THIRD, OR DANISH PERIOD.

FROM A.D. 785 TO A.D. 1168.

PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

FIRST RAID OF THE DANES-PLUNDER OF THE MONASTERIES, AND DESTRUCTION OF THE CHURCHES-ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS AND WORKS OF ART-TURGESIUS, THE DANISH PRINCE, ESTABLISHES HIS HEAD-QUARTERS IN ARMAGHTHE DANES DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTIES, CALLED BLACK AND WHITE GENTILES-REIGN OF CORMAC-WAR WITH KING OF CASHEL ATTEMPT OF MUIRCHEARTACH ΤΟ SUBJUGATE THE DANESTHE DANES OBTAIN POSSESSION OF THE

SEA-COAST TOWNS-THE BATTLE OF DUNDALK-MALACHY

AND BRIAN BORU-REMOTE CAUSES OF THE BATTLE OF CLONTARF-THE BLOCKADE OF DUBLIN-THE BATTLE OF CLONTARF-DEFEAT OF THE DANES, AND DECLINE OF THE DANISH POWER IN IRELAND.

:

FIRST RAID OF THE DANES.

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CHAPTER VIII.

A.D. 795 To A.D. 954.

CONTEMPORARY EVENTS: Charlemagne, Emperor of the West-Leo III. Pope-Alfred the Great-Succeeded by Edward the Elder-England ravaged by the Danes-The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge founded-Foundation of the Capet Dynasty in France-The Picts subdued and repelled by Kenneth II.-The Saxon Code of Laws framed.

SECTION I. The First Raid of the Danish Pirates.

THE

\HE first raid of the Danish pirates is recorded thus: 'The age of Christ 790 [recte 795]. The twenty-fifth year of Donnchadh. The burning of Reachrainn by plunderers; and its shrines were broken and plundered.' They had already attacked the English coasts, whilst the pious King Bertric was reigning over its western division.' Their arrival was sudden, and so unexpected that the king's officer took them for merchants, paying with his life for the mistake. A Welsh chronicle, known by the name of Brut y Tywysogion,' or the Chronicle of the Chieftains, has a corresponding record under the year 790: 'Ten years with four score and seven hundred was the age of Christ when the pagans went to Ireland.' Three manuscripts add, and destroyed Rechren.' Another chronicle mentions, that the black pagans, who were the first of their nation to land in Ireland, had previously been defeated in Glamorganshire, and after their defeat they had invaded Ireland, and devastated Rechru.

The Irish gave the generic name of Gaill to all strangers who spoke a foreign language, probably because they confounded them with the Galli, or Gauls, the foreigners with whom they were most intimate. Hence the Danes obtained the name of Gaill, and the wars with the Danes are termed Cogadh Gaedhil re Gallaidh-the wars of the

Irish with the foreigners. After the twelfth century the term Gall was applied to the English; and the Highlanders of Scotland now employ it to designate the Lowlanders. The Danes, according to the Irish chroniclers, were divided into two classes: the ' azure Gentiles,' or Lochlanns, and the 'Danaes,' or Danes proper. The exact meaning of these terms has not been ascertained, but they indicate two classes of pirates: the white or fair-haired Norwegians and Swedes; and the dark or 'black' pagans, most dreaded of all, who were Danes. The two nations were hostile to each other, though, or perhaps because, equally bent on plunder. At a later period the word Dane was used generally to signify a barbarian or robber, without distinction of race. The Danes are also called Duv Galls, or Black Gentiles, and Finn Galls, or White Gentiles.

As plunder was the principal object of these Vikings, they first attacked the monastic establishments on the Irish coasts, which had been richly endowed by the piety and liberality of the Irish Milesian kings and princes. In 798 they invaded the Isle of Man, and on their return took 'spoils of the sea between Erinn and Alba.' Finding but little resistance, they were emboldened to attack the mainland, and in 807, the tenth year of Hugh Oirnidhe, they made a raid on the south-west coast of Ireland, and, after burning the island of Finshunneay, proceeded to Roscommon. During the years 812 and 813 they made raids in Connaught and Munster, but not without encountering stout resistance from the native forces. After this predatory and internecine warfare had continued for about thirty years, Turgesius, a Norwegian prince, established himself as sovereign of the Vikings, and made Armagh his head-quarters, A.D. 830. If the Irish chieftains had united their forces, and acted in concert, the result would have been the expulsion of the intruders; but, unhappily, this unity of purpose in matters political has never existed. The Danes made and broke alliances with the provincial kings at their own convenience, while these princes gladly availed themselves of even temporary assistance from their cruel foes, while engaged in domestic wars, which should never have been undertaken. Still the Northmen were

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more than once driven from the country by the bravery of the native commanders, and they often paid dearly for the cruel wrongs they inflicted on their hapless victims. Sometimes the Danish chiefs mustered all their forces, and left the island for a brief period, to ravage the shores of England or Scotland; but they soon returned to inflict new barbarities on the unfortunate Irish.

Burning churches or destroying monasteries was a favourite pastime of these pirates, wherever they could obtain a landing on Christian shores; and the number of religious houses in Ireland afforded them abundant means of gratifying their barbarous inclinations. But when they became so far masters as to have obtained some permanent settlement, this mode of proceeding was considered either more troublesome or less profitable than that of appropriating to themselves the abbeys and churches. Turgesius, it is said, placed an abbot of his own in every monastery; and as he had already conferred ecclesiastical offices on himself and on his lady, we may presume he was not very particular in his selections. Each village, too, was placed under the rule of a Danish captain; and each family was obliged to maintain a soldier of that nation, who made himself master of the house, using and wasting the food for lack of which the starving children of the lawful owner were often dying of hunger.

All education was strictly forbidden; books and manuscripts were burned and drowned; and the poets, historians, and musicians imprisoned and driven to the woods and mountains. Martial sports were interdicted, from the lowest to the highest rank. Even nobles and princes were forbidden to wear their usual habiliments, the cast-off clothes of the Danes being considered sufficiently good for slaves.

The clergy, who had been driven from their monasteries, concealed themselves as best they could, continuing still their prayers and fasts, and the fervent recital of the Divine Office. The Irish, true to their faith in every trial, were not slow to attribute their deliverance to the prayers of these holy men.

In 831 Nial Caille led an army against them, and defeated them at Derry; but, in the meanwhile, Felim,