Historical Setting: The Great Skellig, 924 C.E.
On this fair October day Abbot Mactyre and I are talking together, considering the century of change I missed while, as he says, I was “awash at sea.” He is telling me of Danish Vikings, who no longer simply fill their coffers with riches then scurry back to the Northlands. Now, they are coming to build their homes and to rule. [Footnote]
He says, “Here on our own Éire already there is a Danish city, the hub of a settlement. I’ve visited this trade center, Dublin. I’ve seen the safe harbor on our own shore wreaking of dragon ships. The Viking ships are moored right alongside the peaceful trade ships of our good Christian lands.”
“Maybe having them for neighbors will stop the plunder.”
“Oh, what you don’t know, innocent Christian? They are even changing the grasses of our lands. Where once our hefty cattle grazed, now sheep nibble the grasses to the root. The trade is ripe for wools and fleeces so everyone raises sheep now. Every woman’s hand fingers a spindle, and the babes are left wanting while their mother winds a ball of yarn.”
“Why did the Norsemen land here? And why not on the Isle of the Anglo Saxons?”
“Oh, my man, they would own all of that island were it not for the powerful rule of King Ælfrǣd, bless his soul.”
I ask, “Ælfred, descended from Æthelred of Northumbria?”
“He was the youngest of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. Anglo Saxon kingdoms were in many pieces back then. But the reign of Alfred held a promise. I remember exactly the day we heard the news of his death. I was just a novice, an altar boy at Innisfallen Abbey, and I was feeling that hard rule to leave behind my childhood memories of my old life for my holy life ahead. Then, when someone came with the news that one person of earth who gave us the hope the world would soon turn Christian — the one unifying politic we could trust — had died. We feared Engla land would fall to pieces again, and the Danes would take over that land, and then Éire would soon follow. With the death of the English king my hope that the world could heal from its wicked rulers, was erased.”
I say, “I traveled in that land before it had one name or one king. Every part was its own little kingdom, except East Anglia. Back in the day they were under King Offa of Mercia.”
“Back in the day, you say.”
[Footnote] This source offers an overview of the Viking, particularly the Danish settlements in Europe https://www.history.org.u3k/primary/resource/3867/the-vikings-in-britain-a-brief-history?srsltid=AfmBOoqK5zgx6Yf89vjNov_pC0Es8fB84z5PmL5_7B3x-A12nKP8QpCs (retrieved 2-6-26)
(Continues tomorrow)
