The The Orkneyinga Saga on Iona
The Orkneyinga Saga > For > And Caithness.
- attestation: Norse raiders began attacking Irish coasts in 795, plundered Iona twice (802 and 806, killing 68 monks in the latter raid), and established a Norse kingdom at Armagh.
"The Irish Annals and the Welsh Chronicles agree in representing the first inroads of the Norsemen on the Irish coasts as having commenced in the year 795. In 798 they plundered Inispatrick of Man and the Hebrides; in 802, and again in 806, they ravaged Iona, slaying in the latter year sixty-eight of the monastic family there. In 807 they established themselves on the mainland of Ireland; and a few years afterwards we find a Norseman making Armagh the capital of his kingdom."
The Orkneyinga Saga > part large and all well equipped, was divided into two squadrons, one of > A.D.
- attestation: The Norse Vikings first appeared in the Western Seas in 795, plundering the Isle of Rachrin, and in 798 invaded the Isle of Man and burned Inispatrick.
"795. First appearance of the Norse Vikings in the Western Seas. They plunder the Isle of Rachrin.
- Invasion of the Isle of Man by the Norsemen. Inispatrick burned."
- attestation: Iona (Columbkill) was burned by the Norsemen in 802 and plundered again in 806 when sixty-eight monks of the monastery were slain.
"802. I Columbkill burned by the Norsemen.
- I Columbkill again plundered by the Norsemen, and sixty-eight men of the monastery slain."