Gudrodr Olafsson (1135-10 November 1187) was King of Sudreyjar from 1153 to 1158 (succeeding Olafr Godredsson and preceding Somerled) and Count of Mann from 1153 to 1187 (succeeding Olafr and preceding Rognvaldr Gudrodarson).
Biography[]
Gudrodr Olafsson was born in 1135, the son of King Olafr Godredsson of Sudreyjar and Affraic of Galloway. He succeeded his murdered father in 1153 while he was on a diplomatic mission to Norway, and he was forced to battle rival claimants upon his return in order to secure his throne. Gudrodr overthrew his usurping cousins and seized the throne for himself, and he campaigned in Ireland before fighting against his brother-in-law Somerled, the Lord of Argyll. In 1156, Gudrodr and Somerled agreed to partition Sudreyjar between them, but Somerled deposed Gudrodr two years later. He was exiled to England and Scotland before journeying to Norway, and he returned to Sudreyjar on Somerled's death in 1164. He became co-king with Ragnall mac Somairle, and he briefly seized the throne of Dyflin before being forced to retreat. Gudrodr helped the Irish resist the Norman invasion of Ireland, but he later allied with the Norman nobleman John de Courcy, his son-in-law, and helped him conquer Ulaid. He died in 1187 and was succeeded by his eldest son Rognvaldr Gudrodarson.