Editing Amlaíb Cuarán (section)

==York again==
[[File:Penny (Raven and Cross) of Amlaib Cuaran.png|thumb|left|A second style of penny from York from Amlaíb's time, moneyer Æthelfrith, the obverse shows a bird, presumed to be a [[Raven]], the reverse a cross.]]
The course of events in Northumbria while Amlaíb was in Ireland is uncertain. While Edmund certainly controlled Northumbria after Amlaíb was expelled and Ragnall killed, he may soon after have lost control of the north to a [[Scandinavia]]n king named Eiríkr, usually identified with [[Eric Bloodaxe]].<ref>For a contrary view of Erik's identity see Downham, ''Viking Kings'', pp. 115&ndash;120 and Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', pp. 187&ndash;188.</ref> If Erik did rule in Northumbria before Edmund's death, it was only for a short time. Edmund was killed in 946, and succeeded by his brother [[Eadred of England|Eadred]]. The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' records that Eadred "reduced all the land of Northumbria to his control; and the Scots granted him oaths that they would do all that he wanted".<ref>Swanton, ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'', pp. 112&ndash;113, Mss A & D, s.a. 946, Ms. E, s.a. 948.</ref> The Northumbrian submission to Eadred led to a meeting with the notables of York led by Archbishop Wulfstan in 947, but the following year King Erik was back ruling Northumbria and Eadred laid waste to the southern parts of the kingdom— [[Ripon]] is mentioned as a particular target—to force the Northumbrians to expel Erik, which they did.<ref>Swanton, ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'', pp. 112&ndash;113, Ms D, s.a. 947 & 948.</ref>

The following year, 949, by which time Blacáire was dead and Amlaíb's brother ruling in Dublin, the Northumbrians invited Amlaíb to rule in York.<ref>Swanton, ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'', pp. 112&ndash;113, Ms E, s.a. 949.</ref> His return to England may have been with Eadred's agreement.<ref>Downham, ''Viking Kings'', pp. 114&ndash;115.</ref> That year [[Máel Coluim mac Domnaill]], the [[king of Alba]], raided Northumbria as far south as the [[River Tees]], capturing many slaves and much loot. Whether this invasion was directed against Amlaíb, or perhaps intended to support him by plundering only northern Northumbria which may have been outside his control, is uncertain. A second invasion from the north in 952, this time an alliance including Máel Coluim's Scots and also Britons and Saxons, was defeated. Again, whether this was aimed against Amlaíb, who was deposed in 952 and replaced by Erik, or was mounted against King Erik in support of Amlaíb, is unclear. Erik's reign was short and the Viking kingdom of York was definitively incorporated into the kingdom of the English on his death in 954. Amlaíb returned to Ireland, never again to rule in York.<ref>Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', pp. 178&ndash;190; Hudson, ''Viking pirates'', pp. 37&ndash;38; Downham, ''Viking Kings'', pp. 153&ndash;155.</ref>