ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to discuss an important phase of viking camps in Ireland from 914 until 937. Viking raids are recorded in Ireland from the 790s, but by the late 830s vikings were making concerted attempts to establish a series of settlements. These could serve as temporary bases for raiding and trading, for over-wintering or with the hope to establish a permanent presence in Ireland. In the period under study in this chapter, many camps were founded by different viking groups. Irish chronicles provide a detailed insight into the circumstances in which these bases were founded, and these are reviewed in this chapter. These sources also shed light on military strategy and rivalries between the viking groups. The tenth century witnessed an increase in large scale long-distance warfare in Ireland, and greater political instability. Vikings can be seen as part and parcel of the wider developments in Irish politics, and this paper carefully reviews documentary evidence to understand how competing viking groups engaged actively in power rivalries amongst themselves and in relation to Irish kings. In fact, the author proposes that the setting of camps was an important tool for the exertion of viking influence in this period.
