United Celts

Murchad, son of High King Brian Boru, captures a Norse warrior at the Battle of Clontarf; 23 April, AD 1014. Art by Angus McBride. 🇮🇪 The battle of Clontarf, fought just outside Dublin, was the last major battle fought between between the native Irish and the Norse. Accounts of the battle can be found in the Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh (Irish: “The War of the Irish with the Foreigners”) and Njál’s Saga, as well as in the various annals. The battle was a result of a power struggle in Ireland between High King Brian Boru and the Irish king of Leinster, Máel Mórdha, mac Murchadha. The Norse of Dublin, Orkney and the Isle of Man took the side of Máel Mórdha’s and greatly bolstered his forces. Máel Mórdha and the Norse king of Dublin, Sygtrygg Silkenbeard, had revolted against Brian’s overlordship and called upon their allies to meet them outside Dublin for a violent showdown with Brian and his forces. The result was a brutal mutual slaughter, both armies suffering catastrophic casualties. Among the killed were king Brian himself, his son and designated heir Murchad, his grandson Toirdelbach, and the greater part of his army, including numerous provincial subject kings. On the other side fell the king of Leinster Máel Mórdha, the Norse jarl of Orkney Sigurd “the Stout” Hlodvirsson, the Manx leader Brodir (who was credited with having killed Brian personally), and nearly their entire armies. Brian’s army had won a pointless, Cadmean victory (a victory involving one’s own ruin). The main beneficiaries of the battle were his son Donnchad, who became the next king of Thomond in succession to Brian, and king Sygtrygg of Dublin, who hadn’t fought in the battle and was thus rid of Brian’s oppressive yoke. The power of Dublin however, and of the Vikings in Ireland generally, had been permanently broken. Celtic Europe - channel link (please share!): https://t.me/CelticEurope