 Of all the Irish annals, the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland contain the most information about him, being composed in Osraige likely at the commission of his descendant Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic, and therefore caution must be exercised over it as a source.Cerball is portrayed as an archetype of a Christian king who consistently vanquishes his enemies, especially pagan Vikings; yet is recorded allying with rival bands of Vikings to defeat them during his early career.Those Vikings allied with Cerball are portrayed in a more favorable light than those he defeats, thus mitigating the stigma of a Christian king allying with pagan marauders.