction among the dead. Máel Sechnaill then ravaged Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. A year later in 984 Ivar appears to have entered into an alliance with Brian Bóruma (successor of Mathgamain), and with the brothers Maccus
Maccus mac Arailt
Maccus mac Arailt or Maccus Haraldsson was a Scandinavian or Norse-Gael king. He and his brother Gofraid were active in the lands around the Irish Sea in the 970s and 980s...
and Gofraid mac Arailt
Gofraid mac Arailt
Gofraid mac Arailt , in Old Norse Guðrøðr Haraldsson, was a Scandinavian or Norse-Gael king. He and his brother Maccus were active in the lands around the Irish Sea in the 970s and 980s.-Origins:...
, Kings of Mann and the Isles, turning from his alliance with Leinster to agree to attack both that kingdom and Dublin. According to Clare Downham, "their combined armies ravaged through the province but do not appear to have reached Dublin". She also suggests that Ivar's dynasty's long alliance with Dál gCais may have aided Brian in his later quest to dominate Ireland, and offers evidence of a similar long alliance with the Osraige.
Nine years later in 993 he is reported in the Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
as being expelled from Dublin, possibly after having reigned there from 989 after Glúniairn's death, by Glúniairn's brother Sigtrygg Silkbeard
Sigtrygg Silkbeard
Sigtrygg II Silkbeard Olafsson was a Hiberno-Norse King of Dublin of the Uí Ímair dynasty...
, although according to the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
this was achieved "through the intercession of the saints". A year or two later in 994 or 995 Ivar is noted for expelling Sigtrygg from the kingship, but he would only reign for a short time as Silkbeard returned to force him out later in 995. However, the Annals of Clonmacnoise
Annals of Clonmacnoise
The Annals of Clonmacnoise are an early 17th-century Early Modern English translation of a lost Irish chronicle, which covered events in Ireland from pre-history to A.D. 1408...
report the sequence of events a little differently, saying "Hymer raigned in Dublin after Awley. Randolphe [Ivar's son] was killed by the Leinstermen, Hymer was put to flight and Gittrick was king of Dublin in his place.", interestingly ignoring the reign of Glúniairn altogether. Ivar is attested in no other source in Dublin so early and the account may be confused.
His last known activity was a raid into Uí Cheinnselaig
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
in Leinster in 998, where his army lost some men and the greater part of their horses. The annals report him dying two years later, but do not mention the cause.
According to Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
in his circa 1634 History of Ireland, which is based on the annals and other sources, Ivar at some point in his career joined forces with Domnall mac Fáelain, King of the Déisi Muman, to invade the province of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, and they plundered the greater part of it before being defeated by Brian Bóruma, who burned Waterford in retaliation. No mention is made of any previous or following alliance between Ivar and the Dál Cais.
Outside of Ireland and returning to the early 980s, Alex Woolf suggests Ivar may have engaged in a number of raids in southwestern England which are reported in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
. These entries mention no leader specifically but he was the most active Norse-Irish ruler at the time.
Family
Again, Ivar was very likely a grandson of Ragnall ua ÍmairRagnall ua Ímair
Ragnall was a Norse overlord or emperor of northern Britain, including Northumbria, the entire Irish Sea region including the Isle of Man, south to Waterford and briefly much of the Irish province of Munster, and then returning to Britain, briefly York as distinct from Northumbria at this time...
, although the precise line of descent is uncertain, and the middle generation, that of the "Imhar, Tanist of the foreigners" slain in a major battle against Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin was king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources, High King of Ireland.The Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill had been excluded from the alternating succession to the High Kingship which had been largely dominated by the northern Cenél nEógain kings...
in 950, is only an educated guess made by Todd and followed by Valante.
The names of Ivar's wife or wives are unknown but one was likely the daughter of Donnubán mac Cathail
Donnubán mac Cathail
Donnubán , Donndubán , or Donnabán mac Cathail, anglicised Donovan, son of Cahall , was a 10th century ruler of the Irish regional kingdom of Uí Fidgenti, and possibly also of the smaller overkingdom of Uí Chairpre Áebda within that...
, king of Uí Fidgenti
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
, probably by a daughter or granddaughter of Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
. Another may have been a daughter of an Osraige dynast, possibly Gilla Pátraic mac Donnchada, king of Osraige.
His known descendants were:
- Gilla Pátraic (died 983) - name suggests association with the Osraige as well as ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
identity - Ragnall (died 995)
- Donndubán (died 996) - an extremely rare name, thus probably a grandson of Donndubán mac Cathail. According to a tradition of uncertain provenance which made itself into the Encyclopedia Britannica for several decades, Donndubán mac Ímair, along with his maternal grandfather Donndubán mac Cathail, is the eponymous ancestor of some of the modern O'Donovan family. Likely no pedigree survives to verify the claim.
- Ragnall mac Ímair, king of Waterford (died 1018) - Ivar's successor
- ? mac Ragnaill (died 1015)
- Ragnall mac Ragnaill, king of Waterford (died 1035)
- Sihtric mac Ímair, king of Waterford (died 1022)
According to Seán Duffy, Ivar and his family engaged in a nearly century-long debilitating feud with the descendants of Amlaíb Cuarán, eventually resulting in the loss of control of Norse Dublin to the Irish Uí Cheinnselaig
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
and Uí Briain dynasties, although this argument depends on whether or not Echmarcach mac Ragnaill
Echmarcach mac Ragnaill
Echmarcach mac Ragnaill was the Gall-Gaidhel King of the Isles, Dublin , and much of Galloway. According to Seán Duffy he was either a grandson or great-grandson of Ivar of Waterford, but an alternative exists. Benjamin Hudson has contended Echmarcach was a grandson of Gofraid mac Arailt...
was a descendant of Ivar. He argues Echmarcach was a son or grandson of one of the Ragnalls above (died 1018 or 1035). Benjamin Hudson has argued Echmarcach was not, and that his paternal grandfather was Gofraid mac Arailt
Gofraid mac Arailt
Gofraid mac Arailt , in Old Norse Guðrøðr Haraldsson, was a Scandinavian or Norse-Gael king. He and his brother Maccus were active in the lands around the Irish Sea in the 970s and 980s.-Origins:...
. Colmán Etchingham agrees with Hudson while Alex Woolf
Alex Woolf
Alex Woolf is a medieval historian based at the University of St Andrews. He specialises in the history of the British Isles and Scandinavia in the Early Middle Ages, especially in relation to the peoples of Wales and Scotland. He is author of volume two in the New Edinburgh History of Scotland,...
has voiced (to Etchingham) agreement with Duffy. However Duffy has received his loudest support from Forte, Oram
Richard Oram
Professor Richard D. Oram F.S.A. is a Scottish historian. He is a Professor of Medieval and Environmental History at the University of Stirling and an Honorary Lecturer in History at the University of Aberdeen. He is also the director of the Centre for Environmental History and Policy at the...
, and Pedersen in their recent title.
Depending on the interpretation of the surviving sources, Cacht ingen Ragnaill
Cacht ingen Ragnaill
Cacht ingen Ragnaill was the queen of Donnchad mac Briain, from their marriage in 1032 to her death in 1054, when she is styled Queen of Ireland in the Irish annals of the Clonmacnoise group: the Annals of Tigernach and Chronicon Scotorum...
, Queen of Donnchad mac Briain
Donnchad mac Briain
Donnchadh mac Briain , formerly anglicised as Donough O'Brian, son of Brian Bóruma and Gormflaith ingen Murchada, was King of Munster.-Background:...
and usually assumed to be a sister of Echmarcach, may or may not have been a granddaughter or great-granddaughter of Ivar. Echmarcach's daughter Mór, wife of Tadg Ua Briain, may have surviving descendants.