The Vikings of Strangford Lough and The death of Magnus Barelegs 1103A.D.
By Albert William Kelly Colmer, Historian
In the folk-lore of Strangford Lough, poetically named as ‘Loch Cuan of the Curraghs’ the story is told in the Metrical Dindshenchas, that the Irish sea god Manannan Mac Lir, in a grief-induced rage over the killing of his son, let forth an outburst of water which formed three Irish sea Lough, Waterford, Dundrum Bay and Strangford Lough.
Again in the Annals of the Four Masters it is also recorded. ‘An inundation of the sea over the land of Brena, in this year (2546 AD), and this is named, Loch Cuan.’ The Irish name of Loch Cuan meaning ‘Loch of the Harbour.’ This name survived as late as the mid – 18th Century, before the now used Viking name ‘Strangford,’ translated the ‘wind inlet,’ became established.
The study of the annals, tell of the Viking dominance over the Strangford Lough area, which stretched over a 200 year period, from the 9th to the 11th Century, and on to the Scandinavian stage, when an incident of near international proportions occurred, when Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway, nicknamed ‘Barelegs’ was killed in battle near Downpatrick in the year 1103
Magnus (Olavsson) Berrfǿtt (Barelegs)
King Magnus reigned as King of Norway from 1093 to his untimely death in 1103, described as ambitious, his military campaigns were sought in Sweden, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man and along the eastern coastline of Ireland. He was described as being very tall with bright yellow hair and bright blue eyes. His grandfather was Harald Hardrata, the Viking warrior king who died at the battle of Stamford Bridge, fighting the English in 1066, and his father was Olaf the Peaceful.
Magnus was born in 1073. He became king on the death of his father, King Olaf (The Peaceful) in 1093. He was the grandson of Harald Hardarda, the warrior King who died at Stampford Bridge while attempting to conquer England in 1066. Magnus was the last of the Norse Kings of the Irish Sea. At first Magnus jointly ruled Norway with his cousin Hakon, however their joint reign was short and Hakon died only a year later, leaving Magnus sole ruler of Norway.
Magnus set out on an expedition to bring his widespread empire under control - it was on his return that the nick name 'Barelegs' came into being. The story goes that Magnus was greatly taken with the clothing worn by the men of the Hebrides. At that time men would have worn long tunics which would have reached the ankle. He attracted a lot of attention walking round in Bergen in tunics which barely reached the knees - a novel sight in the late eleventh century Norway.
In 1098, Magnus successfully brought under Norse control the Viking settlements in Orkneys, the Western Isles and the Isle of Man, where in the same year he built his hall on St. Patrick's Isle near Peel, and from there he set his final course for Ireland.
Having formed an alliance in 1102 with Muirchertach O'Brien, King of Ireland (1086 - 1119), the arrangement being formalised by the marriage of Siguard the 12 year old son of Magnus to O'Briens' 5 year old daughter, Biadmaynia. The deal was for Magnus to supply man power to O'Brien to assist him in his on going local wars, and in return Magnus was to receive cattle, to provide much needed provisions for his homeward to Norway.
Having sailed his long boats in from Strangford Lough, up the river Quoile, and beaching them on Plague Island to the present day Down Cathedral along the Ballyduggan Road, Magnus impatiently waited for the cattle to arrive on the agreed day St. Bartholomew's Day, 23rd August 1103. Evening came and no cattle had arrived, against the advice of his commander Eyvind Elbow he decided next morning to leave the safety of his ship and seek out the missing cattle, believing that O'Brien had broken his promise.
Marching along the side of the tidal marshes he came to a high hill, possible to site where Dundrum Castle now stands, looking west-wards he saw a great dust cloud, the cattle were on their way and soon he and his men would homeward bound. Perhaps in a joyous mood and letting their guard slip, suddenly 'the trees came alive,' they had been ambushed, by the 'men of Ulster.' In the ensuring battle that raged across the mud flats of the Quoile Estuary, now in total confusion, the Vikings, led by Magnus were slaughtered. Some of the Vikings made it back to their boats, leaving King Magnus and a few of his loyal guard to fight to the death. The Norse King receiving a javelin thrust through his body and then struck in the neck with an axe, he died. However his famous sword 'Legbiter,' was retrieved and brought home to Norway, but the remains of its Loyal Master, and those of his loyal guard lie in a common grave on the marshes of Down.King Magnus Barefoot, nicknamed 'Barelegs,' said, "That Kings are made for honour not for long life," he was right, for he was nearly thirty years of age when he died.