Strathclyde and the Norse | Scotland in the Viking Age

The Kingdom of Strathclyde was one of the Celtic kingdoms that made up the Hen Ogledd (Old North), and was the one that survived the longest of all the North British kingdoms in the Early Middle Ages. As Sarah, my guest on the History with Hilbert Podcast a few days ago, explains, the Viking Age caused major upheaval in Southwestern Scotland. The old Kingdom of Alt Clut or Ystrad Clut was destroyed with the Viking raid on Dumbarton Rock in 870 AD, though from its ashes the newly named kingdom of Strathclyde would rise to thrust southwards and take the western parts of Northumbria which still bear the name Cumbria today as its legacy.

The full podcast is coming soon to History with Hilbert.

Related Videos of Mine:

The Hen Ogledd (Celtic North of Britain):

How Big Was Denmark In the Viking Age?

Why Did the Viking Age Begin?

The History of the Vikings in England:

Viking Age Helmets:

The Start of the Viking Age in Frisia:

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#Scotland #Viking #Strathclyde

[josephteller]

The maps in the video make this much better, thanks for including them. Podcasts with Visual Aids definitely helps when dealing with history of this sort.

[kiandocherty]

I actually live in the old King Strathclyde area! Just North of the Galloway region, right next to the small river on the map and by the coast. It`s cool to have people talking about where I live because it feels like living in a place where the world has forgotten lol.

[johnfenn]

There are two clear places on the Clyde where they could use portage - hauling their boats over a narrow neck of land, which was a common Viking technique in Russia as well, when heading for Constantinople. They are designated by the word Tarbert or Tarbet. The Gaelic word tairbeart means a narrow neck of land over which a boat can be hauled. One is between the Atlantic and Loch Fyne on the Clyde, between Argyll and Kintyre, and the other is strategically between Loch Long and Loch Lomond, and would have been an easy route to the southern end of Loch Lomond and the land side of Dumbarton Rock.

[richiec]

Hilbert you need to get yourself to Dumbarton castle for a visit I live locally and appreciate its view from the opposite side of the river almost daily and the veiws from the top of the fortress are amazing

[davemcdave]

870 and the sack of Alt Clut, shapes the history of Strathclyde, Dal Riata and Fortriu for the next 200 plus years. Alt Clut was a political stake in the ground. Strat Clut moves 12 miles up the river to Govan (which also includes Partick on the North of the Clyde). They never chose to conquer further. Artgal's son Rhun rules as king of Strathclyde. Cinead MacAlpin and the picts come under the influence of the norse in the west. Viking finds are dotted all the way up the Clyde. Speculation they forced the Biggar gap think with the Tweed is interesting. Following in the footsteps of the Romans. I grew up on a housing estate on the southside of Glasgow. Only discovered this info later in life. Still amazes me this all took place around the Clyde. Even more amazing was that when the Vikings came, there where 3 Roman fording points on the Clyde, still being used 800 years after they were created.

[DrJRL]

I am from West Yorkshire and many place names are derived from Norse. Skelmanthorpe is derived from Schelmer's field or homestead and Scissett is named after a Viking called Scisser. Many other place names start with 'Kirk' from the Norse for church.

[tonykirkbride]

I love this time period more please.
I from West Cumbria and love it’s history any idea how far south the kingdom of Strathclyde came I’m thinking Ravenglass it would make a natural boundary with the local estuary.

[MonkeyWhoWouldBeKing]

Dumbarton Castle has a great view if you get the weather.
probs not gonna be open til 2021 though :/

[catroger]

Before the anglian invasions what were the names of the kingdoms the Romano-Britons set up was strathclyde one of those ? I have never had any good answers from books or anywhere, as to the political map of pre Anglo Saxon invasions cheers paul

[professorpodcast]

You should do a video on Strathclyde as a sort of profile on the name, culture, and its continued use until the early 2000s

[brido]

I grew up on the Clyde, natural beauty is second to none. You must visit!

[richiec]

Also isn't there links with the sites at Inchinnan and Govan to the stronghold at alt clut within the dates you both mention?

[grubbybum]

That double-hill island thing is so fricken beautiful

[RutherfordBeehayze-kwmz]

My family has a long history in this region, my last name, Briscoe originates in Strathclyde, its adapted from the Old Norse for "Wood of the Brittons"

[NoamChompsky-obte]

It is not an Island anymore but at the time in question it would have been as the Clyde and the Leven have both been heavily engineered over the years

[roybeers]

I live in the area and know Dumbarton very well - I'd urge you to visit the famous Rock, which is a Historic Environment Scotland site - you can climb up an endless flight of steps all the way to the top, giving you an incredible view down the Clyde all the way to Glasgow: it was not only a seat of power but the ideal observation post for the Clyde Estuary. I think what happened in the period you mention is that Strathclyde became a British-Norse territory, as evidenced by the Govan stones - rendered in Norse style, but commemorating British-into-Scottish kings.
When you consider that the Norse conquered the Inner Hebrides ("next door" to Strathclyde by sea) but were then absorbed by the native Gaelic culture it is easy to see how this might have come about.
The area is also famously linked with St Patrick (who is frequently argued to have been a Strathclyde Briton), who railed against an Irish Viking king for his slave raiding exploits on the coast of what is now Scotland.
In the 12th century the half-Gaelic half-Norse Hebridean warlord Somerled raided up the Clyde as far as Renfrew - accompanied by his allies the Dublin Norse - and was killed in battle by a Scottish royal army: could be that besides simply raiding (and it was a huge raid) he was trying to assert ancient patrimony on an area he considered to be part of his patrimony.

[uiimairgrandchildrenofivar]

My fathers side of the family are direct descendants of Ímair of the Uí Ímair, who raided Dumbarton Castle in 870. My mothers side of the family are Campbells. Yes, the notorious ones of Lothiann. One of the women from the Campbell clan lived in Dumbarton Castle at the time of the raid. And 1, 110 years later my parents got married. What are the odds?

[youtubewatcher]

Sorry to be off topic but could you do a video on why french is spoken a lot in Lebanon? Until the beirut disaster I didnt know this.

[raibeartthehairypict]

Thanks for this one guys. I've been on Dumbarton Rock. It's a pretty cool place to build a Fort.
You were talking about the Clyde taking the Vikings near enough to Loch Lomond. I'm sure that I read, after they sacked the Rock they actually dragged their longships across the land and onto Loch Lomond? Any truth in this?

[josephpeck]

A video about one of the last kingdoms of the Gwyr y Gododdin*? Cool.

*not sure if I spelled it right.