Godred Crovan, known in Gaelic as Gofraid Croban, Gofraid Meranach, and Gofraid Meranach, was a Norse-Gaelic ruler of the kingdoms of Dublin and the Isles.
16 Facts About Godred Crovan
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Godred Crovan appears to have drawn his power from the Hebrides; and archaeological evidence from Mann reveals that, in comparison to the decades previous to his takeover, the island seems to have enjoyed a period of relative peace.
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When Godred Crovan is first noted by the Latin Chronicle of Mann, he is accorded the epithet "" or "".
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Godred Crovan seems to have spent his early career as a mercenary of sorts.
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At any rate, it was in the aftermath of this defeat that the chronicle first notes Godred Crovan: stating that, following his flight from the battle, Godred Crovan sought sanctuary from Gofraid mac Sitriuc, and was honourably received by him.
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Godred Crovan later sheltered Harold's sons following the eventual English defeat at the hands of the Normans, and further gave the Godwinsons military assistance in their insurrections against the new Norman regime in 1068 and 1069.
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Possibly in about 1075, or 1079, the chronicle reveals that Godred Crovan succeeded in conquering Mann following three sea-borne invasions.
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Godred Crovan was nearing the height of his own power, and it is unclear if the Meic Taidc enjoyed more amiable relations with the Ulaid than Muirchertach himself.
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The Annals of Inisfallen appears to indicate that warfare between Muirchertach and Godred Crovan was wrought throughout the year.
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The Chronicle of Mann, which records Godred Crovan's death, reveals that he died on Islay.
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Furthermore, the chronicle itself states that Godred Crovan was succeeded by his eldest son, Lagmann.
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The fact that Historia Gruffud vab Kenan notes that Gruffudd travelled into the Isles to obtain military assistance from Gothrei could be evidence that Godred Crovan's headquarters was located there.
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Somairle eventually forced his brother-in-law from power, and ruled the entire kingdom for almost a decade before the Godred Crovan dynasty regained control of their permanently partitioned domain.
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That being said, Godred Crovan is possibly the historical prototype of the celebrated King Orry of Manx folklore.
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King Orry, and thus Godred Crovan himself, is seemingly referred to in Manx legislation dating to the early fifteenth century, as the term "in King Orryes Days" was recorded at the 1422 sitting of Tynwald.
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The Gaelic folk song Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrobhain, sometimes called Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrobhain and Godred Crovan's Galley, was composed by Duncan Johnston, and released in part one of his 1938 book Cronan nan Tonn.