Ímar mac Arailt

Ímar mac Arailt (died 1054) was an eleventh-century ruler of the Kingdom of Dublin and perhaps the Kingdom of the Isles. He was the son of a man named Aralt, and appears to have been a grandson of Amlaíb Cuarán, King of Northumbria and Dublin. Such a relationship would have meant that Ímar was a member of the Uí Ímair, and that he was a nephew of Amlaíb Cuarán's son, Sitriuc mac Amlaíb, King of Dublin, a man driven from Dublin by Echmarcach mac Ragnaill in 1036.

Ímar's reign in Dublin spanned at least eight years, from 1038 to 1046. Although he began by seizing the kingship from Echmarcach in 1038, he eventually lost it to him in 1046. As king, Ímar is recorded to have overseen military operations throughout Ireland, and seems to have actively assisted the family of Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig, King of Gwynedd overseas in Wales. After Echmarcach's final expulsion from Dublin 1052, Ímar may well have been reinstalled as King of Dublin by Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó, King of Leinster. Whatever the case, Ímar died in 1054. He may have been an ancestor or close kinsman of Gofraid Crobán, King of Dublin and the Isles, the progenitor of a family that ruled in the Isles until the mid thirteenth century.

Familial background

Ímar was probably the son of Aralt mac Amlaíb,Hudson, BT (2005) p. 171; Duffy (2004a); Duffy (1992) pp. 96, 106. a man whose death at the Battle of Glenn Máma is recorded by the seventeenth-century texts Annals of Clonmacnoise and Annals of the Four Masters, the fifteenth- to sixteenth-century Annals of Ulster, and the twelfth-century Chronicon Scotorum.Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 998.11; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 998.11; Chronicon Scotorum (2012) § 999; The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 999.8; Chronicon Scotorum (2010) § 999; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 999.8; Downham (2007) pp. 29 fig. 6, 58, 245; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 228 n. 29; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 171; MacShamhráin (2005) p. 9; Duffy (2002) p. 56 n. 9; MacShamhráin (2001) p. 61; Oram (2000) p. 46 n. 81; Murphy (1896) p. 164. If this identification is correct, Ímar's paternal grandfather would have been Amlaíb Cuarán, King of Northumbria and Dublin,McDonald (2019) p. 22; Downham (2007) pp. 29 fig. 6, 241–243, 245; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 171; Duffy (2004a). and a paternal uncle of Ímar would have been Sitriuc mac Amlaíb, King of Dublin.Downham (2007) pp. 29 fig. 6, 58, 245; Duffy (2006) p. 60; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 228; Hudson, BT (2005) pp. 83 n. 3, 135; Duffy (2002) pp. 55–56; Oram (2000) pp. 16, 46 n. 81; McDonald (1997) p. 33; Thornton (1996) p. 89; Duffy (1993) p. 35; Duffy (1992) pp. 96, 96 n. 14, 106.

Struggle for Dublin

Ímar's probable uncle, Sitriuc, ruled Dublin for almost fifty years between 989 and 1036.Connon (2005). There is reason to suspect that the latter's realm included Mann by the second or third decade of the eleventh century.Duffy (2006) p. 54; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 229–230; Duffy (1992) p. 98. His reign in Dublin was finally put to an end by Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, who drove Sitriuc from the coastal town and claimed the kingship for himself.Connon (2005); Downham (2004) pp. 64–65; Etchingham (2001) pp. 157–158; Duffy (1997) p. 38. Previously, Sitriuc seems to have been closely aligned with Knútr Sveinnsson, ruler of the kingdoms of England, Denmark, and Norway.Lawson (2013); Hudson, BT (2005) pp. 120–125; Insley (2005); Downham (2004) pp. 63–64; Hudson, BT (2004a); Oram (2000) pp. 31, 34; Hudson, B (1994); Lawson (1993) pp. 106, 185. Knútr's apparent authority in the Irish Sea region, coupled with Sitriuc's seemingly close connections with him, could account for the remarkable security enjoyed by Sitriuc during Knútr's reign.Hudson, BT (2005) pp. 119–127; Insley (2005). It is possible that Echmarcach had been bound from taking action against Sitriuc whilst Knútr held power,Downham (2004) pp. 64–65. and that the confusion caused by the latter's death in 1035 enabled Echmarcach to exploit the situation and seize control of the Irish Sea region.Woolf (2007) p. 246. Although there is no direct evidence that Echmarcach controlled Mann by this date, Sitriuc does not appear to have taken refuge on the island after his expulsion from Dublin. This seems to suggest that the island was outside Sitriuc's possession, and may indicate that Mann had fallen into the hands of Echmarcach sometime before.Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 229–231. In fact, it is possible that Echmarcach used the island to launch his takeover of Dublin.Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 229–231; Oram (2000) pp. 16–17.

Echmarcach's hold on Dublin was short-lived as the fourteenth-century Annals of Tigernach records that Ímar replaced him as King of Dublin in 1038.The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1038.1; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1038.1; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 135; Oram (2000) p. 16; Duffy (1992) p. 96; Anderson (1922a) pp. 590–592 n. 2. This annal-entry has been interpreted to indicate that Ímar drove Echmarcach from the kingship.Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 228; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 135; Oram (2000) p. 16. There is reason to suspect that Þórfinnr Sigurðarson, Earl of Orkney extended his presence into the Isles and the Irish Sea region at about this period.Hudson, BT (2005) p. 135. The evidence of Þórfinnr's power in the Isles could suggest that he possessed an active interest in the ongoing struggle over the Dublin kingship.Byrne (2008) p. 897. In fact, Þórfinnr's predatory operations in the Irish Sea region may have contributed to Echmarcach's loss of Dublin in 1038.

It is conceivable that Ímar received some form of support from Knútr's son and successor in Britain, Haraldr Knútsson, King of England. The latter was certainly in power when Ímar replaced Echmarcach, and an association between Ímar and Haraldr could explain why the Annals of Ulster reports the latter's death two years later.The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1040.6; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1040.6; Hudson, BT (2005) pp. 135–136. Ímar's reign lasted about eight years,Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1046.8; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 228; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 137; Oram (2000) p. 16; Duffy (1992) p. 96; Anderson (1922a) pp. 590–592 n. 2. and one of his first royal acts appears to have been the invasion of Rathlin Island within the year.Hudson, BT (2005) p. 136. The fact that he proceeded to campaign in the North Channel could indicate that Echmarcach had held power in this region before his acquisition of Mann and Dublin.Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 229; Oram (2000) p. 16.

In 1044, the Annals of Tigernach records that Ímar penetrated into the domain of the Uí Fhíachrach Arda Sratha and killed their chief. The annal-entry also indicates that Ímar stormed the church of Armagh, and burned (the "Shrine of Patrick") in the attack.Erskine (2012) pp. 214–215; The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1044.4; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1044.4; Hudson, BT (2005) pp. 136, 171; Ryan (1949) p. 76; Crawford (1923) p. 80. The following year, he again invaded Rathlin Island, and his subsequent slaughter of three hundred noblemen of the Ulaid, including a certain heir apparent named Ragnall Ua Eochada, is documented by the Annals of Clonmacnoise, the Annals of Inisfallen, the Annals of Tigernach, and the Annals of the Four Masters.Duffy (2006) p. 55; Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1045.12; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1045.12; Annals of Inisfallen (2010) § 1045.5; The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1045.3; Annals of Inisfallen (2008) § 1045.5; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1045.3; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 136; Duffy (2002) p. 53; Duffy (1995) p. 391; Duffy (1993) p. 234; Duffy (1992) p. 98, 98 n. 29; Ryan (1949) p. 76; Murphy (1896) p. 177. This remarkable action may indicate that the Dubliners and Ulaid were battling for control of Rathlin Island. If so, it could be evidence that Ímar enjoyed the possession of Mann by this date. The domain of the Ulaid is certainly the closest Irish territory to Mann,Duffy (2002) p. 53. and the control of the Manx fleet could account for the Dubliner's ability to challenge the Ulaid.Duffy (2006) p. 55. Whatever the case, within the year Niall mac Eochada, King of Ulaid is recorded to have attacked Fine GallThe Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1045.11; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1045.11; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 136.—Dublin's agriculturally-rich northern hinterlandDuffy (2017); Downham (2014) p. 19; Downham (2013) p. 158; Downham (2005); Downham (2005); Valante (1998–1999) p. 246, 246 n. 16; Holm (2000) pp. 254–255.—in what may have been a retaliatory raid.

The following year, the Annals of Tigernach states that Echmarcach succeeded Ímar.The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1046.6; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1046.6; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 228; Hudson, BT (2005) p. 137; Duffy (1992) p. 96; Anderson (1922a) pp. 590–592 n. 2. The Annals of the Four Masters specifies that Ímar was driven from the kingship by Echmarcach, who was then elected king by the Dubliners. After this point in Ímar's life, all that is known for certain is that he died in 1054,Hudson, BT (2005) p. 137. as recorded by the Annals of Ulster and the sixteenth-century Annals of Loch Cé.The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1054.1; Annals of Loch Cé (2008) § 1054.1; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1054.1; Duffy (1992) p. 97; Anderson (1922a) pp. 590–592 n. 2. Nevertheless, since these sources style Ímar in Gaelic rí Gall ("king of the foreigners"), there may be evidence to suggest that, when Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó, King of Leinster drove Echmarcach from Dublin in 1052, Diarmait reinstalled Ímar as king.Duffy (1992) p. 97.

After Ímar's death, Diarmait appears to have appointed his own son, Murchad, control of Dublin later that decade, as the Annals of the Four Masters accords him the title tigherna Gall, meaning "lord of the foreigners" in 1059.Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1059.20; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1059.20; Duffy (2002) p. 54, 54 n. 3; Duffy (1993) p. 32, 32 n. 5; Duffy (1992) pp. 99–100, 100 n. 34. In 1061, Murchad invaded Mann and seems to have overthrown Echmarcach.Hudson, B (2005); Duffy (2002) p. 54; Duffy (1997) p. 37; Duffy (1993) pp. 32–33; Duffy (1992) p. 100; Candon (1988) p. 402; Anderson (1922a) pp. 590–592 n. 2. The record of Murchad's actions against Echmarcach could indicate that the latter had seated himself on the island after his expulsion from Dublin.Byrne (2008) pp. 864, 892; Duffy (2006) pp. 55–56; Etchingham (2001) p. 154; Duffy (1993) pp. 32–33; Duffy (1992) p. 100. Another possibility is that Echmarcach had only reestablished himself as king in the Isles after Ímar's death in 1054.Candon (1988) p. 402. Whatever the case, both Diarmait and Murchad were dead by 1072, and the Annals of Tigernach describes Diarmait on his obituary as King of the Isles (rí Innsi Gall, literally "king of the isles of the foreigners"), a declaration which seems to indicate that, by the eleventh century at least, the kingship of the Isles was contingent upon control of Mann.The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1072.1; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1072.1; Duffy (2002) pp. 53–54; Duffy (1993) p. 33.

Involvement in Wales

The principal Welsh monarch during Ímar's reign was Gruffudd ap Llywelyn. One of the latter's main rivals was Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig, King of Gwynedd, a man who had killed Gruffudd's father in 1023, and thenceforth ruled Gwynedd until his own demise in 1039.Pryce (2004); Snyder (2003) p. 182. Gruffudd himself may have been responsible for Iago's slaying, and certainly succeeded to the kingship of Gwynedd after his death.Hudson, BT (2005) p. 136; Pryce (2004); Walker (2004); Snyder (2003) p. 182. It was likely in the context of Iago's fall and this resulting regime change that the latter's son, Cynan, fled overseas and sought refuge in Dublin.Duffy (2009) p. 290; Downham (2004) p. 66; Duffy (2004b) p. 104; Duffy (1997) p. 38.