Godfred Haraldsson (abt. 935 - 989)

Born about 0935 in Limerick, Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 0989 at about age 54 in Western Isles, Strathclyde, Scotland

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Biography

'In 987 Godfrey Haroldsson captured 2000 men of Anglesey and ravaged the island.' ^[1]

Gofraid mac Arailt (in Old Norse Guðrøðr Haraldsson), was a Scandinavian or Norse-Gael sea lord. He and his brother Maccus were active in the lands around the Irish Sea in the 970s and 980s. Their father Aralt or Harald is usually identified with the Aralt mac Sitric, king of Norse-Gael Limerick, who was killed in Connacht in 940. This identification would make Maccus and Gofraid nephews of Amlaíb Cuarán, the King of Dublin. ^{[2] [3]} However, Baldwin comments that 'Magnus' as a son of Harald is only found in late sources, perhaps error for 'Mac Arailt' in the earlier sources. ^[4] Though, we do have the information that it was thought to be Earl Maccus (Macone) who killed Eirik Blodøks Haraldsson on Stainmore in 954. There was a Maccus de Maccuswell active in the Boarder Country at this time, from whom the Maxwells take their name. ^[5]

A genealogy in GenealogyMedieval  : The Kings of the Isle of Man has been compiled by Stewart Baldwin, who notes that the Harald who was father of Godred is not identified in the primary sources, but the king of Limerick of that name seems like the most likely individual.

Harald (Aralt) king of Limerick d: 940

is the father of -

Godred (Goffraid) king of the Isles d: 989

is the father of -

Reginald (Ragnall) king of the Isles d: 1004/5

& of Lagmann king of the isles c:1014; whose son Olaf (Amlaib) d: 1014 battle of Clontarf

It is thought that Godfrey was married to Ragnhild, a daughter of King Harald the Ruthless of Norway. ^[6]

The Annals of Ulster record that Gothfrith son of Aralt, king of Inse Gall (Hebrides), was killed in Dál Riata (Ulster & Argyll), in the year 989. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Ancient Wales Studies : MAREDUDD ap OWAIN, KING of DEHEUBARTH by Darrell Wolcott
2. ↑ "the men of Munster, and Macca Cuinn, with the foreigners of Port-Lairge (Waterford) went raiding in Meath - Celt: Annals of the Four Masters - M937.14
3. ↑ Wikipedia - Gofraid Mac Arailt
4. ↑ GenealogyMedieval  : The Kings of the Isle of Man compiled by Stewart Baldwin
5. ↑ Wikipedia - Eric Bloodaxe quotes the Latin text of the North Sagas - Morte Rex Eilricus (copied from the annals of the lost York Chronicles) was killed by Earl Maccus ... at the Battle of Steinmor ...
6. ↑ Kings of Man pdf by John K Qualtrough
7. ↑ Celt: The Annals of Ulster : U989.4 "Gothfrith son of Aralt, king of Inse Gall, was killed in Dál Riata"

See also:

• Viking Pirates and Christian Princes: Dynasty, Religion and Empire in the North Atlantic by Benjamin T. Hudson; tells the story of the dynasties of Olaf Cuaran (the Olafssons) and Godfrey Haraldsson (the Haraldssons); two important families who rose to power during the second age of Viking expansion in the North Atlantic.
• Wikipedia - Gofraid mac Arailt

Acknowledgements

• This person was created on 12 September 2010 through the import of 104-B.ged.
• This profile named Godred 1 Haraldson (0980-1040), was imported from Ancestry with the parents Harald I Sigtryggrsson (Sigtryggrsson-2) and Edgyth Northumbria (UNKNOWN-55462)