Ascall mac Ragnaill meic Torcaill (1124 – 16 May 1171), also known as Ascall Mac Torcaill, was the last Norse-Gaelic king of Dublin. He was a member of the Meic Torcaill, a Dublin family of significance since the early twelfth century.
Control of the wealthy coastal kingdom was bitterly contested during Ascall's floruit, with members of his immediate family, as well as Islesmen and Irishmen, all securing power for brief periods of time. Throughout much of this period, however, the overlord of Dublin was Diarmait Mac Murchada, King of Leinster. In 1166, after the death of his close ally Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, High King of Ireland, Mac Murchada was beset by his enemies. At this critical point of his reign, Mac Murchada lost the support of the Dubliners, which contributed to his expulsion from Ireland that year. Not long afterwards, however, he made his return with significant military assistance from mercenary English adventurers. In the latter half of 1170, Dublin itself fell to the combined forces of Mac Murchada and the powerful English magnate Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke.
With the collapse of the Norse-Gaelic kingdom, Ascall and the Dublin elite were forced to flee into what one source calls the "northern islands", a reference to either the Kingdom of the Isles or the Earldom of Orkney. About a year later, not long after Mac Murchada's death, Ascall attempted to regain his patrimony from the English. Unfortunately for himself, his invasion of Dublin ended in utter failure, and he was executed by the English governor of the town. Immediately following his fall, Dublin was besieged by a combined force of Irishmen and Islesmen. The town, however, remained firmly in the hands of the English; and before the end of the year, Dublin passed into the direct control of Henry II, King of England, who converted it into an English royal town.
Background
Ascall's father was Ragnall mac Torcaill, a man who may well have ruled as King of Dublin.Downham (2013) p. 178; Downham (2007) p. 43 ill. 1. The men were members of the Meic Torcaill, a substantial landholding kindred in the kingdom.Downham (2013) p. 165; Downham (2007) p. 39. Several members of this Norse-Gaelic family held the kingship in the twelfth century. One such man was Ascall's uncle, Brodar mac Torcaill, King of Dublin, who was slain in 1160.Downham (2013) pp. 166, 178; Downham (2007) pp. 40, 43 ill. 1; Duffy (1992) p. 125 n. 159.
At the midpoint of the twelfth century, the kingdom was under the overlordship of Diarmait Mac Murchada, King of Leinster. The latter's ultimate overking, however, was Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, King of Cenél nEógain.Downham (2013) p. 166; Downham (2007) p. 40. The year after Brodar's death, numerous sources indicate that Mac Murchada, with a force of Dubliners in tow, formally rendered submission to Mac Lochlainn.Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1161.9; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1161.9; Downham (2013) p. 166; The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1161.4; The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1161.6; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1161.4; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1161.6; Downham (2007) p. 40; Duffy (1992) p. 125. In 1162, the fifteenth- to sixteenth-century Annals of Ulster reveals that Mac Murchada gained an almost-unprecedented authority over Dublin.Downham (2013) p. 166; The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1162.5; Martin (2008b) p. 62; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1162.5; Downham (2007) p. 40; Flanagan (2004c); Duffy (1993) p. 45; Duffy (1992) p. 128. There is reason to suspect that his success stemmed from assistance received from Mac Lochlainn. The latter, for example, is recorded by the same source to have laid siege to the town within the year.The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1162.4; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1162.4; Flanagan (2004c). This military campaign may have been undertaken to counter the Dubliners' attempt to install Gofraid mac Amlaíb, King of the Isles to the kingship of Dublin, as recounted by the thirteenth- to fourteenth-century Chronicle of Mann.Downham (2013) p. 166; Downham (2007) p. 40; Duffy (1992) pp. 125–128; Anderson (1922) pp. 230–231; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 66–69.
The record of events during the mid part of the twelfth century suggests that Leinster-based overkings of Dublin enjoyed the cooperation of the indigenous leaders of Dublin, and the emergence of the Meic Torcaill during this period may well fit into such a context. When an indigenous ruler was not to be found, however, the Dubliners seem to have sought leadership from the Isles, rather than endure a non-Leinster overking, as evidenced by the attempt to install Gofraid.Downham (2013) pp. 167–168; Downham (2007) pp. 40–41. Mac Murchada's considerable authority in Dublin at this point is evidenced by several ecclesiastical grants, foundations, and appointments.Downham (2013) pp. 167–168; Downham (2007) p. 40; Duffy (1998) p. 77; Flanagan (1998) pp. 118–119; Duffy (1992) pp. 128–129. Furthermore, two major military operations undertaken by Dublin's forces in 1164 and 1165 may have been conducted under Mac Murchada's authority.French (2015b) p. 232; Byrne (2008b) p. 23; Martin (2008b) pp. 62–63; Duffy (2007) p. 137; Crooks (2005) p. 301; Flanagan (2005b) p. 211; Flanagan (2004c); Duffy (1993) pp. 45–46; Duffy (1992) p. 129. The latter campaign, recorded by the Annals of Ulster,French (2015b) p. 232; The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1165.7; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1165.7; Duffy (2007) pp. 133, 136; Duffy (1993) pp. 17–18. and the thirteenth- and fourteenth-century texts Brut y TywysogyonDownham (2013) p. 173, 173 n. 96; Duffy (2007) pp. 136–137; McDonald (2007a) p. 70; Duffy (1993) pp. 17–18; Duffy (1992) p. 129; Rhŷs; Evans (1890) p. 324; Williams Ab Ithel (1860) pp. 202–203. and Brenhinedd y Saesson,Downham (2013) p. 173, 173 n. 96; Duffy (1993) pp. 17–18; Duffy (1992) p. 129; Latimer (1989) p. 537, 537 n. 72; Jones; Williams; Pughe (1870) p. 679. concerned naval manoeuvres off Wales, in the service of Henry II, King of England.French (2015b) p. 232; Downham (2013) p. 173, 173 n. 96; Byrne (2008b) p. 23; Martin (2008b) pp. 62–63; Downham (2007) p. 45; Duffy (2007) pp. 133, 136–137; Crooks (2005) p. 301; Doherty (2005) p. 353; Flanagan (2005b) p. 211; Flanagan (2004c); Duffy (1993) pp. 17–18; Duffy (1992) p. 129; Latimer (1989) p. 537, 537 n. 72. The former campaign, recorded by the Annals of Ulster,The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1164.4; Oram (2011) p. 128; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1164.4; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 245; McDonald (1997) p. 67. consisted of involvement in the ill-fated invasion of mainland Scotland, launched by Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, King of the Isles.Oram (2011) p. 128; Byrne (2008b) p. 23; Doherty (2005) p. 352; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 245; McDonald (1997) p. 67.
Fall of Mac Murchada and rise of Ua Conchobair
Mac Lochlainn was slain in 1166,Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1166.11; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1166.11; Crooks (2005), pg. 301; Duffy (1992), pg. 129. leaving Mac Murchada to fend off his own enemies alone.Crooks (2005), pg. 301; Flanagan (2004d). Other than Mac Murchada himself, another man making a bid for the high-kingship was Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht. Within the same year as Mac Lochlainn's demise, Ua Conchobair and his allies expelled Mac Murchada from not only Dublin, but Ireland altogether. As such, Ua Conchobair was duly recognised as High King of Ireland.Flanagan (2004d).
According to the seventeenth-century Annals of the Four Masters, he had secured the cooperation of Dublin, and perhaps gained the kingship of the town itself, through a stipend of 4,000 cows.Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1166.13; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1166.13; Simms (1996), pg. 55; Ó Corráin (1996), pg. 50; Duffy (1992) pp. 129–130. In consequence, Dubliners formed part of Ua Conchobair's forces when he marched to Drogheda and Leinster, where he forced the submissions of the kings of Airgialla and Leinster respectively.Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) §§ 1166.13, 1166.14; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) §§ 1166.13, 1166.14; Duffy (1992), pg. 130. In fact, Dublin appears to have formed a key part of Ua Conchobair's arsenal, and it is apparent that Mac Murchada was doomed without the support of this coastal kingdom.Ní Mhaonaigh (2018), pg. 154; Duffy (1998), pg. 78; Simms (1996), pg. 56; Duffy (1992), pp. 130–131. Certainly, the twelfth- to thirteenth-century La Geste des Engleis en Yrlande relates that Ascall ("MacTurkyl de Diveline") had abandoned his former overlord,Song of Dermot and the Earl (2011) pg. 13 §§ 138–139; Song of Dermot and the Earl (2010) p. 12 §§ 138–139; Duffy (1998), pg. 78; Duffy (1992), pg. 130. and the eleventh- to fourteenth-century Annals of Inisfallen specify that Mac Murchada was only expulsed from Ireland after the Leinstermen and Dubliners had turned against him.Ní Mhaonaigh (2018) p. 154; Annals of Inisfallen (2010) § 1166.7; Annals of Inisfallen (2008) § 1166.7; Duffy (1998), pg. 78; Duffy (1992), pg. 130. Although Ua Conchobair appears to have allowed Mac Murchada to retain his patrimonial lordship of Uí Chennselaig, the Annals of the Four Masters reveals that the Leinstermen and Dubliners assisted Tigernán Ua Ruairc, King of Bréifne in forcing Mac Murchada from this final vestige of authority and into exile.French (2015a), pg. 22; Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1166.16; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1166.16; O'Byrne (2005), pg. 468; Duffy (1998), pg. 78; Ó Corráin (1996), pg. 52; Duffy (1992), pp. 130–131.
The following year, Ua Conchobair convened a great assembly at Athboy. The Annals of the Four Masters states that 13,000 horsemen attended the meeting — 1,000 of which were supplied from Dublin. One of the many rulers recorded to have attended this gathering is a certain Ragnall mac Ragnaill, styled ("lord of the foreigners").Woods (2013), pg. 52; Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1167.10; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1167.10; Flanagan (1997), pg. 64; Duffy (1992), pg. 131. The latter's name and title suggest that he was either an otherwise unattested brother of Ascall, or else an annalist's mistake for Ascall himself.Duffy (1992), pp. 131, 131 n. 182.
Meanwhile, after his expulsion from Ireland, Mac Murchada sought out Henry on the Continent, and gained permission to recruit military aid from the latter's subjects. In the autumn of 1167, Mac Murchada and his English allies arrived in Ireland, where they established themselves at Ferns.Flanagan (2004c). Ua Conchobair responded by penetrating Uí Chennselaig in a campaign, recounted by the fourteenth-century Annals of Tigernach, that included military support from Dublin.The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1167.5; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1167.5; O'Byrne (2005) p. 468; Duffy (1998) p. 78. With Mac Murchada temporarily kept in check, a preoccupied Ua Conchobair allowed him to hold onto at least part of his patrimony.Flanagan (2004d); Duffy (1998) p. 78.
Arrival of the English and Dublin's fall