Open [36.0 MB]

SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 31
The Annals of the Four Masters add that, A.D. 830,
the Norsemen " took King Maelbrighde (the King
Melbricus of Saxo) and carried him to their ships." *
That, in 836, they took Dublin, 2 where Turgesius
subsequently reigned; and that, in 843, King Maelseachlain
captured Turgesius, 3 and put him to death
by causing him to be thrown into Loch Uair, 4 where
he was drowned ; and, further, that, A.D. 846, " Tomh-
rair, earl, tanist (or chosen successor) of the king
of Lochlan, was killed in battle by Ollchovar, king
of Leinster." 5
of Munster, and Cellach, king
From this coincidence of dates and facts, it might
be inferred that the Irish Turgesius and the Scandi-
navian Regnar were identical, Turgesius 6
being the
Latin form ofThorgils (pronounced Turgils), literally
signifying "the servant of Thor;" and Tomar, or
Thormodr, signifying " Thorsman," or one devoted
to Thor, 7 the Scandinavian deity. Such names might,
have been assumed by, or applied to, Regnar and his
niam primum incursionibus intra- Keating and M'Gcoghcgan) is the
runt; deinde anno 812. Demilm repetition of an old story. See
anno 815 Turgesius Norwegus Plutarch Life of Pelopidas ; see
in Hibemiam appulit et exiude also Herodotus, &c.
ibidem fixas sedes habere coepe-
6
Thorgils is a common name in
runt. Chronologia Anschariana, Northern history, but there is no
Langebek vol. i., p. 531, as to the mention of any king, prince, or
death of Horrick vel Regnar A.D. chieftain of the name of Turgesius.
846. It is a name unknown to all history
1 Ann. 4 Mast. 830. Saxo Gram., except as used by
p. 158.
the Irish.
7 Thormodr was a very general
2 Ibid. 836. name of the priests of Thor, vid.
8
Ibid. 843. Ann. Ult. 844. Landnam, p. 70. Thormod Godi, p.
4
[Lough Owel, in the county of 19; Thormodr Allsheriar Godi ;
Westmeath. J. O'D., LL.D.] Thormodr Godi; Thormodr pon-
' lln'l. 846. Ann. Ult. 847 tifex, &c. Thors Rolf, who ik-.l
The story of Turgesius captured by to Iceland, was Thorlf OP Thore
young men disguised as women (see Roll', from being priest of Thor.
BOOK