Assassination of Ingimundr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ingimundr
Ingimundr's name as it appears on folio 34r of British Library Cotton Julius A VII (the Chronicle of Mann): "Ingemundus".
Died	1097 Lewis

Ingimundr, also known as Ingimund or Ingemund, was a Viking leader from the 1000s. He was sent by Magnús Óláfsson, the King of Norway, to take control of the Kingdom of the Isles. This kingdom included islands like the Isle of Man and the Hebrides off Scotland.

Around 1095, the Kingdom of the Isles was in big trouble. Its king, Guðrøðr Crovan, King of the Isles, had died. His family started fighting over who should rule next. This made the kingdom weak and chaotic. King Magnús of Norway saw a chance to take over. He sent Ingimundr to make things stable again and claim the kingdom for Norway.

Ingimundr and his followers were killed on the Isle of Lewis by local island leaders. This happened while he was trying to become king. The very next year, King Magnús decided to come to the Isles himself. He personally led his forces to conquer the islands.

Why the Isles Were in Chaos

Locations relating to Ingimundr's life and times.

In the 1070s, a powerful ruler named Guðrøðr Crovan became king of the Isles. He took over the Isle of Man and even controlled Dublin for a while. But in 1094, he was forced out of Ireland. He died in the Hebrides in 1095.

After Guðrøðr's death, no one was truly in charge. The Chronicle of Mann, a historical book from the 1200s, says that Guðrøðr's oldest son, Lǫgmaðr, became king. But Lǫgmaðr faced challenges from his own brother, Haraldr.

The island leaders were worried about the fighting. Around 1096, they asked Muirchertach Ua Briain, King of Munster from Ireland for help. They wanted him to send someone to rule the Isles until Lǫgmaðr's younger brother, Óláfr, was old enough to be king. Muirchertach sent Domnall mac Taidc to rule. But Domnall was also unpopular. The island leaders eventually forced him to leave.

This period was very unstable. There was no clear ruler, and different groups were fighting for power. This is why King Magnús of Norway decided to get involved.

Ingimundr's Mission and Downfall

The name and title of Ingimundr's sovereign, Magnús Óláfsson, as it appears on folio 46v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489 (the Annals of Ulster).

Around 1097, King Magnús sent Ingimundr to the Isles. His job was to take control of the kingdom for Norway. Ingimundr set up his base on the Isle of Lewis, which is in the northern Hebrides.

The Chronicle of Mann tells us what happened next. Ingimundr sent messages to all the important island leaders. He told them to gather and make him their king. But while waiting, Ingimundr and his men started causing trouble. They stole things and behaved badly.

And when he had arrived in the island of Lewis, he sent messengers to all the chieftains of the islands; ordering them to assemble together, and appoint him their king. But meanwhile he with his associates abandoned himself to robbery and banquetting; violated the chastity of women and girls; and devoted his attention to the other pleasures and allurements of the flesh. And when this had been reported to the chieftains of the islands, when they had already assembled together to appoint him king, they were fired with excessive rage, and hastened towards him; and coming upon him by night, they burned down the house in which he was; and annihilated him and all his men, some with the sword, and some in the flames.

When the island leaders heard about Ingimundr's actions, they became very angry. They had already gathered to make him king, but now they decided to act. They attacked Ingimundr and his men at night. They burned down the house where he was staying. Ingimundr and all his followers were killed, some by swords and some by fire.

Tynwald Hill, on the Isle of Man, was likely a meeting place for the Kingdom of the Isles. Kings might have been chosen here, new laws made, and problems solved. The visible parts of the site today are mostly from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.

Ingimundr might have chosen Lewis because he couldn't gain control of the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man was in a civil war at this time. It was so badly damaged that it was almost empty when King Magnús arrived later. Ingimundr's death likely made King Magnús decide to take over the Isles himself.

The "chieftains" or leaders of the Isles played a big role in choosing kings. Even though Guðrøðr Crovan had conquered the kingdom, his family later needed the support of these chieftains. They were the ones who asked Muirchertach for help. They also drove Domnall out of the kingdom. After King Magnús died in 1103, these same chieftains asked Óláfr, Guðrøðr's son, to become king. This shows how important their approval was for anyone wanting to rule the Isles.