The Norse-Irish settlement situation on Man was fragmented, with a handful of minor chieftains having gathered men from Ireland after the expulsion justifying their leadership by successful pirate raids. Ragnall and Sitric discussed the circumstances frankly with Óttar.
“Jarl, these—as they call themselves—chieftains have no claim to command. Where is their lineage? After Dublin, only Sitric and I have the forefathers to give us the right to assert our claim over the Norse-Irish. We intend to scatter them from their perches like so many rooks startled from the field by a wrathful sower. We will lead their men to Jorvik and, on the way, pick up more warriors since there are men faithful to us in western Northumbria.”
“I fear these new lordlings on Man will not easily relinquish what they
