Although most of the men who had accompanied Óttar and Sitric from the Isle of Man were content with their prospects in Port Láirge, the same could not be said of some of the chieftains. They had tasted power on Man and chafed under what they described as the yoke of Óttar the Black. That the jarl was a successful and shrewd leader was unquestioned, but after the quiet winter of 915, the monotony of life on the promontory took its toll. A group of four malcontents pressed the jarl for action as soon as the spring sea breezes dried out the land and made raids possible again. Óttar drew Sitric aside in his hall and discussed the situation.
the yoke“If we are to install you on the throne of Dublin, old friend, we’ll soon need Ragnall to come from Jorvik. Before we send for him, we should str
