The Celtic Period lasted until the first part of the ninth century. The came the Norsemen, riding and plundering at first, and later settling and making the Island an important base in connection with their settlements in Dublin, North West England and the Western Isles.
Of the many Viking leaders of whom the sagas speak, the one most frequently mentioned in Man is the famous King Orry. It is said that on his landing on a clear starlit night the astonished natives asked him "where is your country?" where upon Orry drew himself up to his full height and pointed to the Milky Way: "That," he said "is the road to my country." In the Manx language it is still called King Orry's Road.
The King Orry of whom the legends tell was in fact Godred Crovan who ruled from 1079 to 1095. The Gaelic form of Godred was Gorry, and this, losing its initial 'G' after the title, King, produced the familiar Orry. He is said to have got his nickname of Crovan from the fact that he always wore white gauntlets when going to war.
The Norse Vikings who had carved out for themselves a kingdom in Man and the surrounding districts owed nominal allegiance to the King of Norway, but in practice they paid him but slight regard.
The descendants of Godred ruled in Man and the Western Isles with varying fortunes until 1252 when Magnus, the younger son of King Olaf II came to the throne. In 1263 King Alexander III of Scotland having decided that it was time the Western Isles became part of his kingdom and having tried in vain to obtain them by bargaining, made an attack upon the Hebrides. King Haakon of Norway arrived off the Scottish coast with a large fleet to defend them and was joined by Magnus with the Manx ships. The Norwegians were defeated at the battle of Largs and Magnus was allowed to retain Man only on the condition of doing homage to King Alexander. In 1265 Magnus died, and a year later a treaty was signed between Norway and Scotland which handed the Isle of Man over to the Scots.
This marked the beginning of a troubled era in Manx history since it then became a pawn in the long struggle between Scotland and England, being alternately held and raided by both nations as well as by the Irish.
