|
Ascall mac Ragnaill meic Torcaill (died 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 (died 1146), a man who may well have ruled as King of Dublin.〔Downham (2013) p. 178; Downham (2007) p. 43 illus. 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 illus. 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 (died 1171). The latter's ultimate overking, however, was Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, King of Cenél nEógain (died 1166).〔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 ''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 (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).〕 In fact, this military campaign may have been undertaken to counter the Dubliners' attempt to install Gofraid mac Amlaíb, King of the Isles (died 1187) to the kingship of Dublin, as recounted by the ''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 aforesaid episode concerning Gofraid.〔Downham (2013) pp. 167–168; Downham (2007) pp. 40–41.〕 Mac Murchada's considerable authority in Dublin at this point is apparent through 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 were almost certainly conducted under Mac Murchada's authority.〔Byrne (2008b) p. 23; Duffy (2007) p. 137; Crooks (2005) p. 301; Flanagan (2005b) p. 211; Flanagan (2004c); Duffy (1992) p. 129.〕 The former campaign, recorded by ''Brut y Tywysogion'' and ''Brenhinedd y Saesson'', concerned naval manoeuvres off Wales, in the service of Henry II, King of England (died 1189).〔Downham (2013) p. 173, n. 96; Byrne (2008b) p. 23; Downham (2007) p. 45; Duffy (2007) p. 137; Crooks (2005) p. 301; Doherty (2005) p. 353; Flanagan (2005b) p. 211; Flanagan (2004c); Duffy (1992) p. 129; Latimer (1989) p. 537, 537 n. 72; Williams Ab Ithel (1860) pp. 202–203.〕 The latter campaign, recorded by the ''Annals of Ulster'', consisted of involvement in the ill-fated invasion of mainland Scotland, launched by Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, King of the Isles (died 1164).〔''The Annals of Ulster'' (2012) § 1164.4; Oram (2011) p. 128; Byrne (2008b) p. 23; ''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008) § 1164.4; Doherty (2005) p. 352; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 245; McDonald (1997) p. 67.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ascall mac Ragnaill」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|