Óttar of Dublin
Óttar | |
---|---|
King of Dublin | |
Reign | c. 1142–1 July 1148 |
Predecessor | Conchobar Ua Briain |
Successor | Brodar mac Torcaill |
Born | c. 1114 Probably the Hebrides |
Died | 1 July 1148 Dublin |
Spouse | Helga |
Issue | ?Óttar, Thorfinn Mac Oitir |
Father | Óttar |
Óttar of Dublin (or Óttarr of Dublin), in
Life
Óttar was a powerful man from the Norse-Gaelic territory of the Western Isles of Scotland, known as the Sudreyjar to the Vikings. He seized control of the Kingdom of Dublin in 1142, according to Clare Downham after having been invited by the townspeople to become their king.[1] He is described as the grandson of Óttar in the Annals of the Four Masters and as the son of Óttar (McOtyr) in the Annals of Clonmacnoise. It is possible that both records are correct and that Óttar of Dublin was the son of a man named Óttar whose own father was also Óttar. Either his father or grandfather was the Jarl Óttar, killed in 1098, who is recorded as controlling half of the Isle of Man.[2] One source unambiguously names Jarl Óttar of Man as the father of Óttar of Dublin, and also names his mother, one Svanhilda "a Danish lady."[3] Before his takeover of Dublin he is not specifically mentioned as holding the title jarl, but his evident access to substantial military resources and the use of the title by both his forebears and descendants suggests that he was of that rank.
Óttar of Dublin belonged to what has been referred to as a 'dynasty of Óttars,' a family characterised by the repeated use of the personal name Óttar. Over a number of centuries its members were active throughout the Irish Sea zone, often in conjunction with the Uí Ímair, from Caithness in the far north of Scotland to Cork in the south of Ireland.[4]
According to G. de P. Cotter, following his occupation of Dublin, Óttar "...burned the cathedral of Kells, and plundered that town.[3] This most likely refers to the Church at Kells in County Meath, even though this church wasn't elevated to the status of "cathedral" until after the synod of Kells. The Annals of the Four Masters record that Kells ("Ceanannus") was burned in 1143 and three times in 1144.[5]
Several versions of the
Contemporary annals suggest that Óttar was co-king with
Óttar retained control of Dublin until 1148 when he was "treacherously killed" by the Meic Torcaill, the kin of Ragnall mac Torcaill.[10] According to Downham, Óttar and the sons of Torcall initially co-operated, "...but a succession dispute emerged which led to Óttar's death in 1148".[1]
Posterity
He was married to Helga daughter of Tolokunger, a Danish commander, and was the father of Thorfinus filius Oter, who was described as the most powerful jarl (princeps) in the Western Isles.[6][11]
He is claimed as an ancestor by the Cotter family of County Cork, Ireland, whose original name was Mac Oitir (son of Óttar), 'through Óttar's son Thorfin and grandson Therulfe.'[12]
Fiction
Óttar, the variant Irish spelling Otir is used, appears as a character in
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Downham 2007 p. 39
- ^ Williams, p. 142
- ^ a b Cotter 1938, p. 24
- ^ Williams – whole article
- ^ Annals of the Four Masters 1143.6[1145], 1144.3[1146].
- ^ a b Williams, p. 143
- ^ Duffy, p. 122
- ^ Annals of the Four Masters 1146.3[1148]
- ^ Ó Cróinín, p. 871
- ^ Annals of Tigernach (T1148.3)
- ^ Cotter 1938, p. 25
- ^ Ó Murchadha, p. 261
References
- Cotter, G. de P. (ed.), "The Cotter Family of Rockforest, Co. Cork", in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 43 (1938): 21–31
- Downham, Clare, (2007) Living on the edge: Scandinavian Dublin in the Twelfth Century, pp 33–51 in West over Sea, Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300 a "Festschrift in honour of Dr Barbara E. Crawford", eds. Beverley Ballin Smith, Simon Taylor and Gareth Williams, Leiden and Boston. ISBN 978-90-04-15893-1
- Duffy, Seán, (1992) Irishmen and Islesmen in the Kingdoms of Dublin and Man, 1052–1171. Ériu, Vol. 43, pp. 93–133. Royal Irish Academy
- Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí (Ed.), (2005) A New History of Ireland: Prehistoric and early Ireland. Oxford University Press
- Ó Murchadha, Diarmuid, (1996). Family Names of County Cork. Cork: The Collins Press. 2nd edition.
- Williams, Gareth, (2007) "These people were high-born and thought well of themselves" The family of Moddan of Dale, pp. 129 –152, in West over Sea, Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300 a "Festschrift in honour of Dr Barbara E. Crawford" eds. Beverley Ballin Smith, Simon Taylor and Gareth Williams. Leiden and Boston. ISBN 978-90-04-15893-1