Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
oc on the monasteries and continued to shake Irish civilization for two chaotic centuries.
The Vikings raped, pillaged, and burned Christian churches, making off with prized mon-
astic booty such as gold chalices, silver candlestick holders, and the jeweled book covers
of sacred illuminated manuscripts. Monks stood guard from their round towers to spy ap-
proaching marauders, ring the warning bells, and protect the citizens. In 841, a conquering
Viking band decided to winter in Ireland, eventually building the island's first permanent
walled cities, Dublin and Waterford. Viking raiders slowly evolved into Viking traders.
They were the first to introduce urban life and commerce to Ireland.
Finally,
High King Brian Boru
led a Gaelic revival, briefly controlling the entire is-
land in the late 900s. His rule ended at the Battle of Clontarf (1014), near Dublin. Though
he defeated a mercenary Viking army, which had allied with rebellious clans, Boru and
most of his sons died in the battle, and his unified kingdom quickly fell apart. Over the
centuries, Viking settlers married Gaelic gals and slowly blended in.
The Normans were Ireland's next aggressive guests. In 1169, a small army of well-armed
and fearless soldiers of fortune invaded Ireland under the pretense of helping a deposed
Irish king regain his lands. With the blessing of the only English pope in history (Adri-
an IV and his papal bull), a Welsh conquistador named
Strongbow
(c. 1130-1176) took
Dublin and Waterford, married the local king's daughter, then succeeded his father-in-law
as king of Leinster. This was the spearhead of a century-long invasion by the so-called
Anglo-Normans—the French-speaking rulers of England, descended from William the
Conqueror and his troops, who had invaded and conquered England a hundred years earli-
er at the Battle of Hastings (1066).
