Amlaíb / Óláfr Gudrødsson, King of Dublin

Amlaíb Conung

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amla%C3%ADb_Conung

Amlaíb Conung (Old Norse: Óláfr; died c. 874) was a Viking[nb 1] leader in Ireland and Scotland in the mid-late ninth century.

He was the son of the king of Lochlann, identified in the non-contemporary Fragmentary Annals of Ireland as Gofraid, and brother of Auisle and Ímar, the latter of whom founded the Uí Ímair dynasty, and whose descendants would go on to dominate the Irish Sea region for several centuries. Another Viking leader,

Halfdan Ragnarsson, is considered by some scholars to be another brother.

The Irish Annals title Amlaíb, Ímar and Auisle "kings of the foreigners". Modern scholars use the title "kings of Dublin" after the Viking settlement which formed the base of their power.

The epithet "Conung" is derived from the Old Norse konungr and simply means "king".[2]

Some scholars consider Amlaíb to be identical to Olaf the White, a Viking sea-king who features in the Landnámabók and other Icelandic sagas.

During the late 850s and early 860s Amlaíb was involved in a protracted conflict with Máel Sechnaill, overking of the Southern Uí Néill and the most powerful ruler in Ireland. The cause of the conflict is uncertain, but it may have been sparked by competition for control of Munster and its resources. Amlaíb allied successively with Cerball, King of Ossory and Áed Findliath, overking of the Northern Uí Néill against Máel Sechnaill. Máel Sechnaill died in 862 and his lands were split, effectively ending the conflict. Following this Amlaíb and his kin warred with several Irish leaders in an attempt to expand their kingdom's influence.

In later years Amlaíb conducted extensive raids in Scotland, though these were interrupted by a war in 868 against his former ally Áed Findliath when several Viking longphorts along the northern coast were razed. Amlaíb disappears from contemporary annals in 871. Later accounts say he returned to Lochlann to aid his father in a war, and the Pictish Chronicle says he died in battle against Constantine I of Scotland. This event is usually dated to 874.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/IRELAND.htm#_Toc389126206

1.OLAF [Amlaib] (-after 871). The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland record in 849 that "Amlaib Conung, son of the king of Norway, came to Ireland…with a proclamation of many tributes and taxes from his father, and he departed suddenly"[1143]. A later, undated, passage in the same source names his father "Gofraid" when recording that "Amlaib went from Ireland to Norway to fight the Norwegians and help his father, Gofraid, for the Norwegians were warring against him"[1144]. The Chronicon Scottorum and Annals of Ulster both record that "Amlaib son of the king of Lochlann came to Ireland" in 853 and "the foreigners of Ireland submitted to him and he took tribute from the Irish"[1145]. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland record in 853 that "Amlaib, son of the king of Norway came to Ireland and the foreigners of Ireland gave him hostages"[1146]. The Annals of Ulster record in 857 that "Imar and Amlaib inflicted a rout on Caitil the Fair and his Norse-Irish in the lands of Munster"[1147]. The Annals of Ulster record in 859 that "Amlaib and Imar and Cerball led a great army into Mide"[1148]. The Annals of the Four Masters record in 860 that “Aedh Finnlaith son of Niall Caille and Flann son of Conang went with the lord of the foreigners to plunder Meath”[1149]. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland record in 862 that "Aed son of Niall and his son-in-law Amlaib went with great armies of Irish and Norwegians to the plain of Mide and they plundered it…"[1150]. King [of Dublin]. The Annals of Ulster record in 863 that "three kings of the foreigners, Amlaib and Imar and Auisle plundered the land of Flann, son of Conaing, and Lorcan son of Cathal king of Mide was with them in this"[1151]. The Annals of Ulster record in 864 that "Conchobar son of Donnchaid, one of two kings of Mide, was put to death in water at Cluain Iraird by Amlaib king of the foreigners"[1152]. The Annals of Ulster record in 866 that "Amlaib and Auisle went with the foreigners of Ireland and Scotland to Fortriu, plundered the entire Pictish country and took away hostages from them"[1153]. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland record in 871 that "Amlaib and Imar came back from Alba to Ath Cliath, bringing many British and Scottish and Saxon prisoners with them. They numbered two hundred ships"[1154]. The 10th century Pictish Chronicle Cronica de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum records that, in the second year of the reign of Constantine I King of Scotland [1065], "Amlaib cum gentibus suis" wasted "Pictaviam" which they occupied from 1 Jan to 17 Mar, but that in the third year "Amlaib" was killed by King Constantine[1155].
m [firstly] ---. The name of Olaf´s [first] wife is not known.
m [secondly] ---, daughter of AEDH Finnliath & his wife ---. Her parentage and marriage are indicating by the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland which state in 862 that "Aed´s daughter was Amlaib´s wife"[1156].
[m thirdly (before 867) ---, daughter of CINAED & his wife ---. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland record in 867 "an encounter between Oisle son of the king of Norway and Amlaib his brother", adding that "the king had three sons, Amlaib, Imar and Oisle, Oisle was the least of them in age", recounting a lengthy romanticised account of the killing of Asl by his brother Olaf which includes Asl suggesting to Olaf that "if your wife i.e. the daughter of Cinaed does not love you, why not give her to me"[1157]. There is no way to judge the accuracy of the information concerning Olaf´s wife. Clare Downham refers to works which attempt to identify "Cinaed" either as Kenneth I King of Scotland, as "Cinaed mac Conaing king of Brega, an ally of Olaf who was killed in 851" or "indeed yet another Cinaed", concluding that "either identification is possible, if the lady is not a figure of fiction"[1158].]
Olaf & his [first] wife had two children:

1. CARLUS (-killed in battle 866). The Annals of the Four Masters record in 866 “Carlus son of Amhlaeibh” among those killed in a battle fought between "Flann son of Conaing lord of all Breagh…the men of Breagh and Leinster and the foreigners" and Aedh King of Ireland at "Cill Ua nDaighre"[1159].
2. EYSTEIN [Oistin] (-killed 875). [The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland record in [871/72] that "Imar son of Gothfraid son of Ragnall son of Gothfraid Conung son of Gofraid" and "the son of the man who left Ireland" [Olaf/Amlaib] "plundered from west to east and from south to north"[1160]. It is possible that this passage refers to Eystein or another son.] The Annals of Ulster record in 875 that "Oistin son of Amlaib, king of the Norsemen, was deceitfully killed by Albann"[1161].