Ingwær facts for kids

Ingwær (also known as Ingvar or Ivar) was a Norse king who ruled part of Northumbria, a kingdom in old England. He was a co-king, meaning he ruled alongside his brothers, Eowils and Halfdan. A historian named Æthelweard wrote about him in his book, Chronicon. However, another important historical record, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, does not mention Ingwær. Æthelweard's account says that Ingwær died in the year 910 at the Battle of Tettenhall, fighting alongside his brothers.

Ingwær's Time as King

After a big Viking victory at the Battle of the Holme in 902, Ingwær and his brothers, Eowils and Halfdan, became important leaders. They were among those who claimed to rule Viking Northumbria. They managed to successfully set up their rule there.

Vikings in Northumbria

In 902, many Vikings from Dublin moved to the Danelaw. The Danelaw was an area in England where Viking laws and customs were followed. This arrival of new Vikings helped boost the population in the Danelaw.

Raids and Battles

For about ten years, the Viking kings of Northumbria and the Viking king of East Anglia often attacked Anglo-Saxon lands. They did this to see how strong Edward the Elder, the new king of Wessex, was.

In 910, the three co-kings, including Ingwær, led their army south. They attacked Wessex. However, King Edward's Anglo-Saxon forces pushed them back. Edward's army then chased them. They finally caught up with the Vikings at Tettenhall on August 5th. In the fierce battle that followed, Ingwær, Eowils, and Halfdan were all killed.

Who Was Ingwær?

Historians still discuss who Ingwær and his brothers really were. They also debate how they ruled. We don't have any coins with their names on them. It's possible they each ruled different parts of Northumbria. Some historians even think they might have just been army commanders, not actual kings.

Historical Records

We mostly know about Ingwær from Æthelweard's Latin version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. In the older English versions of this chronicle, only his brothers Eowils and Halfdan are mentioned.

Family Connections

The names of the three brothers, Ingwær, Eowils, and Halfdan, are very similar to three other Vikings. These earlier Vikings were named Ímar, Auisle, and Halfdan Ragnarsson. They were active in the British Isles in the 800s and might have been brothers too.

Historian David Dumville has suggested that this similarity means Ingwær, Eowils, and Halfdan could be from the same family. This family is known as the Uí Ímair. Another historian, Clare Downham, agrees. She says that this "coincidence is perhaps too striking to be ignored."