Harald Sigtryggsson
| Harald Sigtryggsson | |
|---|---|
| King of Limerick | |
| Reign | 937–940 |
| Predecessor | Olaf Scabby-head |
| Successor | Ivar of Limerick |
| Died | 940 Connacht |
| Issue |
Gofraid mac Arailt (possibly) Maccus mac Arailt (possibly) |
| Dynasty | Uí Ímair |
| Father | Sitric Cáech |
| Mother | Edith of Polesworth (possibly) |
Harald Sigtryggsson (Old Irish: Aralt mac Sitric; Old Norse: Haraldr, died 940) was a Viking leader who ruled Limerick in the early 10th century. He was the son of Sitric Cáech and great-grandson of Ímar, making him one of the Uí Ímair. He was installed as king of Limerick following the capture of the previous king Olaf Scabby-head by Harald's cousin Olaf Guthfrithson, king of Dublin, during a battle at Lough Ree in 937. Harald died in 940 and was ultimately succeeded by Ivar of Limerick.
The main historical sources for this period are the Norse sagas and the Irish annals. Some of the annals, such as the Annals of Ulster, are believed to be contemporary accounts, whereas the sagas were written down at dates much later than the events they describe and are considered far less reliable. A few of the annals such as the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland and the Annals of the Four Masters were also complied at later dates, in part from more contemporary material and in part from fragments of sagas. According to Downham: "apart from these additions [of saga fragments], Irish chronicles are considered by scholars to be largely accurate records, albeit partisan in their presentation of events".
In the mid-930s Olaf Scabby-head was king of Limerick and Olaf Guthfrithson was king of Dublin. At that time Olaf Scabby-head had recently led successful raids throughout Ireland and Olaf Guthfrithson required similar successes to impose his own authority. He achieved this by raiding the royal centres of Lagore and Knowth in Brega in 935. He followed this up the following year by sacking the monastery at Clonmacnoise near Limerick, but this incursion into Limerick's zone of influence brought the two Viking kings into conflict. The decisive battle came in 937 when the Limerick fleet was crushed on Lough Ree and Olaf Scabby-head was taken prisoner. This victory meant that all the Norse settlements in Ireland were now under Olaf Guthfrithson's control, and he installed his cousin Harald Sigtryggsson as king in Limerick.
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