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Carregando... Somerled: And the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland (2000)de John Marsden
   Nenhum(a) Ainda não há conversas na Discussão sobre este livro.  Malarchy | Mar 12, 2009 | 
 One thing that makes me chuckle is that many 20th century (and even later) historians who have written books on Scottish Highland clans, their naming or their origins, their history or culture; (including those of the Isles), are bloody sassanauchs with not a drop of Highland blood running through their veins, or a true feeling for their subject. I do not believe they truly understand traditional material or a holistic approach in reaching the truth. With their own rose coloured glasses many academics have invested in making assumptions or tripping themselves up on fictitious 14th to 16th century Irish material, or other manipulated Church accounts, while conveniently disregarding others in their unconscious drive to create some outcome they think is credible, by disregarding what is directly in front of them. One such book I recently purchased was published in 2000. It is titled ‘Somerled and the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland’. Whilst a lot of the material in this book is excellent unfortunately a major assumption concerning Somerled’s patralineal line, that is the hingpin of its title, is clearly now proven to be false, throwing the complete work into the category of misleading. In short Somerled’s patralineal line in this book is not correct. It is that of his mothers, or grandmother’s genetic Rb1 Irish Celtic line, not Somerled’s Ra1 Norse line that highly likely extends back to Jarl Gilli of Coll in the late eighth century, and from there back to Orkney and Norway, as much more evidence points. If you want to believe mythical accounts or Irish Church created fiction such as the origins of Scottish Dalriata, or the Irish accounts of Somerled’s patralineal line feel free to invest in these types of writers. I for one would rather look at all the evidence on balance, including genetic material, before making leaps of faith with genealogies that continue the myth of political inspired fiction for future generations. Clinton mhic Aonghais
Through most of eight hundred years, Somerled of Argyll has been variously denounced as an intractable rebel against his rightful king and esteemed as the honoured ancestor of the later medieval Lord of the Isles, but he can be recognised now as a much more complex figure of major prominence in twelfth-century Scotland and of truly landmark significance in the long history of the Gael. In this book individual chapters investigate his emergence in the forefront of the Gaelic-Norse aristocracy of the western seaboard, his part in Gaeldom's challenge to the Canmore kings of Scots, his war on the Manx king of the Isles, his importance for the church on Iona, and his extraordinary invasion of the Clyde which was cut short by his violent death at Renfrew in 1164.Perhaps most impressive is the book's demonstration of how almost everything that is known of or has been claimed for Somerled reflects the same characteristic fusion of Norse and Celt which binds the cultural roots of Gaeldom.It is this recognition which has led its author to his proposal of Somerled's wider historical importance as the personality who most represents the first fully-fledged emergence of the medieval Celtic-Scandinavian cultural province from which is directly descended the Gaelic Scotland of today. Não foram encontradas descrições de bibliotecas. |
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 Google Books — Carregando...GênerosClassificação decimal de Dewey (CDD)941.102092History and Geography Europe British Isles Scotland 1057-1314Classificação da Biblioteca do Congresso dos E.U.A. (LCC)AvaliaçãoMédia: (4.33)
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The main disappointment about Marsden's work is that little heed is paid to the implication of Somerled's actions in terms of later events between the Highland & Island people and their more southerly rivals. Indeed, Somerled's own incursion into Renfrew against the Stewarts gains only a few pages of mention instead of being a major reference within the book. More weight in terms of number of words is given over to the location of Somerled's burial than the place and means of his death.
What Marsden does do marvellously though is establish the lineage and heritage of the Norse and Gaelic ancestors of Somerled. Marsden is able to provide evidence to demonstrate throughout the common perception of Somerled as being part Norse, part Gael as truth though some genetic evidence would have been useful.
The gradual gaelicisation of the Norse kingdoms in the isles is demonstrated through the use of place and people names, and the changing language as those of Norse stock increasingly take on Gaelic linguistic forms.
While the implications of Somerled's break from Manx rule are not fully fleshed out, the importance of Islay to the later Lairds comes into view as does the naval fighting prowess of Somerled's military. The complex and interweaving political elite of the islands, of the Canmore kings of Scotland, of the Norse of Dublin, Man, and Orkney are shown in their proper context of the Gaelic lands of Dal Riada and of Colla Uais.
Marsden's work is not truly an exploration of Somerled in his own lifetime but more an exposition of who the people were - his Gaelic father and Norse mother - the kinship with the islanders, Highlanders, Irish, and Norse - and the distinction between the Gaelic west and the Norman south all combine to place Somerled in time and as a part of the heritage of his descendents. (