Thorgest
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Thorgest (also listed as: Turgeis, Thorgisl, Thorgils) first came to Ireland with a large fleet of Viking ships from Norway in 839. Thorgest invaded and set up his headquarters in Armagh. He took control of the area and all foreigners by first removing the bishop from the local monastery and declaring himself the sovereign ruler of the region.
There are several stories about the actions Thorgest took when he invaded Ireland. One legend about Thorgest, a Pagan, mentions that he destroyed the religious relics of Saint Patrick that were kept in the monastery at Armagh. Another tells of his attack on the monastery Clonmacnoise, which is located along the river Shannon in County Offaly. The Shannon was a very popular route for invading Vikings to take. Thorgest's wife, Ota (sometimes listed as 'Aud') was also a Pagan and is said to have been a priestess who chanted spells, or oracles, upon the altar at Clonmacnoise.
The Annals of Clonmacnoise list Thorgest responsible for burning the monastery in 842. He also destroyed monasteries and churches in Clonfert, Tyrdaglasee, and Lothta. Unlike earlier Vikings, Thorgest sought political control of Ireland in addition to his plundering.
The attacks of Thorgest and other Vikings are also described in the 12th century written account, The War of the Irish with the Foreigners (Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh). These accounts are believed to be exaggerated to build up the legend of Brian Boru who was portrayed as defending Ireland against the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.
Thogest died in 845 A.D. when he was taken prisoner and later drowned in Lough Owel (Loch Uair), County Westmeath, by Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid.
[edit] References
- Connolly, S.J. ed. The Oxford Companion to Irish History . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Martin, F.X., and T.W. Moody. The Course of Irish History . Niwot (Colorado): Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1994.
- McCullough, David Willis. Wars of the Irish Kings . New York: Crown Publishers, 2000.
- Sawyer, P.H. Kings And Vikings . London and New York: Routledge, 1982.
- Simpson, Jacqueline. Everyday Life in the Viking Age . New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1967.
