Gaelic Kingdoms

Outer Islands

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Ynys Manau / Isle of Man

This moderate-sized island is located in the Irish Sea, midway between southern Scotland and Ulster in Ireland. The Isle of Man (or Ynys Manau to the Post-Roman Britons and later Welsh) was taken by the Irish in the sixth century. Before that, for a short time, it governed the southern Picts of Galwyddel. That region was absorbed into Rheged, but became a dominion of Ynys Manau again from around 632 until circa 900, before being taken into Strathclyde.

The fate for the Isle of Man was different. It was conquered during the ninth century wave of Viking attacks, with local Viking rulers vying for control of the island against stronger forces from Viking Dublin, York and the Orkneys. Once Viking power had faded, Man became a political pawn between England and Scotland. However, it retained its identity, with the last native Manx speaker reputedly dying as recently as 1974.

fl c.400s?

Mannanan / Manawydan fab Llyr

Legendary first king of Ynys Manau.

Mannanan, or Mannanan mac Lir (Lir being the Celtic sea god), is the legendary founder of the Manx people, after whom the island is named, and the island's first king. In Celtic mythology he is the god of the sea, not necessarily surprising if he really was an early king of Man. Attributed to him are dealings with the early Irish High King, Cormac mac Airt, so it is possible that they were contemporaries.

c.485 - 550

The son of Cinuit of Alt Clut, Tutgwal Theodovellaunus, establishes himself in Galwyddel, perhaps as a legitimate division of Alt Clut on his father's death, an entirely normal and customary practise in Celtic kingdoms. It also seems that he and his successors rule Manau at the same time. in around 550, Galwyddel is invaded by Rheged and annexed to the kingdom, and the king, Sennylt, is forced to flee with his family to Ynys Manau.

fl c.550

Sennylt ap Dingat

Former king of Galwyddel.

c.570 - c.582

Llywarch Hen of South Rheged counts Ynys Manau as part of his holdings. However, towards the later years of his reign, the island is taken by the Dal Riada Scotti, and ruled by a client king or lesser member of the ruling family.

fl c.575

Nudd Hael ap Sennylt

Son.

c.590

A young girl is buried in a sacred site on the island (now known as Mount Murray) that dates back to the Bronze Age. Not only is the site sacred, it is a Christian site, making this the earliest-known Christian burial on the island. There may also be a wooden chapel nearby, which is the site that is later re-used as a Viking keeill (chapel) and surrounding burial site (the latter starting in use from about the eighth century). The young girl's grave remains remarkably intact when it is excavated by archaeologists in 2006.

fl c.600

Dingad ap Nudd

Son.

It appears that at the start of the seventh century, Manau is invaded by Dal Riadan Scotti. Dingad and his family are reputed to flee their kingdom (although Manau is not specifically named) and take refuge in Gwent, where they settle in the role of minor chieftains.

c.600s

Diwg

Dal Riadan Scot.

620 - 633

Ynys Manau is conquered by the Bernician Northumbrians until the death of King Edwin and the resultant chaos in his kingdom allows the island to throw off any claims of Northumbrian overlordship.

c.630s

Gwyar

c.638

Ynys Manau apparently regains the region of Galwyddel.

c.670s

Teigid

? - 682

Merfyn Fawr

Descended from Magnus Maximus.

682 - ?

Anarawd Gwalchcrwn

Son.

c.700

Algwyn

c.710

Tudwal

Son of Anarawd.

c.730

Sandde

790 - ?

Elidyr map Sandde

Son. Heir to South Rheged. Transferred family from Powys.

790

Elidyr map Sandde map Alcwn map Tegid map Gwyar map Llywarch Hen is a direct descendant of the last British king of South Rheged. Elidyr's son, Gwriad, becomes king of Gwynedd in 815, still carrying the title, 'Heir to South Rheged'. Physical control of the region, however, has long since fallen to Northumbria, although southern sections may be conquered by Mercia during its ascendancy around this time.

? - 825

Gwriad map Elidyr

Son. King of Gwynedd. Fought Norse settlement invasions.

825 - 844

Merfyn Frych (Freckled) map Gwriad

Son. Offered throne of Gwynedd.

c.836

It is likely that the heirs of South Rheged abandon Ynys Manau around this time. Attacks by Danes are increasing, while at the same time they conquer a base in Ireland near the settlement of Dyflin. The attacks on Ynys Manau lead swiftly to conquest, settlement, and the founding of a Viking dynasty.

c.836 - 853

Godred I MacFergus

Hiberno-Norse Lord of the Hebrides.

c.853 - 866

Ketil Flatnose

c.866 - 870

Helgi Ketilsson

Son.

c.870

The Great Army of Ivarr the Boneless, king of Dublin, are fresh from sacking the capital of Alt Clut when they venture on to invade Ynys Manau. The island falls to them in the same year and Norse vassal kings are installed.

Vikings

c.870 - 880

Caitill Find Tryggvi

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

c.880 - 899

Asbjorn Skerjablesi

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

c.900

Alt Clut (Strathclyde) gains control of the region of Galwyddel.

900 - 902

The isle is controlled by the Viking kingdom of Dublin, although this is disputed by the Scandinavian kingdom of York.

902 - 921

The isle is ruled directly by the Scandinavian kingdom of York.

921

The Scandinavian kingdom of York changes the governance of the isle by appointing client kings.

921 - 937

Gebeachan / Gibhleachan

Sub-king under Scandinavian kingdom of York rule.

937 - 942

Macragnall / Mac Ragnall

Sub-king under Scandinavian kingdom of York rule.

942 - 972

Manau is ruled directly by the Viking kingdom of Dublin.

972 - 977

Magnus I MacHarald

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

977 - 989

Guthred / Godfred I

Sub-king under Norse Dublin rule.

989

From this point the isle is controlled by the Vikings of the Orkneys, who themselves are subjects of the Norwegian throne.

989 - 999

Harald I