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BBC News
03-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
King Orry: Who was the Viking warlord who changed Manx history?
An 11th Century Viking warlord who fought and won a bloody battle is set to be immortalised in bronze at the historical political centre of the Isle of Orry will be seen with his arm stretched out toward Tynwald Hill in recognition of the Norse origins of the Manx Viking ruler's status is such that children sing songs about him in the island's native tongue, he has been featured in place names, and words for the Milky Way in Manx Gaelic bear his King Orry may never have existed – or rather, he was actually known by another name, Godred Crovan. Who was Godred Crovan? According to Canadian history professor Andrew McDonald, who has researched the period featuring the Manx sea kings extensively, Godred Crovan was an "Irish-Norse warlord with connections to the ruling dynasty of Dublin".Crovan survived the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, where he fought alongside Harold Hardrada's invasion force against English King Harold then turned his attention to the Isle of Man, which he saw as a strategic stronghold lying, as it does, in the heart of the Irish Sea and the centre of what are now the British Isle of Man, though, did not fall into his hands easily. It took three invasion attempts before he finally took control at the Battle of Sky Hill in 1079 and created the Kingdom of Man and the Isles. Prof McDonald, who also provided the text for a set of stamps featuring the Crovan dynasty of sea kings, said he "possessed a reputation as a formidable warrior", and briefly controlled Dublin before his death in dynasty he founded far outlasted his death, ruling Man and the Isles until 1266, when the Treaty of Perth passed the governance of the island to King Alexander III of followed the death of King Magnus, the last of the Crovan dynasty, at Castle Rushen the previous year. Why was the period significant? Although hugely influential in shaping Manx history, Prof McDonald said the Crovan dynasty's time has been described as a "forgotten kingdom" that had "slipped between the cracks of historical writing" in a broader perspective of British and Scandinavian he said the dynasty placed the Isle of Man in the middle of a "sort of miniature seaborne kingdom" for two was their influence that their "huge" legacy can still be seen on the were responsible for the building of Peel Castle, Castle Rushen and Rushen Abbey and – not least of all - were the founders of the oldest continuous parliament in the world, Tynwald. What is Tynwald? With its roots dating back 1,000 years, Tynwald sits in three forms – the House of Keys and the Legislative Council, which both consider the passage of new laws, and, when the two come together once a month to debate government policy and attempts by backbenchers to change it, the formal court of buildings are now situated in the island's modern capital of Douglas, but members of the branches still come together in St John's in July each year for an annual open-air sitting on Tynwald Hill, the site of early Viking assemblies known as a thing.A thing was an assembly made of up local people and a lawspeaker, who oversaw proceedings, and was where disputes were thrashed also is how Tynwald got its name – in Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, it meant the field of the thing. Now presided over by the lieutenant governor, who is the Lord of Man's official representative on the island, the Tynwald Hill ceremony still holds a significant place in the island's law-making a new law is not read out in Manx and English from the hill, in a part of proceedings known as the Promulgation of the Acts, it falls from the statute book. Why next to Tynwald Hill? The statue has been created on behalf of the President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly, with the support of the Tynwald Ceremony Arrangements Committee including the Speaker of the House of Keys and the chief privately-funded 7.7ft (2.3m) tall statue has been designed by Manx sculptor Stephanie Quayle-Jackson and Darren a supporting letter, Skelly said it was his "long-held belief" that promoting the origins of the island's heritage was "important in understanding our national identity".The proposed site at Tynwald Hill was "highly appropriate" and would "act as a focal point of interest to help promote and educate both locals and visitors", he added. And the location is something Manx historical researcher and filmmaker Charles Guard is a strong supporter of."I think it's clear that there's nothing overt at the site to tell you it's Viking."The idea of one statue at the side of a Viking will certainly remind people, or introduce people to the idea that this is part of our Viking heritage.""All the items of clothing that this statue is depicted as wearing have been meticulously researched with archaeological and other evidence, so we do know those were the sort of clothes." Were Godred and King Orry the same person? The historical record of Godred Crovan and myths surrounding the figure King Orry have become interwoven over time, leading to an overlapping of folklore and Crovan's inclusion in the medieval manuscript the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles – regarded as the most important documentation of early Manx history – cements his place firmly during the reign of the sea the tales of King Orry's antics, often depicting him as a giant, are more fluid and fanciful in their legend in particular that persists is the Manx name given to the Milky Way - Raad Mooar Ree Gorree, which translates as the Big Road of King is said that on arrival on Manx shores on the first occasion, the Viking warlord pointed to the galaxy when asked where he had come there is dispute over whether the Gorree mentioned was in fact Godred Crovan, it is generally accepted that the sea king was popularly known as King Guard said he conceded there were "certain myths that have come down in legend" associated with the historical figure, but the tales remained "lovely stories that would be passed down". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Statue representing Isle of Man's 'Viking legacy' approved
Proposals to build a statue of an 11th Century Manx Viking ruler have been approved by the planning illuminated sculpture of Godred Crovan, known as King Orry, is set to be 8ft (2.4m) in height, with a hand gesturing towards Tynwald Hill in St John's. Planners added a clause to complete further surveys ahead of its construction after previous concerns about the archaeological impact of the the decision, President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly said it was "about recognising, educating, and celebrating" the Isle of Man's Viking history and heritage. The proposals for the artwork were approved despite a recommendation from the planning officer to refuse the application, which was submitted by the Department of Infrastructure. Skelly said King Orry was "everywhere on this island" and ingrained in Manx culture."Godred Croven is listed in the Chronicles of Mann, our most important written document of the history of the Isle of Man," he added. The structure, which will be put in place facing east near the junction of Peel Road and Glen Mooar Road, will be has been designed by artists Darren Jackson and Stephanie Quayle-Jackson, who also created a heron sculpture in were told the location had been chosen to be easily visible but not to intrude on the hill, national cenotaph or the Royal Chapel of St John's. Historian Charles Guard said the statue next to the hill where the annual open-air sitting of Tynwald takes place would mean "you can see immediately this is our Viking heritage".He drew the parallel with Parliament Square next to the Houses of Parliament in London, where there are 12 statues."They are all celebrating the development of democracy in the adjacent island, our parliament is older and it's more distinguished," he said."We need a Viking there to tell us who started it all, and that's the man who was involved in it."It's a metaphor and he is pointing to Tynwald Hill, he's saying this is your legacy from the Vikings."Objectors have 21 days to appeal the planning decision. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
