Caittil Find () was the leader of a contingent of ''
Norse-Gaels'', recorded as being defeated in battle in 857 CE. Some historians have considered him to be identical to
Ketill Flatnose, a prominent Norse
sea-king who had strong associations with the Hebrides of Scotland and
Olaf the White. This view is however not shared by all.
The
Annals of Ulster
The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...
record that in 857 Caittil Find was defeated in battle in
Munster
Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...
,
Ireland.
The name "" may be a Gaelicisation of the
Old Norse "". ' was a popular name at this period and it is not clear whether the
Gaelic ' even represents this Norse name. 's
byname means "white" (or "fair") not "flat-nosed", as
Alex Woolf
Alex Woolf (born 12 July 1963) is a British medieval historian and academic. He specialises in the history of Britain and Ireland and to a lesser extent Scandinavia in the Early Middle Ages, with a particular emphasis on interaction and compa ...
points out.
Nor do the Icelandic sources which document hint at his being active in Ireland. was the father-in-law of Olaf the White, yet is recorded as battling (≈Olaf the White).
[ Other historians propose that may have been active in Wales prior to his coming to Ireland.]
References
{{reflist
Norse-Gaels