A Brief History of Dublin

A city that began as a humble Viking settlement has eveloved into one of the most modern in all Europe. Dublin or in Gaelic Irish, Baile Átha Cliath (The black pool) has under gone a total stranformation in the thirty years.

By walking its streets, you cannot but notice a distinct sense of history. Prior to visiting, though, it helps to have a basic idea about the history of this incredible place. How did such a small, seemingly inconsequential town become such an integral place? well read on read to learn more!

The Founding of Dublin

When the Vikings originally settled along the south bank of the River Liffey around 840, they did so at a site that is known as Wood Quay. At that time, the area was named Dubh Linn, which is Irish for "black pool." This moniker was likely selected when the Danes captured the city; they moored their boats at a lake in the region, which is probably what inspired the name "black pool." Although the Vikings hold the distinction of being among the first settlers of Dublin, then, they didn't hold on to it for very long.

Right from the beginning, Dublin was desired by many different peoples. As a result, protecting the city was of chief importance. It's not surprising, then, that earth ramparts were erected fairly early on in Dublin's history. Those who settled there knew that keeping invaders out had to be a top priority. Earth ramparts are hardly durable, though, which is why long-lasting stone walls were built during the 11th century. These helped solidify the defenses of Dublin, allowing it to flourish for the very first time.

Dublin: The Early Years

Dublin has always had a rather contentious history; times of peace have been few and far between, especially back in the early years. Many different trades helped make Dublin a bustling place - wool weaving was among the city's most important industries. When the first Bishop of Dublin was appointed in 1028, it happened during the midst of several wars and conflicts between the Vikings and the Irish. The Vikings weren't going to let Dublin go without a fight, and the battles raged on for many years. During that century, the population of the city reached 4,000. That may sound unimpressive by today's standards, but at the time it was one of the largest settlements in the land - and the most important city in Ireland.

Trade with the English cities of Bristol and Chester helped to solidify Dublin's importance in the world. More upheaval continued, however, and 700 years of Norman rule began in the year 1169. At that time, The Earl of Pembroke - Strongbow - conquered Dublin. In turn, the King of England was named the Lord of Ireland. He promptly handed Dublin over to the merchants of Bristol. Although continuous rule went on for several centuries, the times were far from peaceful.

After a major fire destroyed much of the burgeoning city in 1190, ambitious rebuilding quickly brought it back to its former luster. The first mayor of Dublin was appointed in 1220; by the end of that century, the population of Dublin had reached approximately 8,000 people. It was a well-known center of trade by this time, and continued in its upward trajectory of growth. Another setback occurred in 1317, when the city was attacked by the Scots. As with the fire, though, Dublin quickly rebounded and regained its footing. Resilience has been a common theme throughout the history of this impressive city.

Dublin During the Middle Ages

Between the 14th and 18th centuries, many important changes happened in Dublin. In fact, if you visit the city today you can see many of those centuries' most important landmarks and historic sites. During this period, Dublin was the second city of the British Empire, a fact that increased its esteem around Europe - and the world. One sign of the city's eminence was the founding of Trinity College in 1591. The university is still in operation to this very day and has turned out illustrious alumni like Jonathon Swift and Oscar Wilde. Be sure to spend time roaming the campus if you are lucky enough to visit Dublin.

By 1640, Dublin's population had ballooned to 20,000 people. That number was cut in two around 1650, when the plague devastated the city and the entire region. As always, though, Dublin rebounded with remarkable resiliency. By 1700, its population had surpassed 70,000 people.

One of the most important events in the history of Dublin happened in 1649, when Oliver Cromwell left his mark on the region. Under his influence, Protestantism became the favored religion in Dublin, as well as Ireland and the entire British Empire. Native Roman Catholics in the city of Dublin experienced a great deal of persecution and turmoil. At the same time, floods of Protestant refugees arrived in Dublin. In fact, they are largely behind the massive population increase that had happened by 1700.

Dublin Heads into Modernity

The 18th century saw many important changes and developments for the city of Dublin. Some of the city's most famous buildings were erected during that time; whether you visit Parliament House, Merrion Square or City Hall, you are sure to step foot into many buildings that were built during this important century. One of the city's most enduring companies and brands, Guiness, was founded in 1759. Close on the heels of that, the city's first police force was founded in 1756. By the year 1800, the city's population had soared to more than 180,000 souls. While the city was more modern than ever, it also had many serious problems - especially when it came to poverty and disease.

Dublin experienced a major blow right around the turn of the 19th century, when the seat of government was moved to Westminster under the Act of Union. The Irish Parliament was abolished, greatly reducing the esteem of the city of Dublin. As you've already seen throughout much of Dublin's previous history, though, this hardly kept the city down. Instead, it carved out an important niche for itself and plugged forward with admirable optimism.

The Twentieth Century and Beyond

Trouble had been brewing for some time when the Easter Rising of 1916 took place. This pivotal event prompted the War for Independence, which segued into the Civil War. Ultimately, the Republic of Ireland was born; it became official in the year 1922. Naturally, Dublin was selected as the capital of the brand new nation. Although the country remained neutral during World War II - which it referred to as "The Emergency" - that conflict had a major impact on the country and its capital. Compared with most of Europe, though, Dublin remained largely unscathed. A few relatively minor bombings occurred, but they were minimal compared with what many other major cities experienced.

After remaining surprisingly old fashioned throughout much of the twentieth century, Dublin finally turned a new page during the 1990s. At that time, an economic boom helped the city expand and become more developed than ever. This was also approximately when tourism to the city became much more popular. With a population right around 1.2 million people, Dublin has emerged as one of the most popular cities for tourism in the entire region. Visitors flock there to learn more about its rich, exciting history - much of which can be seen firsthand in its many well-preserved buildings and landmarks. Without a doubt, Dublin will continue to be a critical part of Ireland for many centuries to come - any time is a great time to experience this charming and fascinating city.