Fingal mac Gofraid facts for kids

Excerpt from an old book showing the name "Fingal".

Fingal mac Gofraid and his father, Gofraid mac Sitriuc, were important rulers in the late 1000s. They were kings of the Kingdom of the Isles, which included the Isle of Man and many islands off the coast of Scotland.

Historians aren't completely sure about Gofraid mac Sitriuc's family. Some records suggest his father was named Sitriuc, but there's also a chance it was Fingal. This uncertainty makes it tricky to know which powerful family he belonged to. One family was connected to Amlaíb Cúarán, King of Northumbria and Dublin, who worked with Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó, King of Leinster. Another family, that of Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, King of Dublin and the Isles, was against Amlaíb Cúarán's family and was friends with Diarmait's enemies, the Uí Briain family.

If Gofraid mac Sitriuc was from Amlaíb Cúarán's family, it might mean he became king of the Isles because Diarmait helped him. This could also explain why Gofraid mac Sitriuc and Fingal seemed to get along well with Gofraid Crobán, who became king after them. It might also explain an attack on the Isle of Man in 1073 by the Uí Briain family. On the other hand, if Gofraid mac Sitriuc was related to Echmarcach, he might be the same person as Gofraid ua Ragnaill, King of Dublin. This Gofraid ruled Dublin when the Uí Briain family was in charge, after Diarmait died.

One old record says Gofraid mac Sitriuc died around 1070. His son, Fingal, then became king. Fingal later had to defend the Isle of Man from an attack by people from Ireland. Sometime in the 1070s, Gofraid Crobán took over the kingdom. It's not clear if he overthrew Fingal directly. It's possible the throne was empty when Gofraid Crobán took control. After Fingal's time, some people believe his family might have ruled a smaller area called the Kingdom of the Rhinns.

Who Were Gofraid and Fingal?

An old manuscript showing "Godredum filium Sytric", which means "Gofraid son of Sitriuc".

The Chronicle of Mann, an important historical book, mentions Gofraid mac Sitriuc. It calls him "Godredum filium Sytric" or "Godredus filius Sytric". This suggests his father was Sitriuc. However, in one place, the name "Sytric" is crossed out. Notes next to these parts say "Fingal". This makes historians wonder if his father was Sitriuc or Fingal.

It's also possible the note "Fingal" refers to a place, not a person. For example, it could mean Fine Gall, a rich farming area near Dublin. This might suggest Gofraid mac Sitriuc was from Dublin, not the Isle of Man. If his father was indeed Sitriuc, there were a few possible people he could have been. One was Sitriuc mac Amlaíb, King of Dublin, who had a son named Gofraid.

Another idea is that Gofraid mac Sitriuc was the same person as Gofraid ua Ragnaill, who was King of Dublin around the same time. Old Irish records call him by different names, sometimes mentioning Amlaíb or Ragnall as his father. This suggests he was related to Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, King of Dublin and the Isles. So, Gofraid ua Ragnaill might have been Echmarcach's nephew or even his son.

The Kingdom of the Isles

A map showing important places connected to Gofraid mac Sitriuc and Fingal.

In the mid-1000s, Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó, King of Leinster, became very powerful. He took control of Dublin and the Isles from Echmarcach. Diarmait captured Dublin in 1052, forcing Echmarcach to leave. About ten years later, Echmarcach was also driven from the Isle of Man. Diarmait's son, Murchad mac Diarmata, raided the island and collected tribute. Echmarcach died in Rome in 1064 or 1065. A writer at the time called him "rex Innarenn", which could mean "King of the Isles" or "King of the Rhinns" (a part of Scotland). If it means the Rhinns, it might show that his large sea-kingdom had shrunk.

For twenty years, Diarmait controlled Dublin and its strong army and navy. But when he died unexpectedly in 1072, Toirdelbach Ua Briain, King of Munster, took over Dublin. It's not clear when Gofraid ua Ragnaill became King of Dublin. He might have taken over before Diarmait's death, or Toirdelbach might have put him in charge.

Family Connections and Their Meaning

Knowing which family Gofraid mac Sitriuc belonged to is important. He could have been from the family of Sitriuc mac Amlaíb and Glún Iairn, who were descendants of Amlaíb Cúarán. Or he could have been from Echmarcach mac Ragnaill's family. Echmarcach's family was allied with the Uí Briain, while Diarmait (who was Echmarcach's enemy) worked with Amlaíb Cúarán's descendants.

Gofraid's Connection to Amlaíb Cúarán's Family

In 1066, Haraldr Sigurðarson, King of Norway, invaded England. His army was badly defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. The Chronicle of Mann says that after this battle, Gofraid mac Sitriuc welcomed Gofraid Crobán, who had fled the battle, and gave him a safe place to stay. If Gofraid mac Sitriuc was from Amlaíb Cúarán's family, his kindness to Gofraid Crobán might have been because they were distant relatives. Gofraid Crobán might also have been from Amlaíb Cúarán's family.

This family connection could also explain how Gofraid mac Sitriuc became King of the Isles. Just five years before, Diarmait's son had defeated Echmarcach on the Isle of Man. Diarmait likely wouldn't have let Echmarcach's family keep ruling. So, Diarmait might have put Gofraid mac Sitriuc, a descendant of Amlaíb Cúarán, in charge as his ally. Diarmait had done something similar in Dublin years earlier.

The name of Sigtryggr Óláfsson as it appears in an old book.

The Chronicle of Mann states that Gofraid mac Sitriuc died around 1070. His son, Fingal, became king and may have ruled for up to nine years. In 1073, a year after Toirdelbach took Dublin, Fingal successfully fought off an invasion of the Isle of Man. This attack is mentioned in Irish records. It was led by Sigtryggr Óláfsson and two grandsons of Brian Bóruma, High King of Ireland. The exact identities of these attackers are unclear, but the invasion was likely linked to the Uí Briain family taking over Dublin. Sigtryggr might have been from Echmarcach's family. If so, after the Uí Briain took control of Dublin, Sigtryggr and his allies might have tried to reclaim the Isles, which they saw as their family's land.

Gofraid's Connection to Echmarcach's Family

If Gofraid mac Sitriuc was the same person as Gofraid ua Ragnaill, and thus related to Echmarcach's family, it would mean Gofraid ua Ragnaill took over from Echmarcach in both Dublin and the Isles. In this case, Sigtryggr, who was killed in the 1073 invasion of Mann, would have been from Amlaíb Cúarán's family, not Echmarcach's.

Two years after the attack on Mann, Gofraid ua Ragnaill's rule ended. Irish records say Toirdelbach banished him from Dublin. He died "beyond the sea" after gathering a "great fleet" to return to Ireland. If Gofraid mac Sitriuc and Gofraid ua Ragnaill were the same person, this record might mean Toirdelbach forced Gofraid ua Ragnaill out of Dublin after failing to remove him from Mann. It could also mean Gofraid ua Ragnaill went to Mann after being expelled from Dublin and tried to gather a fleet there before he died.

Fingal and Gofraid Crobán

An old record mentioning "Macc Congail, rí na Rend", meaning "Macc Congail, King of the Rhinns".

Around 1075 or 1079, the Chronicle of Mann says that Gofraid Crobán conquered the Isle of Man after three sea invasions. How this happened isn't fully clear. He might have overthrown Fingal, who could have been weakened by the 1073 invasion. However, since Gofraid Crobán and Fingal's father seemed to be on good terms, it's also possible that Fingal's rule was safe as long as he lived. Gofraid Crobán might have only tried to take control after Fingal died. The chronicle only mentions Fingal once, when he became king after his father. No other historical records mention him.

If Gofraid mac Sitriuc and Gofraid ua Ragnaill were the same person, then Gofraid ua Ragnaill's death in 1075 could be important. Gofraid Crobán became King of the Isles around this time. The chronicle says Gofraid Crobán fought against the people of Mann, but it doesn't mention Fingal or any other king during these battles. This suggests Gofraid Crobán might have made his move when the kingship was empty.

Even though Fingal disappears from historical records, there's a chance his descendants ruled parts of Galloway (in Scotland). In 1094, an Irish record mentions the death of a "King of the Rhinns" named "Macc Congail". This could mean Fingal's name was actually Congal, or it might be a mix-up between the names Fingal and Congal. It's not known if Macc Congail was independent or if he was under Gofraid Crobán's rule.