Amlaib Cuaran (926-981) was King of Sudreyjar from 941 to 981 (succeeding Olaf Guthfrithson and preceding Maccus mac Arailt) and King of Dyflin from 945 to 947 (interrupting Blacaire mac Gofraid's reigns) and from 951 to 980 (succeeding Gofraid mac Sitriuc and preceding Gluniairn).
Biography[]
Amlaib Cuaran was the son of Sihtric Caech and the great-grandson of Ivar the Boneless, and he was briefly King of Jorvik following his father's death, and before Aethelstan of England conquered Northumbria and defeated Amlaib's uncle Gofraid ua Imair. In 941, he became co-ruler of Jorvik, and he ruled Jorvik until 944. After Aethelstan of England's death, the Five Boroughs of the Mercian Danelaw pledged allegiance to Amlaib, but, in 942, Edmund I of England reconquered the Five Boroughs, and, in 944, he ousted Amlaib from Jorvik. He returned to Ireland, and Amlaib replaced his cousin Blacaire mac Gofrith as King of Dublin after Blacaire was ousted. In 947, he lost his kingship to the Irish ruler Ruaidri ua Canannain, a rival for the High Kingship. During this time, Eric Bloodaxe seized Northumbria from the English, and, in 949, the Northumbrians invited Amlaib to rule York. After Bloodaxe's death in 954, Northymbre was reincorporated into England, and Amlaib was forced to flee back to Ireland. During the early 960s, he led several raids on Leinster, and he became known as a ruthless pillager of churches. In 977, he killed Domnall ua Neill's sons in a battle for control of Ireland, but he was forced to abdicate as ruler of Dublin after Mael Sechnaill mac Domnaill defeated him naer the Hill of Tara. He retired to the monastery of Iona, where he died in 981.