Caittil Find (fl. 857) was the leader of a contingent ofNorse-Gaels, recorded as being defeated in battle in 857 CE. Some historians have considered him to be identical toKetill Flatnose, a prominent Norsesea-king who had strong associations with the Hebrides of Scotland andOlaf the White.[1] This view is however not shared by all.
TheAnnals of Ulster record that in 857 Caittil Find was defeated in battle inMunster,Ireland.
Roiniudh re n-Imar & re n-Amlaiph for Caittil Find cona Gall-Gaedelaibh h-i tiribh Muman.[2]
The name "Caittil" may be a Gaelicisation of theOld Norse "Ketill".Ketill was a popular name at this period and it is not clear whether theGaelicCaittil even represents this Norse name.Caittil'sbyname means "white" (or "fair") not "flat-nosed", asAlex Woolf points out.[4]
Nor do the Icelandic sources which documentKetill hint at his being active in Ireland.Ketill was the father-in-law of Olaf the White, yetCaittil is recorded as battlingAmlaíb (≈Olaf the White).[4] Other historians propose thatCaittil may have been active inWales prior to his coming to Ireland.[5]