Kingdom of the Rhinns facts for kids
The Kingdom of the Rhinns, also known as Na Renna, was a small but important area ruled by Norse-Gaelic leaders in the 11th century. This kingdom is mentioned in old historical records from that time. The Rhinns (which in Scottish Gaelic is Na Rannaibh) was a region in Medieval Scotland. It included the area that later became Wigtownshire, along with another place called Farines.
We get an idea of how big this kingdom was from an old book called the Martyrology of Óengus. This book says that places like Dunragit (called Dún Reichet back then) and Whithorn (called Futerna) were located within the kingdom. This suggests that the Kingdom of the Rhinns covered most of what is now Wigtownshire.
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Who Ruled the Kingdom of the Rhinns?
We know about three rulers who were kings of the Rhinns during the 11th century. Their stories give us a glimpse into the history of this interesting kingdom.
Amlaíb mac Sitriuc: A King of Many Lands
One of the earliest known rulers was Amlaíb mac Sitriuc, who died in 1034. He was a very powerful figure and ruled over many different places, not just the Rhinns! Old stories say he was king of Dublin, the Isle of Man, Galloway, the Rhinns, Anglesey, and Gwynedd. Amlaíb was the son of a famous Viking king named Sigtrygg Silkbeard. His daughter, Ragnaillt, was the mother of Gruffudd ap Cynan, who later became a very important king in Wales.
Echmarcach mac Ragnaill: From Dublin to the Rhinns
Another king was Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, who passed away in 1065. Before he became king of the Rhinns, he had been a king in other significant places, including Dublin and the Isle of Man. When he died, the records only called him "King of the Rhinns" (rex innarenn in Latin), which suggests that by then, the Rhinns was his main or only kingdom.
Macc Congail: A Mysterious King
The last known ruler was Macc Congail, who died in 1093. We don't know much about him, as he is only mentioned in old records that talk about his death. He was called rí na Rend, which means "king of Na Renna" in Old Irish. Some historians think he might have been a son of another ruler named Fingal mac Gofraid.
Why Was the Kingdom of the Rhinns Important?
The Kingdom of the Rhinns shows us how different cultures mixed in Scotland a long time ago. The rulers were "Norse-Gaelic," meaning they had both Viking (Norse) and Scottish/Irish (Gaelic) backgrounds. This was common in many parts of Scotland and Ireland during the Viking Age. The kingdom was a part of the larger Kingdom of the Isles, which was a powerful Norse-Gaelic kingdom that controlled many islands and coastal areas in the Irish Sea and around Scotland. Studying the Kingdom of the Rhinns helps us understand the complex history of Scotland and its connections to Viking and Irish cultures.
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