Out With The Vikings

 An interesting snippet here this morning from Culture Vannin.

Around 400 years of #Norse rule in the Isle of Man came to an end on this day 1275...at the Battle of Ronaldsway.

Before sunrise on the 8th of October 1275, the Scottish army landed at the area now occupied by Ronaldsway Airport. They overpowered the Manx forces and a rout ensued. The result was that the forces of Godred Magnusson, and with him the last remnants of the Viking dynasty in the Isle of Man, was finished forever.

The defeated Manx were buried (we believe) in mass graves on the site. These lay undetected until the airport was created in 1936, when they were uncovered where the runway now stands...

Which is probably something to think about the next time you're flying!



More about this fascinating moment in Manx history 747 years ago can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ronaldsway



20 comments:

  1. I wonder if Godred Magnusson asked questions on Manx Mastermind? There's a Viking playing for Manchester City who thinks he's Dixie Dean. He's unbelievable!

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    1. Does the Manchester City Viking wear one of those helmets with the pointy horns when he's playing?

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  2. He's got the Viking hairstyle JayCee.

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  3. I think of Vikings as longer ago than 1275 which is almost 200 years after William 1st. IoM a bit behind the times.

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  4. What on earth is going on? Two blogposts in two days! Have you been swallowing amphetamines JayCee? I never gave permission for The Battle of Ronaldsway to happen on my birthday!

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    1. 🎶 Happy Birthday to you
      Happy Birthday to you
      Happy Birthday dear Pudding
      Happy Birthday to you 🎶

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  5. We have so much history ...... I love it. We are always learning. I thought I knew a lot about British kings and queens but I learnt so many things that I didn't know when I watched the Queens funeral. XXXX

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    1. Although I watched it all I had the sound turned off so I missed all the chat. Seems like I missed a history lesson!
      XXX

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  6. Your little Isle has so much interesting history!
    My country has ignored a lot of our long ago history as if it just began to exist after European explorers discovered it! All the poor people that lived here already didn't count?!?

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    1. I think most countries have periods in their history that they prefer to remain untold , sadly.

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  7. Always love reading history. Fascinating

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    1. The Vikings took over from the Celts and occupied the island for 400 years before the Scots took over. Then came the English. All those influences make the place interesting for researchers I think.

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  8. How very interesting...i love that your written history scrolls so far back through the centuries. Our history is unwritten and we have silenced the voices who would have given them to us. Happy birthday to YP!

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  9. Those wretched Vikings, they never stopped raping and pillaging.

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    1. I know. Just look at all the blue-eyed blond people around!

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  10. Recent finds have revealed some interesting burial places. Your Vikings under the runway at the airport and Richard III under a car park in Leicester. I wonder what those doing the burying would think of future generations digging them up!

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Although I am quite used to talking to myself, any comments on my posts are very welcome, provided they are not abusive. I do reply to them so please check back. It's good to talk (!)