House-shaped shrine (or church or tomb -shaped shrines) are early medieval portable metal reliquary formed in the shape of the roof of a rectangular building. They originate from both Ireland and Scotland and mostly date from the 8th or 9th centuries. Typical example consist of a wooden core covered with silver and copper alloy plates, and were built to hold relics of saints or martyrs from the early Church era; a number held corporeal remains when found in the modern period, presumably they were parts of the saint's body. Others, including the Breac Maodhóg , held manuscripts associated with the commemorated saint. Like many Insular shrines, they were heavily reworked and embellished in the centuries following their initial construction, often with metal adornments or figures influenced by Romanesque sculpture.
96-601: The Monymusk Reliquary is an eighth century Scottish house-shape reliquary made of wood and metal characterised by an Insular fusion of Gaelic and Pictish design and Anglo-Saxon metalworking, presumably by the Celtic Church monks of Iona Abbey . It is now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. It is an early example of the house-shaped shrine that became popular across Europe later in
192-612: A Scandinavian elite but with most of the inhabitants being indigenous Irish. Niall Glúndub marched on Dublin in September 919, but Sihtric met his forces at the battle of Islandbridge or Áth Cliath and inflicted on him a decisive defeat, with Niall and numerous other Irish leaders among the casualties. Dublin was secured for the Norse, and in 920 Sitric left for York and following Ragnall's death succeeded him as ruler there in 921. Their kinsman Gofraid assumed control of Dublin. Gofraid
288-593: A Scandinavian kingdom like the one on the eastern side of the Irish sea. Dublin's ambitions in Ulster were halted by a series of defeats inflicted upon the Norse by Muirchertach mac Néill , the son of Niall Glúndub. According to Benjamin Hudson, "Muirchertach was one of the most successful generals of his day and was described as the 'Hector of the Irish'". In the annals, it is (Duncan) Donnchad Donn from Clann Cholmáin who
384-556: A battle against an alliance of Dublin and Leinster. He was succeeded by Domnall ua Néill , and in the following decades alliances shifted constantly between the different branches of Uí Néill, Leinster and Dublin. In 980 Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill succeeded Domnall, and the same year he defeated the forces of Dublin at the battle of Tara . Following this victory Máel Sechnaill forced Dublin into submission, and his half-brother, Amlaíbs son Glúniairn , became ruler in Dublin. In Munster,
480-585: A group of mixed Irish and Norse ethnic background arose (often called Norse-Gaels or Hiberno-Norse ). Norse influence shows in the Norse-derived names of many contemporary Irish kings (e.g. Magnus, Lochlann or Sitric), and in DNA evidence in some residents of these coastal cities to this day. A genetics paper in 2006 by Dr Brian McEvoy found that most men with Irish-Viking surnames carried typically Irish genes. This suggests that Viking settlements may have had
576-612: A heavy defeat in the Battle of Confey or Cenn Fuait (917). This victory allowed Sithric to re-establish Norse control over Dublin. Ragnall left Ireland again in 918, and became king of York . With Sithric in Dublin and Ragnall in York, a Dublin-York axis developed which would have influence on both England and Ireland for the next half-century. A new and more intensive period of Viking settlement in Ireland began in 914. Between 914 and 922
672-556: A history of a monarchy of all Ireland going back to and beyond St Patrick. Only a hundred years after Mainistrech, Gerald of Wales described the Irish society in his Topographia Hibernica as utterly primitive and savage. At the beginning of modern scholarly interpretation of Irish history, Eoin MacNeill and G.H. Orpen came to opposite conclusions analyzing the same period. Orpen saw an anarchic country still in 'a tribal state'; he could see no nation, no wider community in Ireland than
768-515: A large contingent of the Norse forces in Ireland with him. The Vikings never managed to establish permanent settlements in the north. Ó Corráin observes: "Ironically, [Áed Findliath's] success may have held back the economic development of the north and ultimately prevented the growth of port towns like those on the east and south coasts, on which the Leinster and Munster kings subsequently depended for much of their wealth." The last report of Olaf
864-662: A new Viking fleet appeared in Waterford Harbour , and soon the Uí Ímair followed, again taking control over Viking activities in Ireland. Ragnall arrived with a fleet in Waterford, while Sitric landed at Cenn Fuait (possibly near Leixlip ) in Leinster. Niall Glúndub had followed Flann Sinna as Uí Néill overking in 916, and he marched into Munster against Ragnall, but no decisive engagement followed. The men of Leinster under Augaire mac Ailella attacked Sithric but suffered
960-478: A period of strong anti-Viking sentiment. He was often depicted as a villain and his wife was said to be a witch that would perform pagan rituals on altars. It is highly likely that this was war propaganda as we have very little evidence of his existence from his own period, and it is unlikely those close to him would record this themselves. In 848 a Norse army was defeated at Sciath Nechtain by Ólchobar mac Cináeda of Munster and Lorcán mac Cellaig of Leinster. For
1056-460: A portion of what is thought to have been an important 9th house-shrine found in a drain near Clonard, County Meath in the late 19th century. History of Ireland (800%E2%80%931169) The history of Ireland 795–1169 covers the period in the history of Ireland from the first Viking raid to the Norman invasion . The first two centuries of this period are characterised by Viking raids and
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#17327757867391152-527: A range of subjects, from theology to political philosophy. It is tempting to link their presence on the Continent as well as the presence of scores of other Irish learned people with the impact of the Vikings on Ireland, which may have driven such people to seek employment elsewhere. If one accepts this version of events, then the Vikings can be said to have inadvertently been one of the principal catalysts for
1248-515: A territory, since defeated Kings were easily replaced. Historians debate the consequences that the initial phases of Viking settlement had on scholarship and literary output. Scholarly activity, for which the Irish are famous in the early Medieval period, consisted of the writing of poetry, the production of Christian devotional texts, the development of the science of computus , and the compilation of elaborate law tracts. Patronage for scholars and scholarship came largely from Irish kings who regarded
1344-486: A unified throne, and regional squabbling over territory led indirectly to the invasion of the Normans under Richard de Clare in 1169 . Due to the rich amount of written sources, the study of Irish history 795–1169 has, to a large extent, focused on gathering, interpretation and textual criticism of these. Only recently have other sources of historical knowledge received more attention, particularly archaeology . Since
1440-430: A wooden core (usually from yew wood ) lined with metal plates of bronze or silver. The two long sides are typically decorated with relief metal work, while the narrow sides have pairs of decorative bosses . The high-pitched, usually sloped "roof"s are held together by ridge-poles and hinged lids secured by a sliding pin which when opened give access to the wooden core and its relic. Of the 8–9th century examples, only
1536-707: Is wooden , but is covered with silver and copper - alloy . It was made around 750, probably by Ionan monks. It shows a combination of the Pictish and Insular styles which appear in manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels (c. 715 AD). The silver plates on the front and lid of the casket are decorated with beasts leaping and twisting, and biting at their tails on a spotted field, characteristic of animal style in Celtic art . The stippled punch marks are characteristically Irish in style. The Monymusk Reliquary
1632-514: Is equally hostile to you also." Further evidence of an Irish presence in Wirral comes from the name of the village of Irby in Wirral, which means "farmstead of the Irishmen", and St Bridget's Church, West Kirby which is known to have been founded by "Christian Vikings from Ireland". The Vikings were able to exploit internal divisions in order to invade England and France. As Ireland was one of
1728-708: Is in Scotland (the Monymusk Reliquary ), one is in Wales (the shrine of St. Gwenfrewi at Gwytherin), and two are in Italy. The earliest examples date from the late 7th century when the practice of the disinterment of the bodies of saints to recover relics for worship (or their supposed healing powers) first became popular in Ireland, although the cult of relics had become widespread on the European continent from
1824-661: Is now considered more plausible that it refers to a Scandinavian colony in the Western Isles of Scotland. Olaf assumed leadership of the Vikings in Ireland, probably in some way shared with his kinsman Ivar , first mentioned in the Irish Annals in 857. Olaf and Ivar remained active in Ireland and around the Irish Sea for the next two decades. The descendants of Ivar, the Uí Ímair , would be an important political factor for
1920-532: Is titled "high king" after Niall however, and Muirchertach did not succeed his father as king of Ailech either until 938. Apart from his victories over the Norse, Muirchertach led campaigns forcing other provincial kingdoms into submission, most notably taking the king of Munster Cellachán Caisil captive in 941. The same year he led a fleet to the Hebrides, collecting tribute there. When Sihtric died in 927 Gofraid left for York, trying to assume kingship there. He
2016-631: Is when he and Ivar returned to Dublin in 871 from Alba . Ivar died in 873. In his obituary, the Annals of Ulster call Ivar "king of the Norsemen of all Ireland and Britain". With their disappearance, there were frequent changes of leadership among the Norse in Ireland and a great deal of internecine conflict is reported for the following decades. In 902 Máel Finnia mac Flannacain of Brega and Cerball mac Muirecáin of Leinster joined forces against Dublin, and "The heathens were driven from Ireland, i.e. from
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#17327757867392112-655: The Annals of Innisfallen cover most of this period, but have a gap between 1132 and 1155. The Annals of Clonmacnoise survive only in an eccentric 17th-century English translation, and the Annals of Tigernach for this period are lost with Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh 's abbreviated copy known as the Chronicon Scotorum supplying only part of the missing material. The Annals of the Four Masters are late, and include some material of doubtful origin. While
2208-502: The English invasion of the 1160s . Eleventh- and early twelfth-century Ireland has, therefore, often assumed the character of a snappy epilogue or a lengthy prologue. In trying to interpret the history of early Ireland, one of the most frequently asked questions addressed by historians is how early it is possible to speak of an Irish nation encompassing the whole island of Ireland. Early poet-historians like Flann Mainistrech constructed
2304-652: The Eóganacht Chaisil acceded to the kingship of Munster in 820, beginning a 130-year domination by this branch of Eóganachta. Combining military campaigns with manipulation of ecclesiastical affairs, he embarked on a policy of aggressive expansion to counter the growth in power of the Uí Néill. Conchobar mac Donnchada (Duncan) succeeded Áed Oirdnide as Uí Néill overking in 819, and soon found himself challenged by Feidlimid, both by Feidlimid launching raids into Mide and Connacht and by him interfering (as would be
2400-684: The Late Middle Ages ; a well known example is the Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral . These were probably intended to represent, or at least evoke, coffins or mausolea rather than houses or churches, and the ends are most often vertical rather than sloping. The shrines were built during the so-called "golden-age" of both Irish metalwork and, more broadly, Insular art. A small number bear autograph inscriptions by
2496-744: The Pictish monastery at Portmahomack , and monasteries in Northumbria ; exchanges of styles and influences are evident in the examples from these areas, at a time when artisans across the British Isles where both exposed to multiple classical and complex mainland European influences. There are some thirty-five surviving medieval European examples, in various conditions, of which nine are Insular . The majority are hip-roofed, with some gable-ended. The best known Insular examples include Saint Manchan's Shrine, Ireland's largest surviving reliquary,
2592-592: The River Liffey , at or near present Dublin ). They were also moving further inland to attack, often using rivers such as the Shannon, and then retreating to their coastal bases. The raiding parties also increased in size, becoming regular armies—in 837 the annals report a fleet of sixty longships on the Liffey, carrying 1,500 men, and another one of a similar size sailing up the river Boyne, making their way into
2688-593: The Ulaid (Ulster), the Connachta (Connacht), the Laigin (Leinster), Mumu ( Munster ) and Mide (Meath), although some accounts discount Mide and split Mumu in two. This is not an accurate description of the political landscape c. 800, but when discussing the political subdivisions of Ireland at this time, it is still useful to refer to this system; if Laigin and Mide are combined as Leinster, it roughly corresponds with
2784-485: The 10th and 11th centuries during cultural exchanges following the —disastrous for Ireland— Viking invasion of Ireland . According to Fintan O'Toole "there [was not a] single moment of conversion, and there was probably a considerable overlap between those [vikings] who had gone native and those who kept to the old religion. Conversion, as the historian Donnchadh Ó Corráin put it, "must have come gradually, as an effect of assimilation." Surviving Irish examples include
2880-525: The 12th century. This was due to the volume of remaining available relics to already "in use", but in part also due to the development of devotional images, although some of these still contained cavities for holding relics. House-shaped reliquaries are constructed to resemble the roofs of early Christian churches. or those of a form similar to the intact 12th century Gallarus Oratory in County Kerry , Ireland, A number of scholars have suggested that
2976-508: The 4th century. Most were at first placed in plain wooden reliquary, that were lavishly decorated and embellished over the following centuries. As well as relics, some Irish shrines were intended as receptacles for manuscripts, or perhaps as containers for the Eucharist . It is thought that most ironwork reliquaries were commissioned in part as status symbols, and primarily to be housed in their home monastery or church, perhaps in front of
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3072-481: The 5th century, and by the early 9th century the island was almost entirely Christian. However, the Martyrology of Tallaght (written sometime in the 8th or 9th century) hints that paganism had not yet been fully uprooted. Eoin MacNeill identified the "oldest certain fact in the political history of Ireland" as the existence in late prehistory of a pentarchy, probably consisting of the cóiceda or "fifths" of
3168-517: The 7th century. Until the 8th century, the Síl nÁedo Sláine (also known as the kingdom of Brega) was pre-eminent, but from 728 the western dynasty of Clann Cholmáin was dominant. In Laigin, Uí Dúnlainge was the dominant dynasty c. 800. They were closely associated with the large monastery of Kildare . Their main rival for dominance in Leinster, the Uí Cheinnselaig had not been able to claim
3264-646: The Emly shrine (found in County Limerick , dated to the late 7th–early 8th century, often considered the exemplary of the series), the two Lough Erne Shrines (9th century), Bologna Shrine (9th century), the Breac Maodhóg (11th century) and Saint Manchan's Shrine (12th century). Three fully intact examples have been found in Norway (the 'Copenhagen' or 'Ranvaik's Casket'), Melhus and Setnes shrines), one
3360-510: The Lough Erne Shrine has straight rather than sloped sides. A number of art historians, including Rachel Moss of Trinity College Dublin , classify them into three broad types: those with a wooden core encased by metal plates, those consisting of wooden boxes decorated with metal ornaments, and fully metal shrines. They typically have cross on the main face, surrounded by large rock crystal gems or other semi-precious stones, while
3456-639: The Middle Ages, perhaps influenced by Insular styles. The Monymusk Reliquary is now empty. Its dimensions are W 112mm x D 51mm x H 89mm. Past scholars suggested that Monymusk Reliquary was the Brecbennach of St. Columba ( modern Gaelic Breac Bannoch or "embossed peaked-thing"), a sacred battle ensign of the Scottish army, used for saintly assistance, and mentioned in various charters associated with Arbroath Abbey . However, this identification of
3552-610: The Monymusk Reliquary with the Brecbennach is unlikely, and the Monymusk Reliquary is therefore not the object mentioned in historical records. Very few Insular reliquaries survive, although many are mentioned in contemporary records. It is characterised by a mixture of Pictish artistic designs and Irish artistic traditions (perhaps first brought to Scotland by Irish missionaries in the sixth century), fused with Anglo-Saxon metalworking techniques, an artistic movement now classified as Insular or Hiberno-Saxon art . The casket
3648-562: The Norse established Waterford , Cork , Dublin , Wexford and Limerick . Significant excavations in Dublin and Waterford in the 20th century have unearthed much of the Viking heritage of those cities. A large amount of Viking burial stones, called the Rathdown Slabs, have been found in multiple locations across South Dublin. The Vikings founded many other coastal towns, and after several generations of coexistence and intermarriage
3744-460: The Norse of Limerick in 977 and the Eóganachta the following year. Having gained control over Munster, he tried to extend his authority by raiding Osraige in 982 and 983, and also, according to the annals of Innisfallen , entering an alliance with the Norse of Waterford , with the intention of attacking Dublin. There was such an attack, but Brian does not seem to have been involved – instead it
3840-538: The Northern Uí Néill. The first recorded Viking raid in Irish history occurred in AD 795 when Vikings, possibly from Norway looted the island of Lambay . This was followed by a raid on the coast of Brega in 798, and raids on the coast of Connacht in 807. These early Viking raids were generally small in scale and quick. These early raids interrupted the golden age of Christian Irish culture and marked
3936-584: The Uí Néill also in the north. In 841, however, Feidlimid was routed in battle by Niall in Leinster. His successors in the south would not be able to challenge the north again to this extent until some 150 years later. The Viking raids on Ireland resumed in 821, and intensified during the following decades. The Vikings were beginning to establish fortified encampments, longports , along the Irish coast and overwintering in Ireland instead of retreating to Scandinavia or British bases. The first known longports were at Linn Dúachaill ( Annagassan ) and Duiblinn (on
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4032-405: The Uí Néill view) in the affairs of Armagh. Conchobar and Feidlimid met at Birr in 827 to discuss peace terms, and the very fact that "the king of Munster could force the high-king to a peace conference is indicative of Feidlimid's growing power". Conchobar was succeeded by Niall Caille in 833. With Niall, we for the first time see a reference in the annals of a Uí Néill leading an army against
4128-544: The Vikings also travelled to the west coast of Ireland to the Skellig Islands located off the coast of County Kerry . The early raids on Ireland seem to have been aristocratic free enterprise, and named leaders appear in the Irish annals: Saxolb (Soxulfr) in 837 , Turges (Þurgestr) in 845 , Agonn (Hákon) in 847 . Áed Oirdnide of the Cenél nEógain branch of the Northern Uí Néill became King of Tara in 797, after
4224-584: The Vikings; he defeated Viking raiders in Derry the same year. He sought to further expand Uí Néill influence in the south; in 835 he led an army to Leinster and installed Bran mac Fáeláin as king of Leinster, and also invaded Mide. This brought him into conflict with Feidlimid, however, and in 838 a conference ( rígdál mór —"great royal meeting") between Niall and Feidlimid was held. This meeting did not result in any lasting peace though; in 840 Feidlimid led an army into Mide and encamped at Tara, thereby challenging
4320-420: The altar. House-shaped shrine were built to be portable, and were often moved from their fixed church positions for local processions, to collect church dues, for oath swearing or other diplomatic occasions, or less frequently as battle standards to protected the home troops and ask God for victory. For this reason, the majority contain carrying hinges to which leather straps could be attached to be carried over
4416-547: The annals provide a considerable amount of information, they are generally terse, and most focus their attention on the doings of the Uí Néill and of churchmen. In addition to the annals, a large number of genealogies survive, along with geographical and legal texts, poetry, sagas and hagiography. In the 12th century, propaganda text like Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil and Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib were composed. Even though
4512-467: The beginning of two hundred years of intermittent warfare, with waves of Viking raiders plundering monasteries and towns throughout Ireland. Most of the early raiders came from the fjords of western Norway. They are believed to have sailed first to Shetland , then south to Orkney . The Vikings would have then sailed down the Atlantic coast of Scotland , and then over to Ireland. During these early raids
4608-615: The craftsmen, but apart from these etchings, little else is known about the individual artisans. However we do know that skilled metal workers were highly regarded and had high social status in medieval Ireland. As they were in high demand, they were probably itinerant, in a highly stratified society that only allowed a select few move between its petty kingdoms, in an era when Ireland was ruled by some 150 " Túath " ( people in English, meaning fiefdom in context). Contemporary Irish metalworkers had close ties with craftsmen in Scotland, including
4704-818: The death of his predecessor, father-in-law and political rival Donnchad Midi . (Duncan) This followed the classic Uí Néill political arrangement, where over-kingship alternated regularly between Cenél nEógain and Clann Cholmáin of the Southern Uí Néill. During his reign he campaigned in Mide, Leinster and Ulaid to assert his authority, though unlike Donnchad (Duncan) he did not campaign in Munster. Thomas Charles-Edwards credits Áed for "the absence of any major Viking attacks on Ireland during his reign after 798". The annals give no reference, however, to Áed at any time being involved with warfare against Viking raiders. Áed
4800-427: The early 8th century Scottish Monymusk Reliquary , the 8th or 9th century Lough Kinale Book Shrine, and the 9th century Irish Breac Maodhóg . Although a great many more where likely produced, most lost during Viking rates, 12th century Norman wars , later internal battles, or were dismantled and smelted so the bronze and sliver could be sold off. In addition, there are dozens of surviving fragments, including
4896-418: The early 8th century. In 944 he sacked Dublin, now ruled by Blácaire mac Gofrith . When Amlaíb Cuaran returned to Ireland the next year, he became ruler of Dublin and acted as an ally of Congalach in the struggle against Ruaidrí ua Canannáin , a rival Uí Néill claimant for High Kingship from Cenél Conaill . This alliance did not last long after Ruaidrí's death in 950, however, and Congalach was killed in 956 in
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#17327757867394992-573: The economic benefits that Viking trade would have brought. While this was happening in Ireland, we observe a more pronounced presence of Irish scholars in Frankish Europe, and especially in circles associated with the Carolingian court. Commonly known as peregrini , Irish scholars such as John Scottus Eriugena and Sedulius Scottus became among the most prominent and influential in ninth-century continental Europe, studying and teaching
5088-494: The established scheme where this alternated between Cenél nEógain in the north and Clann Cholmáin of Mide. His kingship was disputed though, and he did not come close to being an actual king over Ireland. He could count some successes against the Norse, however, most notably burning all the Norse longports in the north in 866. Áed seems to have used the opportunity while Olaf was involved in warfare in Pictland , presumably bringing
5184-532: The first named Viking leaders was Thorgest (in Latin Turgesius ). The Annals of the Four Masters connect him with attacks on Connacht , Mide and the church at Clonmacnoise in 844. He was captured and drowned in Lough Owel by Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid , King of Mide . However the existence of Thorgest is uncertain as he was recorded in books written over 200 years after his death in
5280-630: The first time the leader of the Vikings is described as royalty from Lochlann . Máel Sechnaill, now High King, defeated another army at Forrach the same year. These victories form the background of an embassy sent to the Frankish emperor Charles the Bald , reported in the Annales Bertiniani . In 853 Olaf , identified as a "son of the king of Lochlann", came to Ireland. Lochlann has been understood as (a district of) present Norway ; it
5376-401: The form of much later copies, and it is only from comparison of the various texts that the original documents can be reconstructed. Extant Irish annals are ultimately derived from the now-lost Chronicle of Ireland which was probably being compiled in the midlands of Ireland by around 800. All include material derived from other sources, or added at a later date. The Annals of Ulster and
5472-615: The fortress of Áth Cliath [Dublin]". A group of Vikings led by Hingamund who were forced out of Ireland were given permission by the Saxons to settle in Wirral , in the north west of England. "The Three Fragments" refers to a distinct group of settlers living among these Vikings as "Irishmen": "Then the King, who was on the point of death, and the Queen sent messengers to the Irishmen who were among
5568-408: The high-kingship of all Ireland was marred by the chronic complaint of Irish politics: having united the Ulaid, Munster, Osraige, Connacht and Leinster, he was attacked at the end of his reign by a combination of Uí Néill kings." Áed Findliath was king of Ailech and the leading king within the Northern Uí Néill. After the death of Máel Sechnaill he is counted in the regal lists as high king, following
5664-551: The historical accuracy of these accounts is dubious, the Cogad especially has had a great impact on the interpretation of Irish medieval history until recently. At the end of the 8th century, Ireland was homogeneously Gaelic in terms of society, culture and language. People lived in rural communities, and the only larger settlements were monastic towns of varying sizes. The monasteries played an important part in society, not just with regards to religious and cultural life, but also to economy and politics. Christianization had begun in
5760-406: The influence of the Dal gCais had grown under Cennétig mac Lorcáin , and his son Mathgamain was the first non- Eóganachta ruler to be named by the annals as king of Cashel (i.e. king of Munster) in historical times. He was killed in 976, and succeeded by his brother Brian , later famously known as Brian Boru . Brian quickly established himself as the most powerful ruler in Munster, defeating
5856-411: The inland territories and launching attacks on the lands of Brega in the south of County Meath. In general, from 837 onward larger Viking forces hit larger targets – such as the greater monastic towns of Armagh, Glendalough, Kildare, Slane, Clonard, Clonmacnoise, and Lismore – while smaller targets such as local churches with less material to be plundered may have escaped the Vikings' attention. One of
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#17327757867395952-402: The men of Leinster and Dublin at the battle of Glen Mama , and only restored Sigtrygg Silkbeard as ruler of Dublin after he had formally submitted to Brian by handing over hostages. In 1000, Brian turned against Máel Sechnaill, and by 1002 he had forced Máel Sechnaill to submit to him, and now claimed kingship over the whole of Ireland. In the following decade, there were several campaigns in
6048-410: The modern four provinces of Ireland . The Uí Néill , divided in two main branches known as " Northern Uí Néill " and " Southern Uí Néill ", was the leading dynasty in Ireland. The Northern Uí Néill controlled the north-western part of Ireland, and was divided into two leading branches, the Cenél Conaill in the west and Cenél nEógain , also known as the kingdom of Ailech . Cenél nEógain had become
6144-453: The modern excavations of Dublin started in 1961, followed by similar efforts in Wexford , Waterford and Limerick , great advances have been made in the understanding of the physical character of the towns established during this period. The first part of the period from 795 to 1014 is well-studied; the "Viking age" has attracted the interest of historians for quite some time. The period between 1014 and 1169 has received less attention. In
6240-427: The more powerful of the two in 789, and had expanded east and southwards, gaining control over the important monastic centre Armagh and the large sub-kingdom of Airgíalla . The traditional kingdom of Ulaid, dominated by Dál Fiatach and Dál nAraidi , was now more or less confined to the area east of the river Bann . The central region of Mide had been dominated by what became known as the "southern Uí Néill" since
6336-510: The most politically fractured countries at the time, it was a prime target for Viking conquest. Furthermore, Irish Kings often made alliances with foreign invaders in an attempt to weaken their domestic rivals. The Vikings were able to defeat the centralized Kingdoms of Europe, since the small ruling class was easily removed. However, Ireland was composed of more than 150 different Kingdoms ruling over small territories. This decentralized system of governance made it almost impossible to gain control of
6432-488: The next two centuries. A significant new trait from the middle of the 9th century was that the Norse now also entered alliances with various Irish rulers. Cerball mac Dúnlainge had become king of Osraige in 842. Cerball had defeated Viking raiders in 846 and 847, but from 858 he is allied with Olaf and Ivar against Máel Sechnaill, campaigning in Leinster and Munster, and in 859 also raiding Máel Sechnaill's heartlands in Mide, though Cerball had to submit to Máel Sechnaill later
6528-417: The north to force the Ulaid and the Northern Uí Néill into submission as well. Even if faced with multiple rebellions, both in the north and in Leinster, by 1011 he had received submission from every major regional king in Ireland, and thus earned the recognition by historians as the first real king of Ireland . During his visit to Armagh in 1005, he had his secretary add a note to the Book of Armagh where he
6624-487: The pagans, for there were many Irish among the pagans, to say to the Irishmen, life and health to you from the King of the Saxons, who is in disease, and from his Queen, who has all authority over the Saxons, and they are certain that you are true and trusty friends to them. Therefore, you should take their side; for they did not bestow any greater honour to a Saxon warrior or cleric than to each warrior and cleric who came to them from Ireland, because this inimical race of pagans
6720-549: The presence of court scholars as part and parcel of the trappings of kingship, but also as a means of bolstering their own image through praise poetry that such scholars composed and performed. With the advent of the Vikings, patronage ties have been argued to have been loosened, thereby affecting directly the livelihood of Irish scholars. In addition, some kings would have turned their attention to more pressing (but also more profitable) pursuits, such as engaging in warfare or alliances with Vikings or other Irish kings, as well as tapping
6816-483: The resolution of any remaining rivalry between the Columban and Patrician churches...". That the community of Columba in 817 tried to have Áed excommunicated may show that not all rivalry was resolved after all. Is he Feidhlimidh in ri dianid opair oenlaithi eitrige Connacht cen cath ocus Midhe do manrath (Feidlimid is the king For whom a single day's work is To take the hostages of Connacht without battle And to spoil Mide.) Fedelmid mac Crimthainn from
6912-418: The same year. These alliances were by no means permanent. In 860 Cerball was allied with Máel Sechnaill in a campaign against Áed Findliath of the Northern Uí Néill, while Olaf and Ivar had allied themselves with Áed. In 870, however, Cerball and Áed appeared as allies in Leinster. Máel Sechnaill had more success as high king than his predecessors Niall Caille and Conchobar Donnchada (Duncan) in dealing with
7008-474: The shapes were inspired by early tomb-art (specifically Roman and early medieval sarcophagus ), rather than churches, also seen in their similarity to the caps-stones of some Insular high crosses . Some Scandinavian examples are lined with runic inscriptions, suggesting pagan or secular functions. The sides of an example found in a grave for a woman at Sunndal , Norway , are decorated with opposing pairs of birds heads. The shrines are typically built from
7104-513: The shoulder or around the neck. The straps for the Lough Erne shrine, found in 1891 by fishermen, is secured by separate cast escutcheons . The inner core of most have lids used to access or display their relic. Irish annals from the 8th and 9th centuries record shrines —later described as "reliquiae" or "martires" ( martyres )— containing the corporeal remains of saints being carried from town to town by clerics. Saint Manchan's shrine
7200-412: The similar, but a few centuries later, book-shaped shrines ( cumdachs ) and are mostly larger than the relics they were built to contain. The Lough Erne shrine is 16 cm high, 17.7 cm wide and has a depth of 7.8 cm, making it the largest known Irish reliquary casket. A modified version of the shape, more usually called a chasse , remained popular for reliquaries in mainland Europe until
7296-474: The south, and forced Munster into submission in 858 and as noted above, Osraige in 859. He also asserted control over Ulaid, Leinster and Connacht, and was in his obituary in the Annals of Ulster described as ri h-Erenn uile , king of all Ireland. In the last years of his reign he had however experienced serious opposition from his Uí Néill kinsmen of Ailech and Brega, allied with the Norse of Dublin. Byrne notes: "Máel Sechnaill's unprecedented success in achieving
7392-584: The southern part of Ireland. This claim was in part anchored within the legendary ancient division of the island in Leath Cuinn and Leath Moga , " Conn 's half" (north) and " Mug 's half" (south). During the 7th century the Uí Briúin had emerged in Connacht, and since the first half of the 8th century been the dominant dynasty. Uí Briúin also influenced the kingdom of Breifne on the southern borders of
7488-406: The spaces between the arms of the cross contain more varied decorations, they show imagery associated with their saint. The gems are always light coloured; their transparency was intended to give the viewer the impression that they could "look-through" to the relic in the interior. The sides of most examples are decorated with interlace , and many contain animal ornamentation. They are larger than
7584-421: The spread of Irish culture abroad and the subsequent foundation of Irish centres on the Continent which remained influential for centuries to come. After having been forced to leave Dublin in 902, the descendants of Ivar, now described generically in the annals as the Uí Ímair , remained active around the Irish Sea ; reports tell of their activities in Pictland , Strathclyde , Northumbria and Mann . In 914
7680-461: The subsequent Norse settlements along the coast. Viking ports were established at Dublin , Wexford , Waterford , Cork and Limerick , which became the first large towns in Ireland . Ireland consisted of many semi-independent territories ( túatha ), and attempts were made by various factions to gain political control over the whole of the island. For the first two centuries of this period, this
7776-439: The title king of Leinster since 728. The Uí Cheinnselaig now controlled a territory in the south-eastern part of Leinster, and had close links to the monastery of Ferns . The kingdom of Osraige , occupying roughly the same area as the present County Kilkenny and western County Laois , was considered part of Munster until the late ninth century, when it received an independent status under king Cerball mac Dúnlainge . Munster
7872-483: The tribe. MacNeill stressed the reality of the high-kingship of Ireland and the existence of many of those institutions of government which Orpen found wanting, and claimed that Irish law had a national character. A large body of contemporary and near-contemporary material on early medieval Ireland has survived. From the titles of works mentioned in these sources, it is clear that a great deal of additional material has now been lost. The surviving materials usually exist in
7968-429: The words of Sean Duffy, this period has – historiographically speaking – fallen between two stools. Historians of early medieval Ireland, seeking to conclude their narratives on a high note, have traditionally done so after recounting the death of the famous high-king Brian Bórama (Boru) at the battle of Clontarf in 1014. On the other hand, historians of later medieval Ireland generally choose to begin proceedings with
8064-504: Was Domnall Claen of Leinster who was allied with Ivar of Waterford , and they were defeated by Glúniairn and Máel Sechnaill. Máel Sechnaill obviously perceived Brian as a threat, and as early as 982 raided Munster and the territory of the Dal gCais. The next two decades saw more or less constant warfare between them, mostly with Leinster as their battleground. Even if Brian never defeated Máel Sechnaill in battle, Brian's and Munster's influence
8160-445: Was active as a Viking raider and slaver, but there were signs during his reign that the Norse were not just mere Vikings any more. During a raid at Armagh in 921 Gofraid "...spared the prayerhouses... ...and the sick from destruction", considerations never taken by the raiders of the previous century. Another was the intense campaigns led by Dublin in eastern Ulster from 921 to 927, which appear to have aimed at conquest in order to create
8256-495: Was built to hold human remains, while the Tuscan Abbadia San Salvatore shrine, sealed in the 12th century, contained bones that were probably primary. A number of Scandinavian examples also contained bones, but many are considered to have been secondary (i.e. added after the shrine was first constructed). All but the example at Abbadia San Salvatore are now empty. The now badly damaged Breac Maodhóg
8352-528: Was charged with the care of the reliquary, so that it could be used for saintly assistance by the Scots in battle. It was carried by the Scottish army who were victorious against the army of King Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn (1314). The Monymusk Reliquary was perhaps at Forglen until the sixteenth century, when both Forglen and Monymusk came into the hands of the Forbes family. In 1712 it
8448-647: Was connected to the monastic community at Armagh, and a supporter of the familia of Patrick . His rivals for supremacy within Uí Néill, the Clann Cholmáin and the Cenél Conaill, had on the other hand supported the familia of Columba . During Áed's reign the Columban familia, following several Viking raids against Iona , established a new monastery at Kells , a royal site in the possession of Armagh. Byrne states that "...the foundation [of Kells] marked
8544-551: Was dominated by the Eóganachta , centred around Cashel and with Emly as ecclesiastical centre. The Dál gCais (not yet known under this name) had defeated the Corcu Modruad in 744 and taken control over the area in present County Clare from which they would later rise to dominance, but were not yet a significant power in Munster. The Eóganachta rivalled the Uí Néill in power and influence, and claimed suzerainty over
8640-570: Was driven out by Athelstan , and returned to Dublin half a year later. The Vikings of Limerick had taken Dublin in his absence. Gofraid retook the city, but the struggle between Limerick continued well after Gofraid's death in 934. He was succeeded by his son, Amlaíb , who inflicted a decisive defeat on Limerick in 937. The same year Amlaíb went to Northumbria and allied himself with Constantine II of Scotland and Owen I of Strathclyde . Athelstan defeated this coalition at Brunanburh (937), but after Athelstan's death in 939 Amlaíb became king of York. He
8736-407: Was growing at the expense of Máel Sechnaill and the Southern Uí Néill. In 997 Máel Sechnaill was forced to acknowledge Brian's authority over the south of Ireland, and they formally divided Ireland according to the traditional scheme of Leath Cuinn and Leath Moga . In the years that followed, the two of them acted as allies in accordance with this agreement. In 999 Brian quelled a revolt against him by
8832-441: Was joined by a kinsman with the same name, Amlaíb son of Sihtric, known as Amlaíb Cuarán . Congalach mac Máel Mithig , known as Cnogba , succeeded (Duncan) Donnchad Donn as Uí Néill overking in 944 (Muirchertag, who otherwise might have been the obvious successor, had been killed in 943). Congalach was king of Brega and a member of Síl nÁedo Sláine , and the first of this dynasty called "High King" since Cináed mac Írgalaig in
8928-499: Was mainly a rivalry between putative High Kings of Ireland from the northern and southern branches of the Uí Néill . The one who came closest to being de facto king over the whole of Ireland, however, was Brian Boru , the first high king in this period not belonging to the Uí Néill. Following Brian's death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, the political situation became more complex with rivalry for high kingship from several clans and dynasties. Brian's descendants failed to maintain
9024-467: Was once believed to have contained relics of St. Columba , the most popular saint in medieval Scotland, since from the 19th century it was believed to be the "Brecbennoch of St. Columba", a sacred battle ensign of the Scottish army, though this is now doubted by scholars. The Brecbennoch may have been handed to the abbot of Arbroath Abbey during the reign of William I (r. 1165 - 1214), who in turn passed it to someone else's care at Forglen . The custodian
9120-461: Was probably used as a battle standard, when it would have been carried onto the battlefield by a cleric so as to offer protection to the troops and perhaps bring victory. A medieval text on the life of the patron saint of the kings of Leinster , St Maedoc of Ferns, records that the kings of Breifne sought that "the famous wonder-working Breac [was] carried thrice around them" during battle. The enshrinement of corporeal relics became less common during
9216-797: Was transferred to Sir Francis Grant of Cullen . It stayed in the Grant collection until 1933, when it was due to be auctioned, but was acquired by the National Museum of Scotland first, with the help of the Art Fund . It is arguably one of the most important pieces in the museum's collection. House-shaped shrine The format appears to have originated in Ireland, and was adapted in Scotland and Anglo-Saxon England, particularly Northumbria which had close artistic ties with Ireland. The format draws from Ancient Roman and contemporary continental influences, including for later examples, French Romanesque architecture . The type spread to Scandinavia during
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