Sigtrygg Caech (or Sihtric) (died 927) was a Norse-Gael King of Dublin who later reigned as king of York. His epithet means the 'Squinty'. He belonged to the Uí Ímair kindred.
Sigtrygg was a native of Norway. The Annals of Ulster records the arrival of two viking fleets in Ireland in 917, one led by Ragnall and the other by Sigtrygg, both of the Uí Ímair kindred. They fought a battle against Niall Glundub in which the Irish were routed, and according to the annals Sigtrygg then "entered Áth Cliath", i.e. Dublin, which we must assume means that he took possession of it. Ragnall Uí Ímair went on to Scotland, and then conquered York and became king there.
Sigtrygg fought several battles with Niall Glundub. Warfare is recorded in 918, and in 919 Niall and several other Irish pettykings where killed in a major battle at Dublin. This was probably the most devastating defeat ever inflicted on the Irish by the Norse, and Sigtryggs possession of Dublin seemed secure. Sigtrygg however left Dublin already in 920 or 921, the pious annalist claims he left "through the power of God". The truth of it was that Sigtrygg had ambititions elsewhere, and following Ragnalls death he became king of York.
Sigtrygg attacked the kingdom of Mercia from the Mersey which formed part of the border between Mercia and the Viking Kingdom of York.He also commanded Viking forces in the Battle of Confey and other battles.
In 926 he married King Athelstan of England's sister in a political move designed by Athelstan to build up his influence in the north of England. Sigtrygg died suddenly only a year later in 927.
Sigtryggs son Olaf, whom the Irish nicknamed Cuaran, later succeded him both as king of Dublin and of York.
Yrke:
Den första kungen av Söderöarna (öarna Man och Hebriderna) under norsk överhöghet antages vara Godred I Haraldsson. I hans regeringstid, ca 976-989, blev efter vanlig uppfattning Tynwald instiftat som allting (parlament) för Söderöarna. Tynwalds tusenårsjubileum blev firat 1979. Godred Haraldssons far synes vara Harald Sigtryggsson, kung av Limerick och yngste son till Sigtrygg 'Gale', som var kung av Dublin och Northumberland, England.
(Källa: G.V.C Young, 1986)
Goffraid mac Arailt (d. 989), king of the Isles.
(Källa: Stewart Baldwin)
Yrke: Fra 1035 til 1040, Isle of Man och Hebriderna; kung
Notater:
The Hebrides were known to the Norwegians as the Sudreys (Southern Isles). The Nordreys (Northern Isles) were the Orkneys. Thus, in Norwegian genealogy when the speak of the "Suderøyene" they are talking of the Hebrides.
There seems to be uncertainty on his parentage. Some sources show his father as Ivar IV "Gamal" /Haraldson/ of Dublin. Others show his father as Godred /Haraldson, King of Man and the Isles/. I believe the "experts" do not really know his true parentage.
Yrke:
P.A. Munch antog att Harald I Godredsson Svarte av Islay, kung på Söderöarna ca 1035-1040, var son till kung Godred Haraldsson. Munch´s teori är också att Harald I Svarte var fader till Godred Crovan, som var kung på Man och Hebriderna 1079-1095. (Källa: G.V.C Young, 1986)
Alexander Bugge hävdar att kungarna på Man stammar från Ragnfred Eriksson, och det syns som om en dotter till Ragnfred blev gift med Harald I Svarte av Islay. Det är troligt, eftersom Ragnfred drog västöver till Orkneyöarna och kunde ha gift bort sin dotter till Harald I Svarte och därmed grundlagt en dynasti med kungligt norskt blod. (Källa: G.V.C Young, 1986)
Harald 'the Black' kan också vara son till Ivar 'the old', som var son till kungen av Dublin och York, Olaf 'Cuaran', som i sin tur var son till Sitric, död 927. (Källa: Stewart Baldwin)
Källor
1) Tom Björnstad, Norge (webbplats)
2) Landsarkivets bibliotek, G.V.C. Young, Isle of Man, England