Guðrøðr Óláfsson
King of Dublin and the Isles · Historical Figures · Died 1187
Guðrøðr Óláfsson was a twelfth-century ruler of the kingdoms of Dublin and the Isles. Guðrøðr was a son of Óláfr Guðrøðarson and Affraic, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway.
Guðrøðr Óláfsson is read about 17 times a day, in 5 languages.
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![Guðrøðr's name as it appears on folio 36r of British Library Cotton Julius A VII (the Chronicle of Mann): "Godredus filius Olavi"[40]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Gu%C3%B0r%C3%B8%C3%B0r_%C3%93l%C3%A1fsson_%28British_Library_MS_Cotton_Julius_A_VII%2C_folio_36r%29.jpg/500px-Gu%C3%B0r%C3%B8%C3%B0r_%C3%93l%C3%A1fsson_%28British_Library_MS_Cotton_Julius_A_VII%2C_folio_36r%29.jpg)
Guðrøðr's name as it appears on folio 36r of British Library Cotton Julius A VII (the Chronicle of Mann): "Godredus filius Olavi"[40]![A king gaming piece of the so-called Lewis chessmen.[44] Comprising some four sets,[45] the pieces are thought to have been crafted in Norway in the twelfth- and thirteenth centuries.[46] They were uncovered in Lewis in the early nineteenth century.[47] Some of the pieces may have arrived in the Isles as a result of Guðrøðr's return from Norway.[48]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Lewis_chessmen_03.JPG/500px-Lewis_chessmen_03.JPG)
A king gaming piece of the so-called Lewis chessmen.[44] Comprising some four sets,[45] the pieces are thought to have been crafted in Norway in the twelfth- and thirteenth centuries.[46] They were uncovered in Lewis in the early nineteenth century.[47] Some of the pieces may have arrived in the Isles as a result of Guðrøðr's return from Norway.[48]
Fourteenth-century depiction of Fergus, Lord of Galloway as he is depicted in Leiden University Library Letterkunde 191 (Roman van Ferguut)
![Dubgall's name as it appears on folio 16v of British Library Cotton Domitian A VII (the Durham Liber vitae): "Dunegal filius Sumerledi"[87]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Dubgall_mac_Somairle_%28British_Library_MS_Domitian_A_VII%2C_folio_16v%29.jpg/500px-Dubgall_mac_Somairle_%28British_Library_MS_Domitian_A_VII%2C_folio_16v%29.jpg)
Dubgall's name as it appears on folio 16v of British Library Cotton Domitian A VII (the Durham Liber vitae): "Dunegal filius Sumerledi"[87]![Nineteenth-century facsimile of the charter of Kelso Abbey, witnessed by Guðrøðr whilst in exile in 1159. His name and title reads: "Godredo Rege Insularum"[102]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Malcolm_IV%2C_King_of_Scotland%2C_charter_to_Kelso_Abbey%2C_1159.jpg/1280px-Malcolm_IV%2C_King_of_Scotland%2C_charter_to_Kelso_Abbey%2C_1159.jpg)
Nineteenth-century facsimile of the charter of Kelso Abbey, witnessed by Guðrøðr whilst in exile in 1159. His name and title reads: "Godredo Rege Insularum"[102]About this person
Throughout his career, Guðrøðr battled rival claimants to the throne, permanently losing about half of his realm to a rival dynasty in the process. Although dethroned for nearly a decade, Guðrøðr clawed his way back to regain control of a partitioned kingdom, and proceeded to project power into Ireland. Although originally opposed to the English invasion of Ireland, Guðrøðr adeptly recognised the English ascendancy in the Irish Sea region and aligned himself with the English. All later kings of the Crovan dynasty descended from Guðrøðr.
