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The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' for 949 and Olaf Cuaran.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle entry for 949 (in Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 636) is the brief Her corn Anlaf Cwiran on Nordhhymbra land 'In this year Olaf Cuaran came into Northumbria.'(1) This Olaf, son of Sihtric of York, is first heard of in 927, when he fled from England to Dublin. He apparently remained in Ireland until his return to York in 940, where he ruled as king from 941, but was driven back to Dublin by Edmund of Wessex in 944.(2) Returning to York as king in 949, he was forced back to Ireland for a third time in 952, on this occasion by Eric Bloodaxe.(3) After nearly thirty more years as king of Dublin, he abdicated in 980, dying at Iona soon after.(4)
The present note concerns his nickname 'Cuaran'. Plummer noted the Chronicle's 'Anlaf Cwiran' was called 'Anlaf Cuaran' in Irish sources, but that the meaning of 'Cuaran' …
