sentences:  Although the "Caithréim" is hardly a work celebrated for its accuracy as a source of history, the distant memory of an Eric who ruled the Hebrides may not be fictitious.It may be a matter of coincidence that the next Vikings known to have ruled the Hebrides were also 'sons of Harold', Gofraid mac Arailt, "ri Innsi Gall" (d. 989), who was succeeded by his son Ragnall, "rí na n-innsi" (d. 1005), and probably Gofraid's brother Maccus mac Arailt, who is accorded the title "king of very many islands" ("plurimarum rex insularum").The "Chronicle" gives no explanation, but it seems as if the abdications of Amlaíb and Eric are described as essentially northern affairs, apparently without much (direct) West-Saxon intervention, let alone invasion.