Óláf Sihtricson, king of Dublin and Northumbria

Also known as Amlaíb Cuarán mac Sihtric.

After the death of Óláf’s father Sihtric, king of Northumbria, in 927, Northumbria was annexed by Æthelstan, and Óláf probably took refuge in Ireland. When Æthelstan’s successor, Edmund, lost control of York, Óláf returned and was accepted as king of Northumbria in 941. In 944, Óláf was forced out of Northumbria, and in 945 he became ruler of Dublin, although this did not last long, as Óláf was probably deposed after a couple of years. In 949, Óláf was invited back to Northumbria as king. He reigned there until 952, when he was deposed by Erik Bloodaxe. Óláf returned to Dublin, where he reigned for almost three decades. He abdicated in 980, and died in 981. (Hudson, ODNB)

Events

Date of Birth: about 926.

This estimated date is given by Hudson (ODNB).

Place of Birth: possibly York.

The place is given by Hudson (ODNB).

Date of Death: 981.

Place of Death: St Columba, Iona.

The date and place are given by Hudson (ODNB). They are recorded in the Annals of Tigernach (T980.6). Downham (p. 52) gives 980.

Relationships

Father: Sihtric Cáech (died 927).

This relationship is given by Hudson (ODNB), by Thornton, and by Downham. It is supported by the Annals of Tigernach.

Mother: uncertain.

Hudson (ODNB) states that “although her name and origin is uncertain, one record claims that his mother was named Orgiue (perhaps Eadgifu) and that she was the daughter of the Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Elder.” Baldwin (LaI) states that the marriage with Sitric took place, but that “it is not chronologically feasible” for her to be the mother of Óláf. The marriage is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle s.a. 925.

Spouse: Dúnlaith, daughter of Muirchertach.

This relationship is given by Hudson (ODNB).

Spouse: Gormflaith, daughter of Murchad mac Finn (died 1030).

This relationship is given by Hudson (ODNB). It is recorded in the Ban-Shenchus (Revue Celtique 48:189, 48:227). (Baldwin LaI)

Children: (by Dúnlaith):

(Information about Óláf ‘s children comes from Hudson (ODNB).

Glúniairn (murdered 989). King of Dublin.

Children: (by Gormflaith):

Sihtric (died 1042).

other Children:

Ragnall (slain at the battle of Tara, 980).

Harald (slain at the battle of Glenn Máma in 999).

Dubgall (slain at the battle of Clontarf in 1014).

Radnailt, mother of Muirchertach ua Congalaich of Síl nÁeda Sláine.

Máel Muire (died 1021) married Máel Sechnaill II Mór.

Gytha married (1) an Anglo-Saxon noble; married (2) Olaf Tryggvason, king of Norway.

References

Annals of Tigernach (Donnchadh Ó Corráin, compiler). (CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts, University College, Cork, 1996)

The Annals of Ulster (Pádraig Bambury, Stephen Beechinor, compilers) (CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts, University College, Cork, 2000).

Baldwin, Stewart. Llywelyn ap Iorwerth ancestor table. (Hosted at Rootsweb.ancestry.com. Accessed 23 May 2014).

Dobbs, Margaret C. (ed. and trans.) “The Ban-shenchus [3 pts]”, in Revue Celtique 47:283-339 (1930), 48:163-234 (1931), 49:437-489 (1932).

Downham, Clare. Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland: The Dynasty of Ívarr to A.D. 1014 (Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press, 2007).

Hudson, Benjamin T. “Óláf Sihtricson (c.926–981)”, in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Hudson, Benjamin T. Viking Pirates and Christian Princes: Dynasty, Religion, and Empire in the North Atlantic. (Oxford University Press, 2005).

Jones, Arthur (ed.) The History of Gruffydd ap Cynan. (Manchester U.P., 1910).

Thornton, David E. “The genealogy of Gruffudd ap Cynan” in Gruffudd ap Cynan (1996).

Todd, James Henthorn (ed.). The Wars of the Gaedhill with the Gaill. Rolls Series 48. (London, Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1867 ).

Two of the Saxon Chronicles Parallel. (J. Earle, ed.; C. Plummer rev.) (Oxford:Clarendon Press, 1892-1899).