Sigtrygg "Silkbeard" Olafsson, King of Dublin & York

Sigtrygg Silkbeard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sigtrygg II Silkbeard Olafsson (also Sihtric, Sitric[1] and Sitrick in Irish texts; or Sigtryg[2] and Sigtryggr[3] in Scandinavian texts) was a Hiberno-Norse king of Dublin (possibly AD 989–994; restored or began 995–1000; restored 1000 and abdicated 1036) of the Uí Ímair dynasty. He was caught up in the abortive Leinster revolt of 999–1000, after which he was forced to submit to the King of Munster, Brian Boru. His family also conducted a double marriage alliance with Boru, although he later realigned himself with the main leaders of the Leinster revolt of 1012–1014. He has a prominent role in the 12th-century Irish Cogadh Gaedhil re Gallaibh and the 13th century Icelandic Njal's Saga, as the main Norse leader at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

Sigtrygg's long reign spanned 46 years, until his abdication in 1036.[4] During that period, his armies saw action in four of the five Irish provinces of the time. In particular, he conducted a long series of raids into territories such as Meath, Wicklow, Ulster, and perhaps even the coast of Wales. He also came into conflict with rival Norse kings, especially in Cork and Waterford.

He went on pilgrimage to Rome in 1028 and is associated with the foundation of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. Although Dublin underwent several reversals of fortune during his reign, on the whole trade in the city flourished. He died in 1042.[4]

Family

Sigtrygg was of Norse and Irish ancestry.[2] He was a son of Olaf Cuarán (also called Kváran), King of York and of Dublin, and Gormflaith ingen Murchada.[3] Gormflaith was the daughter of the King of Leinster, Murchad mac Finn,[5] and the sister of his successor, King Máel Mórda of Leinster.[3] She had previously been married to the King of Meath and High King of Ireland, Máel Sechnaill[3] — the first of her three husbands. She was a beautiful, powerful and intriguing Irish woman,[3] who according to the 13th-century Icelandic Njál's saga, was "the fairest of all women, and best gifted in everything that was not in her own power, but it was the talk of men that she did all things ill over which she had any power".[3][6] Sigtrygg's paternal half-brother was Glúniairn, "Iron-knee", who ruled as King of Dublin from 980–989.

An incident involving the ransom of one of Sigtrygg's sons late in his reign, in which "seven score British horse" were mentioned in the list of demands,[7] suggests that Dublin was one of the main ports for importing horses into 11th century Ireland, and that Sigtrygg and his family may have been personally involved in animal husbandry.[8]

From Medlands v3.2 Updated 21 April 2017

SIHTRIC (-1042). King of Dublin. The Annals of Ulster record that "Sitriuc son of Amlaíb was expelled from Áth Cliath" in 994[1297]. The Annals of the Four Masters record that “Imhar came to Ath-Cliath after Sitric, son of Amblaeibh” in 994[1298]. The Annals of Tigernach record that “Ragnall was killed by the Leinstermen, Imar again fled, and Sitric reigned in his place” in [993/94][1299]. The Annals of Tigernach record that “Sitriuc son of Olaf king of the Foreigners” plundered “into Ulster…Cell Cleithe and Inis Cumscraig” in [1000/01][1300]. Orkneyinga Saga records that Sigurd Jarl of Orkney went to Ireland “five years after the Battle of Svoldur” to support “King Sigtrygg Silk-Beard” against “King Brian of Ireland”, and left “his elder sons in charge of the earldom”, but was killed in the battle in which King Brian was killed[1301]. The Annals of Ulster record that "Sitriuc grandson of Amlaíb king of the foreigners" went to Rome in 1028[1302]. m ---. The name of Sihtric´s wife is not known. Sihtric & his wife had five children:

GORMLAITH (-1030). The Annals of Tigernach record the death in 1030 of “Gormlaith, daughter of Murchad son of Fland” mother of “Sitric son of Olaf king of the Foreigners and of Donnchad son of Brian king of Munster”[619]. Her third marriage is confirmed by the Annals of the Four Masters which record the death in 1030 of “Gormlaith daughter of Murchadh son of Finn, mother of the king of the foreigners Sitric, Donnchadh son of Brian king of Munster, and Conchobhar son of Maeleachlainn king of Teamhair”[620]. It is assumed that Maelsechnaill separated from Gormlaith as he is recorded with another wife before Gormlaith died. m firstly as his third wife, OLAF Sihtricsson King of Dublin, son of SIHTRIC King of York & his first wife --- (-981). m secondly (after 981, [separated]%29 [as his second wife,] BRIAN Boroma, son of CEINNÉITIG & his wife --- (941-killed in battle Clontarf 23 Apr 1014). m thirdly ([separated]) as his [third] wife, MAELSECHNAILL King of Ireland, son of DOMNALL & his wife --- ([949/50]-Cró Inis of Lough Ennell 2 Sep 1022).

• Charles Cawley's Medieval Lands: IRELAND

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Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Royal Family of Gwynedd - The Unofficial "History" of Gruffudd, Nephew of Iago; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id74.html. (Steven Ferry, December 4, 2019.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The 1039 Battle at Rhyd y Groes; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id211.html. (Steven Ferry, June 3, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Edwin of Tegeingl and His Family - The Ancestry of Edwin of Tegeingl; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id42.html. (Steven Ferry, June 5, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Cynfyn ap Gwerystan, the Interim King; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id209.html. (Steven Ferry, July 21, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Consorts and Children of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id210.html. (Steven Ferry, July 22, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Unofficial "History" of Elystan of Powys; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id230.html. (Steven Ferry, August 12, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Eidio Wyllt - What Was His Birthname?; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id156.html. (Steven Ferry, September 9, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Children of Rhodri Mawr; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id264.html. (Steven Ferry, April 6, 2021.)

Sigtrygg Olavsson, mest kjent som Sigtrygg Silkeskjegg (norrønt Sigtryggr Silkiskeggi) og i irske tekster for Sitric mac-Aulaffe, var sønn av kong Olav Kvåran Sigtriggson, eller ved hans irske navn Amlaíb Cuarán, og Gormflaith. Sistnevnte gjenkjennes fra Njåls saga som Kormloð. Det beskrivende tilnavnet ‘Silkeskjegg’ gir signaler om en mann med selvbevisst utseende og et velfrisert skjegg. Han var vikingenes leder i slaget ved Clontarf i 1014, skjønt flere kilder sier at han selv ikke tok aktivt del.

Olav Kvåran styrte som konge av Dublin fra 945 til han abdiserte etter slaget ved Tara i 980. Han døde i religiøs tilbaketrukkethet på Iona i 981.

I 989 etterfulgte Sigtrygg Silkeskjegg sin bror, Járnkné Olavsson, eller ved hans irske navn Glun Iarainn, som konge av Dublin. Járnkné hadde styrt fra 980 til 989, og i hans tid hadde Dublin, etter nederlaget ved Tara, indirekte akseptert overkongen Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaills overherredømme. Det ser ut som om Sigtrygg prøvde å hevde Dublins selvstendighet straks han overtok, Máel Sechnaill ledet en hær mot byen og beleiret den i tre uker. Sigtrygg ble tvunget til å akseptere vilkår som blant annet en fast avgift i gull til overkongen. (Det er uenighet om når dette skjedde, flere kilder mener det skjedde mens Járnkne fortsatt var hersker. Dublin feiret i 1988 milennium ut fra at byen kom under irsk kontroll i 988).

I 994 ble Sigtrygg Silkeskjegg fordrevet fra Dublin av et opprør ledet av Hymar (av Waterford?), men kom tilbake innen et år og fordrev Hymar.

I 998 gjorde hans onkel, kong Máelmorda av Leinster opprør mot Irlands overkonge, Brian Ború, og allierte seg med Sigtrygg og Dublin. I 999 ble Sigtrygg og Máelmorda beseiret av Brian i slaget ved Glen Mama. I fredsforhandlingene giftet Brian en av sine døtre til Sigtrygg og tok selv dennes mor, Gormflaith, til hustru.

I 1012 gjorde Maelmorda igjen opprør mot Brian, og Sigtrygg var igjen alliert med ham. Brian hadde i mellomtiden skilt seg fra Gromflaith, og det fortelles at hun sammensverget seg med sønnen mot Brian Ború. Hun skal blant annet ha vært den som fikk Sigtrygg til å søke støtte fra jarl Sigurd på Orknøyene og Brodir av Man. Konflikten møtte sitt klimaks i slaget ved Clontarf utenfor Dublin. Selv om irene seiret ble den aldrende Brian Ború drept, mens Sigtrygg selv skal ha vært trygt bak murene i Dublin.

Sigtrygg Silkeskjegg giftet seg med Slani ingen Briain O'Brien. De fikk følgende barn:

Olav (-~1030)

Harald (irsk Amlaíb (-1034)

Godfrid (eller Guthfrith, irsk Gofraid) (-1036)

Sigtrygg Silkeskjegg ble etterfulgt av Echmarcach mac Ragnaill (= «Hestemann» Ragnarsson) i 1036. Han døde i 1042.