These were the people of mixed Norse and Gaelic ancestry, the descendants of the Vikings that mixed with the Gaels and adopted their language and culture. But as the time progressed, and to the logical minority of the Norsemen, inter-marrying soon occurred, and the Norsemen were quick to assimilate into their host nation.Īfter a few generations, a new distinct group of people emerged - the so-called Norse-Gaels. Gaelic slaves were considered as thralls, and had little to no rights. They were the poor and oppressed, and the Norsemen often raided the interior capturing slaves. ( Sémhur (left) / Yorkshirian (right) / CC BY-SA 3.0)īut in these power struggles between the Norsemen, the Gaelic natives of both Ireland and Scotland were the ones who suffered. Regions of Scotland (left), Ireland (right) and Man (left) settled by the Norse. This always warranted intervention from the Norse Earls of Orkney. Throughout the history of this kingdom, which lasted up until the 13th century, the Norsemen were in conflict with the Kingdom of Dublin - that was also established by Norsemen. The Norsemen dominated the Irish Sea and the coastlines of both Ireland and Scotland. This Kingdom of the Isles consisted of the Hebrides, the islands of the Firth of Clyde, and the Isle of Man. To them, it was known as the Suðreyjar, or “Southern Islands”, a term that helped them distinguish them from the “Northern Islands” - Shetland and Orkney Islands, which they also ruled. In the 9th century they established the Kingdom of the Isles. In Scotland, the Norsemen had a strong foothold. With the establishment of the Danelaw, their influence and superiority became evident, and their threat was undeniable. But nonetheless, the Vikings became influential in all of the British Isles and Ireland from the 8th century. For the large part, these Norsemen didn’t come peacefully. The lives of its Gaelic natives were faced with sudden change - as Norse immigrants became increasingly present on their shores. The Norse-Gael Gallowglass Mercenariesīut before we talk more about the Gallowglass mercenaries, we need to acquaint ourselves with the history of Ireland and Scotland, from the early 9th century and onwards. Today we are travelling to the gritty and overcast early Middle Ages in Ireland and the Hebrides of Scotland, where in the mist and grey weather we will discover - the Gallowglass. Some of these mercenaries arose in Scotland, Ireland, and England and were called the Gallowglass.ĭescendants of Viking settlers and native Gaels, they arose to become dependable and mighty warriors, relying on the military prowess of their Norse ancestors to become a dominant fighting force in the British and Irish Isles. This gave rise to mercenaries - warrior elites that excelled in the craft of bloodshed. Wars and battles depended on the ability of the soldiers, and a man who was skilled with a sword was a sought-after commodity. The turbulent history of medieval Europe always called for abled and skilled warriors.
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