Signage Project – Godred Crovan
Historical Signage Project
The Viking Warrior Godred Crovan
The great Viking warrior Godred Crovan is said to be buried here at Carragh Bhan, under the large standing stone.
Godred Crovan defeats the Dragon. Image from Peggy Earl’s ‘Tales of Islay – Fact and Folklore
Islay legend tells that Crovan destroyed a great dragon which was terrorising the island. He anchored his ship in Loch Indaal and laid a path of spiked barrels to the shore. Leaving three horses at intervals behind him, he rode to the dragon’s lair at Imiraconard, near Bridgend. Crovan threw a spear at the dragon before galloping off. It pursued him but slowed to devour the horses and he was able to reach his ship. Continuing its chase, the dragon was impaled on the barrels.
Crovan’s fearsome reputation enabled him to raise enough men to sail south and around 1077, following two failed attempts, he won control of the Isle of Man in battle. Arriving ashore in darkness he hid 300 warriors in nearby woods. Once battle was under-way the men emerged, defeating the Manx forces from the rear. Following his victory Crovan became known as ‘King Orry’ by the Manx. His descendants ruled there until 1265.
He also invaded Ireland in the early 1090s, ruling Dublin for several years and controlling trade routes through the Irish Sea.
In 1095 Godred Crovan succumbed to a plague and died on Islay.
Following his death Crovan’s extensive kingdom, which encompassed the Scottish Western Isles and south to the Isle of Man, transferred to his son Olaf the Red and then to his grandson Godred the Black.
In 1140 Crovan’s granddaughter Ragnhild married Somerled, Earl of Argyll (to whom Godred the Black ceded the Southern Hebrides, and the peninsula of Kintyre in 1156) and their descendants formed the ancient dynasty of the Lord of the Isles, ruling the west coast well into the 15th century.
An Gaisgeach Lochlannach, Godred Crovan.
Tha e air aithris gu bheil an gaisgeach mòr Lochlannach, Godred Crovan, air a thiodhlacadh an seo aig a’ Charraigh Bhàin fon tursa mhòr.
Bha Crovan a’ sabaid còmhla ris an Rìgh Lochlannach, Harald Hardrada, ann am blàr Drochaid Stamford ann an 1066. Nuair a chaidh an ruaigeadh le Rìgh Harold Shasainn agus Hardrada a mharbhadh, fhuair Crovan air teicheadh a dh’Ìle.
Godred Crovan as the ruler of the Isle of Man. Reproduced courtesy of Isle of Man Post Office, www.iomstamps.com
Tha seann-sgeul à Ìle ag innse gun do chuir Crovan às do dhràgon mòr a bha a’ cur oillt air an eilean. Dh’acraich e a bhàta ann an Loch an Dàil agus thog e frith-rathad sìos chun a’ chladaich. A’ fàgail trì eich aig diofar amannan air a chùlaibh, mharcaich e a-mach gu saobhaidh an dràgoin aig Iomair a’ Chòmhnaird, faisg air Beul an Àtha. Thilg Crovan sleagh air an dràgon agus rinn e às. Lean an dràgon e ach stad e gus na h-eich ithe agus mar sin fhuair Crovan air am bàta a ruighinn. A’ leantainn às a dhèidh, chaidh an dràgon a shàthadh leis na spìcean air na baraillean.
Thug cliù eagalach Crovan comas dha gu leòr fhear a thogail gus seòladh gu deas, agus timcheall air 1077 a’ leantainn air dà oidhirp nach do shoirbhich dha, choisinn e smachd air Eilean Mhanainn ann am blàr. A’ ruighinn tìr anns an dorchadas, chuir e 300 gaisgeach air falach sna coilltean a bha ri làimh. Aon uair ’s gun robh am blàr fo sheòl, nochd na fir agus chuir iad ruaig air na feachdan Manainneach bhon chùl. A’ leantainn air a bhuaidh, chaidh Crovan aithneachadh leis na Manainnich mar ‘Rìgh Orry’, agus bha a shliochd a’ riaghladh an sin gu 1265.
Thug e ionnsaigh air Èirinn cuideachd tràth sna 1090an, a’ riaghladh Bhaile Átha Cliath fad grunn bhliadhnaichean agus a’ cumail smachd air na slighean malairt tro Shruth na Maoile.
Ann an 1095, ghèill Godred Crovan do phlàigh agus bhàsaich e ann an Ìle.
A’ leantainn a bhàis, chaidh rìoghalachd farsaing Crovan, a bha a’ gabhail a-steach na h-Eileanan an Iar ann an Alba agus deas gu Eilean Mhanainn, gu a mhac Olaf Ruadh agus an uair sin chun an ogha aige, Godred Dubh.
Ann an 1140, phòs Ragnhild an t-ogha nighinn aig Crovan, Somhairle Iarla Earra-Ghàidheal (do na ghèill Godred Dubh ceann a deas Innse Gall, agus leth-innis Chinn Tìre ann an 1156) agus chruthaich an sliochd rìoghrachas àrsaidh Tighearna nan Eilean, a’ riaghladh a’ chosta an iar fada steach don 15mh linn.