The title.
Between the 6th century and the Viking age, the Gaels were beginning to live a period of cultural flourishment as a result of the many prominent Christian figures and their activities in continental Europe. Domestically, this represented a flourishment in insular art, metalworking, literature, sculptures, etc. This would not be interrupted by the Viking age entirely, as the arrival of the Norse then brought greater wealth and the establishment of important settlements like Dublin.
However, the Islamic conquest of the Frankish kingdom(s) (in this scenario in the times of Pepin the Short, around the late 750s), would certainly have some effects on the Gaels and Ireland, and all of this before the first Norse raids even begin.
For one I've thought, based on OTL's case of Spain and Asturias, about perhaps the Christian Gaels who have settled in the lands of the Franks and played important roles in the court, returning to Ireland, fearing Islamic rule and seeing their monastic activities interrupted by Islamic administration, Jizya, etc. (This as most of the more relevant Irish Monks/Saints/Etc of the time were settled outside in places like France mostly). Would they bring with them wealth, other Christians? What implications does this sudden return to Ireland have economically and politically on pre-Viking Ireland?
And outside of this specific idea, what other effects could the Islamic conquest of the Frankish kingdom(s) and the essential fall of major Christian powers in Continental Europe have on Ireland and the Gaels?
Note:
I would appreciate if we do not dwell too much on the how we come to this as it is part of a wider timeline I've been developing and it's all sorted out. I would appreciate if we instead focus on the question I'm asking and we discuss the implications of this in the specific case of Ireland and the Gaels.
Between the 6th century and the Viking age, the Gaels were beginning to live a period of cultural flourishment as a result of the many prominent Christian figures and their activities in continental Europe. Domestically, this represented a flourishment in insular art, metalworking, literature, sculptures, etc. This would not be interrupted by the Viking age entirely, as the arrival of the Norse then brought greater wealth and the establishment of important settlements like Dublin.
However, the Islamic conquest of the Frankish kingdom(s) (in this scenario in the times of Pepin the Short, around the late 750s), would certainly have some effects on the Gaels and Ireland, and all of this before the first Norse raids even begin.
For one I've thought, based on OTL's case of Spain and Asturias, about perhaps the Christian Gaels who have settled in the lands of the Franks and played important roles in the court, returning to Ireland, fearing Islamic rule and seeing their monastic activities interrupted by Islamic administration, Jizya, etc. (This as most of the more relevant Irish Monks/Saints/Etc of the time were settled outside in places like France mostly). Would they bring with them wealth, other Christians? What implications does this sudden return to Ireland have economically and politically on pre-Viking Ireland?
And outside of this specific idea, what other effects could the Islamic conquest of the Frankish kingdom(s) and the essential fall of major Christian powers in Continental Europe have on Ireland and the Gaels?
Note:
I would appreciate if we do not dwell too much on the how we come to this as it is part of a wider timeline I've been developing and it's all sorted out. I would appreciate if we instead focus on the question I'm asking and we discuss the implications of this in the specific case of Ireland and the Gaels.