Olaf Kvaran

Olaf Sihtricson or Olaf Kvaran (Irish Amlaibh Cuaran ) ( i.e the Sandal ) king of Dublin of 945 with 948 and of 953 with 980 and king of the Kingdom Viking of York (941 - 943), 944 (949 - 952).

Olaf Kvaran was the son junior by Sigtryggr Caoch. It succeeds in 941 his cousin Olaf Gothfrithson as king of York.

In the following years the king Edmond Ier of England included the control of the " Five Boroughs " but it did not go beyond the Humber and made peace with Olaf Kvaran which accepts the baptism in 943 but Nothumbriens expelled Olaf of York then and replaced it by Rognvald Gudfridsson (943 - 944). Making profitable the situation Edmond Ier drove out the two protagonists and Rognvald was killed by the Saxon ones.

Olfa Kvaran tries is essential as king de Dublin as of 945 but can occupy indeed the throne only after the disappearance of his/her Blacair cousin.

Initially, Olaf approaches Conghalach Cnogba mac Mithig king of Brega of North against Muirchertach mac Neill " Na geochall geroicionn " ( with leather clothing) wire of Niall Glúndub heir to Cenél nÉogain and claiming under laughed Ard Érenn. This last is killed in 943 by his/her cousin Blacair Gothfrithson.

The title laughed Ard Érenn returns then to Conghalach Cnogba (944 - 956). Olaf supports then this last which was however one of worst the enemies of the Scandinavians against the applicant Ruaidri Ua Canannain king of the Cenél Conaill of the O' Neill of North. It is undoubtedly with the head of Danish who plunder the monasteries of Clonmacnoise and of Kilcullen in 946. The following year apparently always combined with Conghalach Cnogba it is severely beaten by Ruaidri Ua Canannain in Slane in Meath.

In 948 alliance was certainly broken because Dublin had been plundered in its turn by Irish and Blacair is killed.

It is possible that this attack which leaves it king intervened in the absence of Olaf Kvaran which tried to take again the Royaume Viking of York. In 953 it is driven out of York and it turns over definitively to Dublin where it will reign 27 years.

Olaf Kvaran is integrated then again in the play of complex alliances between the Irish kingdoms.

In 951 the Vikings of Dublin plunder Kells and make 300 prisoners successively then: Domnach Patraic, Ard Brecain, Tuileain and Cell Scire. two years later associated this time with the men with Munster again Clonmacnoise

In 956 Congalach is killed in an ambush set-up by the Vikings combined to the men of Leinster. In 970 Olaf Kvaran and its new allies, plunders the monastery of Kells. It is possible that this same year at the time of a short alliance with Domnall mac Congalach Cnogha it beat in Kilmon in Meath new the laughed Ard Érenn Domnall mac Muirchertach (956 - 980) which resulted from Cenél nÉogain and of the O' Neill of North.

A few years after in 977 it also kills, the two heirs designated with the throne to laughed Ard Érenn pertaining to the antagonistic branches of the O' Neill of North: Muirchertach Midheach mac Domnall a small son of Muirchertach mac Neill " Na geochall geroicionn " and of the O' Neill of the South; Congalach mac Domnall mac Conghalach Cnogba.

the king of Leinster, Domnall Claen, itself is captured and put at ransom by the Vikings of Alth Cliath in 979.

In 980 Olaf Kvaran undergoes a major defeat with Tara vis-a-vis the Irishmen ordered by Maelsechlainn II mac Domhnall O' Neill new the laughed Ard Érenn in which his/her oldest son and heir Rognvald (Irish Ragnall) are killed. The offensive force of the kingdom of Dublin is destroyed. Olaf is withdrawn then with the monastery of Iona where he dies in 981 after having made penitence.

His/her son puiné surviving Gluniarian born from an Irish mother succeeds to him as king of Dublin. We know indeed at least two wives of Olaf Kvaran:

  • Gormflaith or Kormlöda sister of Maelmora king of Leinster

  • Donnflaith girl of Muircheteach mac Domnall of Cenél nÉogain

And of six of its sons:

It also had a Maelmuire girl died in 1021 wife of the laughed Ard Érenn, Mael Seachlainn II Mór.

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