The Catastrophe at Clontaf

Brian Boru.. ``Brian of the Cattle tribute.’’ Is an unusual figure in Irish history. Firstly he is apart from Patrick the only Pre-Norman figure that people can name. Describing himself as ``Imperator Scotti’’ ( The Emperor of the Irish. )

Brian never used the more traditional title of Ard ri ( High King) He is also a legend… Brian’s reign in Ireland, is held up as a golden age.

`` It is said that in Brain Boru’s time a pretty virgin wearing a golden crown could walk naked from end of Ireland to another and none would molest her’’

``The Clash of the Viking and Irish armies on Good Friday 1014 is perhaps the most vivid image in the otherwise hazy modern conception of medieval Irish history. The details of the encounter have come down to us in medieval Irish history: Brian Boru gallant leader of the Irish resistance movement( Chadwick actually uses that term) too old and feeble to lead his troops, is slain in his tent , kneeling on a cushion with Psalter in hand while Sitriuc Viking Earl of Dublin watches the battle from ramparts of his city. Siduror Earl of Orkney carries his magical banner into the fray, guaranteeing victory and death to him who bore it; all against the background of terrible dreams and hideous portents in the sky throughout the Celtic world’

It should be pointed out that Clontaf was not the battle fought to free Ireland from the Vikings. The power of the Viking Lords in Ireland had been declining for several generations. The best example of this is Brian Boru himself. Brian family ( The Kennedy’s) had risen from a rather humble start to quote the annals.....

Brian's rise to power was due to his cooperation with the Vikings. Rather then leading any ``resistance'' against them. Brian at Clontaf was in fact allied with the Norse of Limerick against the Norse of Dublin. The Vikings in the end had a positive effect on Ireland. They Founded Dublin. Introduced coinage. They lead to the strengthening of the Irish kingdoms.

In fact the decline of Ulster’s power in the late tenth century. Has been attributed to the fact that the Irish of Ulster had been too successful against the Vikings..

What is significant about the battle of Clontarf is that is changes the shape of Irish politics. Clontaf would break the power of the Vikings to act independently in Ireland. After Clontaf the Irish were calling the shots.

The battle of Clontarf was the high tide of Brian Boru's power in Ireland. It was a empty victory. The Ui Brian would be swept aside. Brian son’s where not able to use the victory their advantage. They were in fact well into middle age at this time.

But what if Brian loses that battle. What if the Irish Vikings retain their independence for longer?

Suppose Brian loses the battle of Clontarf! The Irish line breaks and scatters once the word of Brian’s death goes up. Brodir, the Dane gets killed on schedule as well. Sitric of Dublin has destroyed all the forces that oppose him In Ireland..

Yet even with the assistance of the Earls of Orkney. Subduing Ireland will be difficult. Brian Boru bled his family white fighting Sitirc.

But Sitric has something that Brian doesn't. He has Dublin. Dublin has a fleet. The Dublin fleet was employed by Henry 1^st in his campaign against the Welsh. It also has the largest slave market in western Europe.

The idea I’m playing around with is to have Sitric, form a broad based anti Ui Brian alliance in Ireland. Himself, The Ui Neils, the Earls of the Orkney. ( Dublin, Ulster, and the Northern isles) Rewarding the Earls of Orkney with Ui Brian land. Yet keeping some of the Ui Brian to counter them. The Earl of Orkney provide Sitric with a loyal garrison. At least for a generation.

This is not the Sitiric of history. It is the Sitric needed for events to come to pass. However Sitric was no fool he minted the first coinage in Ireland. He was also a rather devout Christian. Which will be important later on.

Sitric declares himself Peace maker of Erin. A title chosen not to offend the Ui Neil. The Ui Neil always believed they held the high kingship of Ireland in theory, if not in practice. As well as distracting the ambitions of others.

As the Ui Neil come to pay him homage, Sitric hails them as ``Ri a Alba!’’ ( King of Scotland)

Next summer a joint Ui Neil and Orkney expedition overruns the Highlands and Islands. Capturing what would later become the Lordship of the Isles. As the Ui Neil become more concerned with the Scottish lands and the Earls of Orkney try and absorb their Irish lands.. Sitric having absorbed the lands of the Lagin ( Lenister) and the last of the Ui Brian launches and invasion of the Connacta. (Connacht, the west of Ireland) Reducing the last Irish kingdom neither allied nor subdued to him.

Sitric of Dublin’s fleet grows rich and experienced ferrying the Ui Neil, to Scotland and back.

After a few years respite. During which Sitric has spoken to his friends on the mainland about those new Castles. In Otl there are precedents for this; Ruairi O’ Cocobhar (My Namesake) and the last of the Irish High kings. Had constructed a few motte and bailey type castles before the Anglo Norman invasion. Macbeth the much maligned king of Scotland.( Whom in OTL was a good progressive Celtic Christian monarch. Only to be slandered by the tool of Stuart despotism Shakespeare.) Brought over Norman mercenaries to fight the Canmores. There is no reason why Sitric can't do both. He has the wealth of Dublin, and lots of confiscated land.

Sitric then declares his wish to reform the Irish church. He imports medieval Christianity into Ireland, into his and the Orkney Earldoms land.

This and the tithes, please the Bishop of Rome. Sitric offers land grants to the new religious orders. The Benedictines etc establishing themselves on the continent…

However Sitirc is smart enough not to kick a sleeping dog, and makes sure that the Catholic Church leaves alone their Celtic brethren.

Christ can be worshiped differently in Dublin then the West of Ireland or the Highlands. It also makes good political sense. There is no need to give

Despite the Norse influence and the increasing Europeanisation. Sitric’s kingdom is Irish and peaceful. His Christianity compels him to feed the poor. the new religious orders are doing that really. The foreign wars are draining off Irish manpower

To furnish churches. The right Bards and Brehons ( A Brehorn is a Gaelic lawyer) get their gold and cattle. Trade flourishes. The Dublin markets are full of slaves and heifers.. Irish lumber and beef to the continent. Taxes on Norse products coming from the North. The differences between Norse and Gael fade. History will remember Sitric’s dynasty as the MacSitricc’s.

With Money and mercenaries to spare Sitric. Then announces to the world that he will now be referred to as:`` Ri a Erin, an Innse.’’ ``King of Ireland and the Islands.’’ A few of the more hot-blooded Irish minor nobility rebel. They are quickly suppressed. The Ui Neil and the Orkney Earls are busy fighting the remnants of the kings of Scotia to challenge their new overlord. Sitiric passes his kingdom peacefully onto his son.

Thus an Irish dynasty is founded. This is the big change. Several people despite what a lot of history books will tell you actually did achieve kingship of Ireland. The problem was no one ever held it long enough to establish a dynasty. The Irish tradition of Tanistry made this difficult. An Heir was chosen from all the eligible males of a clan group. Since their were more people with a possible claim to the throne.. This lead to factionalism and instability. It also weakened Irish institutions.. As a new king always had to secure his power base. It is argued that part of the reason for the fall of pre Norman Ireland. Was that the Irish kings were too strong.. One they knocked out, their would was no one to lead any resistance. That’s an oversimplification.

Yet this is why we need a Dublin Viking to sit upon Irish throne. We need Primogeniture. The Irish and the rest of the world need to know who the next king will be .

This uses up some of the ``idle swordsmen''. Whom in OTL would make up the ``Trembling sod..’’
Put simply Sitric’s kingdom is the Lordship of the Isles writ large.

After Shetland.. The Mac Sitricc’s assist the Welsh princes against their English neighbours.. In doing so the Irish become acquainted with longbow, and henceforth place some on retainer. The Gael of Mann are overrun too.

Norse world Sitric is able to solve problems that the Irish at this time can’t or won’t. Sitirc encouragement of centralised Catholicism, along with his cash would give Sitric. The parity of recognition that other Irish leaders have lacked.

In other words. People on the continent are going to talk about a King of Ireland.

Sitric resolves the question for the Ui Neil. Are we kings of Ireland or of Scotland? The answer is actually neither.

The Kingdom should hold, its core Ulster, (The nine rather then the six counties in this case.)

I suppose there would be times when part of Ireland may come under English or Norman rule..
Yet the core of the kingdom would survive. The basis of the kingdom is sea power. The Irish get the idea that the place to fight their neighbours is on the Clyde, of the coast of Mann, or in the foothills of Wales. Not on there own shore! Scotland will be partitioned, between the Gaelic speakers and the English.

With a rising population. One of the Kings of Ireland and the Islands stage an expedition to Iceland. Overawing it.
This leads to a spat with the kings of Norway. This actually works out to the advantage of the Irish in the end. It removes more of the ``idle swordsmen,’’ and improves their ships..
Greenland would follow. Irish colonists quickly assimilate their Norse counterparts.. The same happens a generation later to Greenland. Where Sitric’s fathers wisdom in leaving the Celtic Christians alone is demonstrated. As the Inuit are converted to the faith of Christ.

This gives the Norse Irish or Gall Gael of the Atlantic. The knowledge of how to survive in the Arctic.
The Irish Norse colony isn’t so pastoral. Rather an economy based on sea fishing and hunting. The pelts create an extra source of wealth
for the Kings of Ireland and the islands to tax. However the Taxes are light and the Irish kings are far away. So they do not grumble too much. Particularly as the boats also bring booze and women to these lonely islands. Seamanship improves, to meet the demands of the Atlantic.

Stories of a land to the west of Greenland, help pass the time during the long nights. In time an expedition reaches the coast of Newfoundland..

This is coincidentally just has the Irish lumber trade is in difficulty. Irish merchants grow rich selling North American lumber to the European market. Pelts and fish. An Atlantic Hanse emerges. Dublin, Derry, Limerick, Reykjavik Douglas and Iona.
Newfoundland is settled. The Gaelic- Norse apart from a few monks and traders, do not push into the interior. A few Iroquois are sold via the Dublin slave markets to the courts of Europe.
Ireland remains independent. Develops quicker. Dublin is one of Europe’s major cities. Gaelic borrows even more from Norse.
England takes Scotland up to Clyde, but no further. A small Welsh statelet based at Anglesey remains. Both the king of England and the King of the Isles claim the title ``Princeps Walia’’
The Norse colonies last longer. Greenland and Iceland are more populous and important, and speak a form of Gaelic. The English contest more with France. Their expansion west and North is checked. Spanish reconquista happens earlier. As the Irish raid the Moorish flank.
Shipbuilding much improved.. Muslims lose control of the Mediterranean
earlier Trade in Western Europe takes off. The Hanse is weaker. With the improvement in shipbuilding and the North American resources opened prices fall.
North America mapped out 13/14 century ad. The Native Americans get the Eurasian diseases quicker then in OTL. There will be attempts by our Irish monks to convert the Indians. It’s possible that the Iroquois at least get sails horses Iron and cattle. But on the other hand they get poteen too!

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In spring training the following February, the Kings announced they would dedicate their entire 1975 MLB regular season to Hooper. The beginning of the ’75 season would also see a heavily increased police presence at Hearst Palladium; with the Vietnam War drawing to an ignominious end and radical leftist groups such as the Symbionese Liberation Army perpetrating acts of violence at every opportunity, nobody in the LAPD or CHP high command wanted to run the risk of fans or players becoming victims of domestic terrorism....