1. Overview
Bárid mac Ímair (died 881), also known as Báraid or Bardur Ivarsson (BárðrBardurNorse, Old or BárǫðrBardurNorse, Old), was a prominent ninth-century King of Dublin. As a son of Ímar (possibly Ivar the Boneless) and a key member of the Uí Ímair dynasty, he played a significant role in the early Viking history of Ireland. Dublin itself was the first Viking kingdom established on the island. Bárid's reign, which lasted from 873 to 881, was marked by extensive raiding, strategic political maneuvers, and notable conflicts, particularly his rivalry with Halfdan Ragnarsson. His life and death are primarily chronicled in the Irish Annals, which provide insights into his attempts to integrate with the Irish political elite and his eventual demise.
2. Biography
Bárid mac Ímair's life is recorded through various historical annals and sagas, detailing his rise from a Jarl in Lochlann to King of Dublin, and his involvement in significant events of his era.
2.1. Early Activities
The earliest historical record of Bárid appears in a saga embedded within the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland. This entry, dated 867, identifies Bárid as a Jarl of Lochlann. Alongside another Jarl named Háimar, he faced an ambush by men from Connacht, an event during which Háimar was reportedly killed. Bárid is mentioned again in the Fragmentary Annals in 872, when he is said to have conducted raids on Moylurg and the islands of Lough Ree. This saga also states that Bárid fostered a son of Áed Findliath, who was the overking of the Northern Uí Néill. While sagas are often viewed with skepticism regarding their historical accuracy, this particular element is supported by earlier written accounts and by evidence of later connections between the descendants of Áed Findliath and the Uí Ímair dynasty. In Ireland, fosterage served as a method for strengthening alliances between ruling families, suggesting that Bárid may have utilized this practice to forge deeper ties with the Irish political elite.
2.2. Reign in Dublin
Bárid's reign as King of Dublin began around 873, following the death of his father, Ímar. The Annals of Inisfallen for that year recount a significant expedition:
Bárid with a great fleet from Áth Cliath [went] by sea westwards, and he plundered Ciarraige Luachra under ground, i.e., the raiding of the caves.
This raid, involving a large fleet from Dublin and targeting the subterranean dwellings of Ciarraige Luachra, has been interpreted by historians as a display of strength by Bárid, asserting his authority shortly after succeeding his father. The Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib mentions that a son of Amlaíb, most likely Oistin mac Amlaíb, accompanied Bárid on this raiding expedition. It has been proposed that Bárid and his cousin Oistin may have ruled Dublin together as co-kings after Ímar's death, sharing power in the nascent Viking kingdom.
2.3. Conflict with Halfdan
A significant rivalry emerged between Bárid and Halfdan Ragnarsson, a figure widely believed to be the son of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok and possibly a brother of Bárid's father, Ímar. According to the Annals of Ulster, in 875, Oistin mac Amlaíb was "deceitfully" killed by a person identified as "Albann", who is generally agreed to be Halfdan Ragnarsson. This act may have been Halfdan's attempt to seize control of Dublin for himself, potentially viewing it as his rightful inheritance. However, Halfdan's initial bid for power was unsuccessful. He made another attempt to take Dublin in 877, leading to the pivotal Battle of Strangford Lough. In this engagement, Halfdan was defeated and killed by an army referred to as "fair foreigners". The Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib identifies Bárid as the leader of these "fair foreigners" and notes that he was severely wounded in the battle, becoming "lame ever after".
2.4. Death
Bárid mac Ímair's death is recorded in the annals in 881. The Annals of Ulster, the Annals of the Four Masters, and the Chronicon Scotorum all describe his demise, stating that he was killed and subsequently burnt in Dublin. This event occurred shortly after Bárid had conducted a raid on Duleek. The annals notably attribute his death to a "miracle" of Saint Cianán, the patron saint associated with Duleek, suggesting a divine retribution for the raid.
3. Family
Bárid mac Ímair was a key figure within the Uí Ímair dynasty, a prominent Viking family in Ireland. His father is identified as Ímar, who ruled as King of Dublin until his death in 873. The Chronicon Scotorum identifies Ímar as "the head of the Northmen" and he is often suggested to be identical with Ivar the Boneless, a legendary son of Ragnar Lodbrok. Bárid had at least two known brothers: Sichfrith mac Ímair, who died in 888, and Sitriuc mac Ímair, who died in 896.
Bárid's known offspring include a son named Uathmarán. Uathmarán bore an Irish name derived from the word "uathmar," meaning 'awesome,' which may have been an intentional choice to foster associations with the Irish political elite. Bárid may also have been the father of Eloir mac Báirid, who died in 891. Furthermore, he is suggested to be the grandfather of an unnamed son of Uathmarán mac Bárid, who is recorded as active in 921 and may be identical to Sichfrith mac Uathmaráin, active in 932.
The parentage of other individuals also named "mac Báirid" remains uncertain. This includes an unnamed son of Bárid (using the Old Irish patronymic) who plundered Cill Clethi in 937, and who may be the same as Aric mac Báirith, who died in 937. Similarly, it is not definitively known whether Colla mac Báirid, who was active in 924, was a son of Bárid mac Ímair. It is possible that Aric, Colla, and the unnamed son of Bárid mentioned in the annals could instead have been sons of Bárid mac Oitir, who died in 914.
4. Historical Assessment
Bárid mac Ímair's reign as King of Dublin, though relatively short, is significant for illustrating the early dynamics of Viking power in Ireland and their attempts to establish a lasting presence. His accession immediately following his father Ímar's death underscores the hereditary nature of the Uí Ímair dynasty's control over Dublin. His raid on Ciarraige Luachra in 873, conducted with a large fleet, is interpreted as a crucial act of consolidating power and projecting strength, a common tactic for newly established rulers. The suggestion of a co-kingship with his cousin Oistin mac Amlaíb highlights a possible shared governance model within the early Dublin kingdom, though this arrangement was ultimately disrupted by external and internal conflicts.
The conflict with Halfdan Ragnarsson was a defining feature of Bárid's rule, showcasing the intense rivalries that existed among Viking leaders for control of strategic territories like Dublin. Halfdan's repeated attempts to seize Dublin, culminating in his death at the Battle of Strangford Lough, demonstrate the tenacity of Bárid's leadership and his ability to rally forces against a powerful adversary. The account of Bárid being gravely wounded and left lame after this battle reinforces his active participation in combat and the personal risks involved in leading Viking armies. His strategic use of fosterage and the choice of an Irish name for his son, Uathmarán, suggest a pragmatic approach to governance, attempting to integrate with the local Irish elite rather than relying solely on conquest. His death, dramatically attributed to a miracle of Saint Cianán after a raid on Duleek, reflects the perspective of the Christian annalists, who often depicted Viking defeats as divine interventions. Overall, Bárid mac Ímair's reign underscores the volatile and complex political landscape of ninth-century Ireland, shaped by both Viking expansion and indigenous resistance.