Sigmund

Sigmund (1061-1116) was the first king of an independent Sodor, following its split with Dublin and the Isle of Man.

Bio
Sigmund was born in 1061, and was the son of Sigurd of Cronk and Greda, widow of King Harold the Black. This made him the younger half-brother of Godred Crovan and Ogmund, future King and Viceroy of Sodor, respectively. The three boys became close friends.

On Ogmund's death in 1079 at the Battle of Skyhill, he succeeded him as Viceroy of Sodor, serving in the position until 1099. He married Gertha, daughter of Thorkell of Norwich, in 1084, and they had two sons Gunnar, born in 1085, and Ogmund, born in 1089.

His prompt action in bringing up reinforcements ensured Godred's victory over the Normans at Crovan's Gate in 1089. In 1094 when they invaded yet again, he beat off their attack on Harwick, marched to the relief of Arlesburgh, and thence to Cas-ny-Hawin where the presence of his forces was sufficient to complete Sigird's victory and enforce the Normans' unconditional surrender.

Godred Crovan died in 1095. His son and heir, Olaf, was a child. Dublin therefore appointed a man named Dugald to be Regent in Sodor and Man. Sudrians were satisfied with Sigmund, and saw no reason for Dugald's interference. They ejected him forcibly. This was understandable in view of Dugald's previous behaviour in Man; but they also ejected Dugald's replacement. A certain coolness in relations between Dublin and Sodor resulted. The break came however in 1099 when Dublin decided to send young Olaf to be brought up at Henry I's Court in Norman England. The Normans were their arch-enemies, so Sudrians rebelled, set themselves up as an independent state, and elected Sigmund as their King.

Magnus Barfod, King of Norway, approved this move, and by deploying his fleet off Dublin and Man ensured that Sodor's secession was accomplished peacefully. Sigmund was crowned at Peel Godred, acknowledged the overlordship of Norway, and chose Cronk as his capital. He died in 1116, with Gunnar succeeding him, having established a dynasty which lasted for some 160 years, until the deaths of King Andreas and his son Peter at the Battle of Largs in 1263.