Gilli (Hebridean earl)

Gilli was an eleventh-century Hebridean chieftain whose career coincided with an era of Orcadian overlordship in the Kingdom of the Isles. According to mediaeval saga-tradition, Gilli was a brother-in-law of Sigurðr Hlǫðvisson, Earl of Orkney, having married the latter's sister Hvarflǫð. Traditionally regarded as one of the most powerful Orcadian earls, Sigurðr appears to have extended his authority into the Isles in the late tenth century. Gilli apparently acted as Sigurðr's viceroy or tributary earl in the region. The time frame of Gilli's apparent authority in the Isles is uncertain, and may date as early as the reign of Guðrøðr Haraldsson, King of the Isles, or as late as the period following the death of this man's eventual successor, Rǫgnvaldr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles. Gilli's name is probably Gaelic in origin, and he seems to have seated himself on either Coll or Colonsay, islands in the Inner Hebrides. It is possible that Gilli is identical to Gilla Ciaráin mac Glún Iairn, an Uí Ímair dynast who was slain at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. If not, another possibility is that he was the father of a certain Conamal/Conmáel who was killed in 980.

Earl in the Hebrides

There is evidence to suggest that Sigurðr Hlǫðvisson, Earl of Orkney extended his authority from Orkney into the Isles in the late tenth- and early eleventh century.Cannon (2015); Jennings (2015); Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Davies (2011) pp. 50, 58; Downham (2007) p. 196; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 220–221; Crawford (2004); Williams, G (2004) pp. 94–96; Crawford (1997) pp. 65–68; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 142–143; Jennings (1994) p. 225; Smyth (1989) p. 150. For instance, the thirteenth-century Njáls saga—the only source that specifically refers to GilliCrawford (2004); Williams, DGE (1997) p. 143; Johnston (1991) p. 114.—states that one of Sigurðr's followers, Kári Sǫlmundarson, extracted taxes from the northern Hebrides, then controlled by Gilli himself.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Thomson (2008) p. 61; Downham (2007) p. 196; Macniven (2006) p. 77; Raven (2005) p. 140; Etchingham (2001) pp. 173–174; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 142–143; Jennings (1994) p. 225; Johnston (1991) pp. 18, 114, 248; Smyth (1989) p. 150; Dasent (1967) pp. 148–149 ch. 84; Anderson (1922a) pp. 497–498, 497–498 n. 3; Ásmundarson (1910) pp. 192–193 ch. 85; Jónsson (1908) pp. 184–186 ch. 85. Whether these taxes were due to Norwegian overlords of Sigurðr, as the saga states, is uncertain.Megaw; Megaw (2013) p. 157; Thomson (2008) p. 61; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 100–101; Dasent (1967) pp. 148–150 chs. 84–85; Anderson (1922a) pp. 497–500, 497–498 n. 3; Ásmundarson (1910) pp. 192–196 chs. 85–86; Jónsson (1908) pp. 184–187 chs. 85–86. The saga further declares that Sigurðr and his men defeated Guðrøðr Haraldsson, King of the Isles, after which they plundered the Isles.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Thomson (2008) p. 61; Downham (2007) p. 196; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 75; Williams, G (2004) p. 95; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 88, 142; Dasent (1967) p. 150 ch. 85; Anderson (1922a) p. 500; Ásmundarson (1910) p. 195 ch. 86; Jónsson (1908) p. 187 ch. 86. Also noted are additional assaults conducted by accomplices of Sigurðr throughout the Hebrides, Kintyre, Mann (against Guðrøðr), and Anglesey.Thomson (2008) p. 61; Williams, G (2004) pp. 95–96; Etchingham (2001) pp. 173–174; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 142–143; Jennings (1994) p. 224; Johnston (1991) p. 114; Smyth (1989) p. 150; Dasent (1967) pp. 160–163 ch. 88; Anderson (1922a) pp. 502–503; Ásmundarson (1910) pp. 209–213 ch. 89; Jónsson (1908) pp. 199–203 ch. 89; Vigfusson (1887) p. 324 ch. 90. The thirteenth-century Orkneyinga saga also reports Sigurðr's raids into the Isles,Downham (2007) p. 196; Williams, G (2004) p. 95; Vigfusson (1887) p. 14 ch. 11; Anderson; Hjaltalin; Goudie (1873) pp. 209–210 ch. 186. as does Eyrbyggja saga, a thirteenth-century source which further notes his taxation of the kingdom.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Thomson (2008) p. 61; Downham (2007) p. 196; Williams, G (2004) p. 95, 95 n. 139; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 37, 88, 142–143; Anderson (1922a) p. 528; Gering (1897) p. 103 ch. 29; Morris; Magnússon (1892) p. 71 ch. 29. Contemporary Orcadian expansion may be perceptible in the evidence of the land-assessment system of ouncelands in the Hebrides and along the western coast of Scotland.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Crawford (2004); Williams, G (2004) pp. 94–96; Andersen (1991) pp. 73–74; Johnston (1991) p. 248. If Sigurðr's authority indeed stretched over the Isles in the last decades of the tenth century, such an intrusion could account for the numbers of silver hoards dating to this time.Crawford (2013) ch. 3.

Various Irish annals also reveal that this was a period of strife in the Isles, as (literally "Danes") are recorded active in the region throughout 986 and 987.Wadden (2016) p. 172; Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) §§ 985.2, 985.8, 985.9; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) §§ 985.2, 985.8, 985.9; Clancy (2013); Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Chronicon Scotorum (2012) § 986; The Annals of Ulster (2012) §§ 986.2, 986.3, 987.1; Annals of Inisfallen (2010) § 986.4; Chronicon Scotorum (2010) § 986; Annals of Inisfallen (2008) § 986.4; The Annals of Ulster (2008) §§ 986.2, 986.3, 987.1; Downham (2007) pp. 60 n. 244, 128, 189, 195–196, 224; Ó Corráin (2006) p. 57; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 220; Etchingham (2001) p. 176; Oram (2000) p. 11; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Jennings (1994) pp. 219–221; Gleeson; MacAirt (1957–1959) p. 171 § 291; Anderson (1922a) pp. 489, 494, 494 n. 2; Murphy (1896) p. 160. Although it is not impossible that the (perhaps merely meaning "pirates") refer to Sigurðr's forces,Downham (2007) p. 195; Ó Corráin (2006) p. 57; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 220–221; Etchingham (2001) pp. 176–177; Oram (2000) p. 11; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Jennings (1994) p. 220. it is more likely that they are instead identical to the Vikings who are otherwise attested attacking England in the 990s.Downham (2007) p. 195. In fact, it seems that the were active in the region against opponents of Guðrøðr.Clancy (2013) p. 68; Etchingham (2001) pp. 177–178; Jennings (1994) p. 220. This could indicate that either the kin of the recently deceased Amlaíb Cuarán, King of Northumbria and Dublin,Clancy (2013) p. 68. or perhaps an Orcadian-aligned Islesman like Gilli himself, may have fallen target to an alliance between the and Guðrøðr. This could in turn reveal that the aforesaid claims of continuous Orcadian conquests in the Isles—otherwise unrecorded outwith saga-tradition—give a less than unbiased account of events.Etchingham (2001) pp. 177–178. Whatever the case, Guðrøðr was slain in 989, after which the political cohesion of Kingdom of the IslesDownham (2007) p. 196.—perhaps shaken by Orcadian encroachment in the 980sEtchingham (2001) p. 179.—seems to have diminished.

The extent of Guðrøðr's authority in the Hebrides is unknown due to his apparent coexistence with Gilli, and to the uncertainty of Orcadian encroachment. Guðrøðr's successor is likewise uncertain.Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 142–144. On one hand, he may have been succeeded by his son, Rǫgnvaldr.Duffy (2006) p. 54; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 221; Oram (2000) p. 11. Although it is conceivable that either Gilli or Sigurðr capitalised on Guðrøðr's death, and extended their overlordship as far south as Mann, possible after-effects such as these are uncorroborated. Although it is possible that Gilli controlled the Hebrides whilst Guðrøðr ruled Mann, the title accorded to the latter on his death could indicate otherwise.Jennings (1994) pp. 225–226. If so, the chronology of Gilli's subordination to Sigurðr may actually date to the period after Rǫgnvaldr's death in 1004/1005.Jennings (1994) pp. 226, 229.

According to Njáls saga, Gilli was seated on or , an island that appears to refer to CollCrawford (2013) ch. 3; Macniven (2006) p. 77; Williams, G (2004) p. 96; Hudson, B (2002) p. 251; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 143; Johnston (1991) p. 18; Dasent (1967) pp. 160–163 ch. 88; Ásmundarson (1910) pp. 209–213 ch. 89; Jónsson (1908) pp. 199–203 ch. 89; Vigfusson (1887) p. 324 ch. 90, 324 n. 4. or perhaps Colonsay.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 143. The saga also states that Gilli was married to Sigurðr's sister, Hvarflǫð.Macniven (2006) p. 77; Raven (2005) p. 140; Williams, G (2004) p. 96; Woolf (2000) p. 162 n. 76; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 127, 143; Jennings (1994) p. 225; Johnston (1991) p. 114; Dasent (1967) pp. 160–163 ch. 88; Anderson (1922a) pp. 502–503; Ásmundarson (1910) pp. 209–213 ch. 89; Jónsson (1908) pp. 199–203 ch. 89; Vigfusson (1887) p. 324 ch. 90, 324 n. 5. This marital alliance appears to further evince the southward extension of Sigurðr's influence.Crawford (2004). This union, along with the record of apparent amiable dealings with Sigurðr's associates, suggests that Gilli and Sigurðr indeed enjoyed close relations.Jennings (1994) p. 225. The earl's family was clearly not averse to marrying into native dynasties, as Sigurðr's own mother was the daughter of an Irish king, whilst his wife was the daughter of a Scottish king.Crawford (2004); Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 63, 63–64 n. 18. In fact, the aforesaid sources appear to indicate that Gilli operated in the Hebrides as a tributary earl to his brother-in-law.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 220–221; Williams, G (2004) p. 96; Crawford (1997) p. 66; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 142; Jennings (1994) p. 225; Johnston (1991) p. 18. Certainly, Eyrbyggja saga states that Sigurðr left menn ("agents") in the Hebrides to collect tax from Mann,Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Thomson (2008) p. 61; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 127, 127 n. 211; Johnston (1991) p. 248; Anderson (1922a) p. 528; Gering (1897) p. 103 ch. 29; Morris; Magnússon (1892) p. 71 ch. 29. whilst Orkneyinga saga reveals that, at a later period in time, Sigurðr's son and successor, Þórfinnr Sigurðarson, Earl of Orkney, tasked a member of his own wife's family, Kálfr Árnason, to impose Orcadian authority in the Isles.Crawford (2013) ch. 3; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 130; Johnston (1991) p. 19; Vigfusson (1887) pp. 49–50 ch. 32; Anderson; Hjaltalin; Goudie (1873) pp. 35–36 ch. 16.

Clontarf, Gilla Ciaráin, and Conamal/Conmáel

By the end of the first decade of the eleventh century, the principal ruler in Ireland was Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, High King of Ireland.Jaski (2005). Brian's daughter, Sláine, was married to Sitriuc mac Amlaíb, King of Dublin, whilst the latter's mother, Gormlaith ingen Murchada was a former wife of Brian.Jaski (2005); Hudson, B (2002) p. 242. In 1013, Sitriuc allied himself to Brian's enemies, and revolted against Brian's overlordship.Hudson, B (2002) p. 242. Although Brian proceeded to lay siege to Dublin—the only Viking town that participated in the revolt against his supremacy—Sitriuc retained possession of the settlement, and Brian retired to Munster for Christmas.Hudson, B (2002) p. 242; Lydon (2005) p. 35.