{"id":42,"date":"2021-11-19T20:48:46","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T20:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/?p=42"},"modified":"2023-07-07T16:42:13","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T16:42:13","slug":"brian-boru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/","title":{"rendered":"Brian Boru &#8211; Ancestor Of The O&#8217;Brien Clan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Brian Boru was born in the first half of the 10<sup>th<\/sup> century and died in battle in 1014 in the Battle of Clontarf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As one of the greatest kings of Ireland, he gave his name to the O\u2019Brien clan and many other variations of the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article takes you through his rise from a lesser kingship in Munster to be the most powerful High King in the land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Descendants_Of_Brian_Boru\" title=\"Descendants Of Brian Boru\">Descendants Of Brian Boru<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Kings_and_High_Kings_In_Ireland\" title=\"Kings and High Kings In Ireland\">Kings and High Kings In Ireland<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#The_many_kings_in_Ireland\" title=\"The many kings in Ireland\">The many kings in Ireland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Kings_of_the_provinces\" title=\"Kings of the provinces\">Kings of the provinces<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#High_Kings\" title=\"High Kings\">High Kings<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Who_Were_The_Dalcassians\" title=\"Who Were The Dalcassians?\">Who Were The Dalcassians?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Mathgamain_and_Brian\" title=\"Mathgamain and Brian\">Mathgamain and Brian<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Brian_Boru_As_King_Of_Munster\" title=\"Brian Boru As King Of Munster\">Brian Boru As King Of Munster<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#The_Role_Of_The_Shannon\" title=\"The Role Of The Shannon\">The Role Of The Shannon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Brian_Boru_As_King_Of_Leinster\" title=\"Brian Boru As King Of Leinster\">Brian Boru As King Of Leinster<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Brian_and_Sitric_Silkenbeard\" title=\"Brian and Sitric Silkenbeard\">Brian and Sitric Silkenbeard<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Brian_Becomes_High_King_Of_Ireland\" title=\"Brian Becomes High King Of Ireland\">Brian Becomes High King Of Ireland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Alliance_With_The_Church\" title=\"Alliance With The Church\">Alliance With The Church<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Twelve_Years_Of_Rule_By_A_High_King\" title=\"Twelve Years Of Rule By A High King\">Twelve Years Of Rule By A High King<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Family_And_Rebellion\" title=\"Family And Rebellion\">Family And Rebellion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#The_Battle_of_Clontarf\" title=\"The Battle of Clontarf\">The Battle of Clontarf<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Battle_commences\" title=\"Battle commences\">Battle commences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Battle_ends\" title=\"Battle ends\">Battle ends<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Death_Of_Brian_Boru\" title=\"Death Of Brian Boru\">Death Of Brian Boru<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#What_of_the_others\" title=\"What of the others?\">What of the others?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#King_Sitric_Silkenbeard\" title=\"King Sitric Silkenbeard\">King Sitric Silkenbeard<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/#Where_Is_Brian_Boru_Buried\" title=\"Where Is Brian Boru Buried?\">Where Is Brian Boru Buried?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Descendants_Of_Brian_Boru\"><\/span>Descendants Of Brian Boru<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are many of the family names that descend from Brian Boru. Are you amongst them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bryan, Bryant, Bryen, Brian, Brien, Briend, Briens, Brine, Brion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>O&#8217;Bhriain, O&#8217;Briain, O&#8217;Brian, O&#8217;Briant, O&#8217;Breen, O&#8217;Bryen, O&#8217;Bryon, O&#8217;Bryan, O&#8217;Bryant&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MacBrien, MacBryen, McBrian, McBrien, McBryen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ni Bhriain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"278\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/brian_boru_head.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-45\" srcset=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/brian_boru_head.jpg 278w, https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/brian_boru_head-261x300.jpg 261w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/dh.tcd.ie\/clontarf\/Sculpting%20the%20King%3A%20Brian%20Boru%20in%20the%20Chapel%20Royal\" target=\"_blank\">Sculpture on the wall of Dublin Castle<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/obrien-as-an-irish-surname\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"188\">how common O&#8217;Brien is as an Irish surname<\/a> shows that it is in the top five names in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kings_and_High_Kings_In_Ireland\"><\/span>Kings and High Kings In Ireland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I mentioned that Brian Boru was both a king and a High King of Ireland in his lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to understand what this means in an Irish context. It\u2019s very different to the English tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_many_kings_in_Ireland\"><\/span>The many kings in Ireland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There were over a one hundred and fifty kings in Ireland in the 10<sup>th<\/sup> century. The lesser kings were the chiefs of clans that ruled a local area and tribe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomond would be an example of a kingdom that spanned the two counties of Clare and Limerick. You\u2019ll read later of how Brian became king of Thomond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201cgreat king\u201d had the loyalty of several lesser kings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kings_of_the_provinces\"><\/span>Kings of the provinces<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Above this level were the high kings of the five provinces. The area of Thomond falls within the province of Munster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Brian was king of Thomond, he went to battle against the king of Munster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"High_Kings\"><\/span>High Kings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>And what about one High King to rule them all? There were no agreed laws in the land that recognized one High King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That didn\u2019t stop powerful kings from aspiring to be overlords of all the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The O\u2019Neills were the most powerful kings on the island from at least the years 500 to 1002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many O\u2019Neill kings are broadly considered as High Kings through those centuries until Brian Boru battled to a greater claim to the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s not get ahead of the story. Let\u2019s start with Brian\u2019s father and the Dalcassians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Were_The_Dalcassians\"><\/span>Who Were The Dalcassians?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dalcassians (the D\u00e1l gCais) were a powerful Gaelic tribe in Munster in the 10<sup>th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Cenn\u00e9tig mac Lorc\u00e1in became king of the D\u00e1l gCais, their base was largely in County Clare by the Shannon River. You can see the county highlighted in pale blue below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/clare_obrien.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43\" srcset=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/clare_obrien.jpg 450w, https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/clare_obrien-258x300.jpg 258w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Cenn\u00e9tig led his people in raids further afield. By the time of his death in 950, his domain had expanded to make him King of Thomond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cenn\u00e9tig had twelve sons, the youngest of whom was Brian Boru. When Cennetig died, an older son Mathgamain took over the kingship of Thomond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian and Mathgamain were half brothers with different mothers. Brian\u2019s mother was B\u00e9 Binn, a daughter of a king in Connacht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mathgamain_and_Brian\"><\/span>Mathgamain and Brian<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It was Mathgamain who captured the Rock of Cashel, the stronghold of the traditional High Kings of Munster. His younger brother Brian campaigned at his side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian\u2019s mother and some of his brothers had been killed in Viking raids out of Limerick (to the south of Clare). He set out for revenge and led raids against Viking forts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, Mathgamain joined these efforts. The brothers were successful over the Vikings in the Battle of Sulcoit in 970. After the rout, they plundered and burned Limerick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mathgamain was eventually killed by Irish enemies in 976. The forces he defeated to take the Rock of Cashel fought back to retake the stronghold. This rival clan was led by M\u00e1el Muad who took the title of King of Munster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brian_Boru_As_King_Of_Munster\"><\/span>Brian Boru As King Of Munster<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian took over from his brother as King of Thomond and led his armies to defeat M\u00e1el Muad in 978 in the Battle of Belach Lechta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With M\u00e1el Muad dead, Brian was now High King of Munster (although not of the traditional lineage). He went on to rout the last remnants of the Viking army out of the region while allowing Norse traders to remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that Brian ruled Munster, he turned his attention to the province of Connacht to the north and of Leinster and Meath to the east.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both provinces were ruled by M\u00e1el Sechnaill. he had defeated the King of Dublin in 980, which solidified his power as one of the great O\u2019Neill kings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian and M\u00e1el battled each other for supremacy in Leinster for fifteen years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Role_Of_The_Shannon\"><\/span>The Role Of The Shannon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The great river Shannon is the largest river in Ireland. Brian\u2019s father and brother had used ships for raids as well as land forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian followed their lead to use both the Shannon and the sea in his attacks on Meath and Connacht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of his strategies was to use a fleet to attack in location as a diversion. His army would march from another direction to form a pincer movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brian_Boru_As_King_Of_Leinster\"><\/span>Brian Boru As King Of Leinster<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re familiar with Irish geography, you\u2019ll know that Meath is now a county within the province of Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But back then, Meath was the fifth province of Ireland, with Leinster to the south of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the pressure of Brian\u2019s armies, M\u00e1el Sechnaill met with the King of Munster in 997. The two kings formed a truce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>M\u00e1el Sechnaill kept the northern half of the country and ceded authority over the southern half to Brian. This means that Brian had control over Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the Irish clans of Leinster weren\u2019t happy with this arrangement. Their preferred king, M\u00e1el Morda, allied with the Viking factions in Dublin to rebel against Brian\u2019s overlordship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, the forces of Meath and Munster came together and went to war against the armies of Leinster and the Dublin Norse. They fought in a tough and bloody battle in the year 999 at Glenmama in County Kildare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Leinster armies were routed. Brian marched east to capture Dublin, the port stronghold of the Norse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brian_and_Sitric_Silkenbeard\"><\/span>Brian and Sitric Silkenbeard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the wily king sought a political compromise. He restored Sitric, the former Norse king of Dublin, to his position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>King Sitric Silkenbeard was the son and grandson of two Viking kings of Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And Brian went a little further than that by striking political marriages. Brian married Sitric\u2019s mother, Gormlaith, and he gave his daughter, Sl\u00e1ine, in marriage to Sitric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brian_Becomes_High_King_Of_Ireland\"><\/span>Brian Becomes High King Of Ireland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Brian had struck a truce with the King of Meath, he still had bigger ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian marched his armies of Munster, Leinster, and Dublin into battle against M\u00e1el Sechnaill and his ally the king of Connacht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This part of history isn\u2019t recorded in detail. However, the annals say that Mael Sechnaill surrendered to Brian in 1002.<br><br>By taking the province of Meath, Brian now claimed the title of High King of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the kings in Ulster hadn\u2019t yet submitted to his authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite commanding the forces of the other provinces, it took Brian another ten years to defeat the regional kings of Ulster and gain control of the final province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alliance_With_The_Church\"><\/span>Alliance With The Church<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the regional kings, a lot of power in Ireland was in the hands of the Roman Catholic Church through several important monasteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The abbots of these monasteries were also members of local clans. They represented a potential threat to Brian\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, Brian showed his political prowess once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He singled out one of the most powerful churches, the monastery at Armagh. Brian donated a large sum of gold to the Abbott and declared Armagh to be the religious capital of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? Well, Brian was better off with the backing of at least one church power base than all of them being against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Twelve_Years_Of_Rule_By_A_High_King\"><\/span>Twelve Years Of Rule By A High King<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian became High King of Ireland in 1002 and was slain in 1014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What did those intervening years look like? Later scholars wrote of him as a great king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hard to disentangle legend from historic reality. But Brian is credited for bringing some stability to the people while building bridges and colleges of learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this stage, he was in his sixties and still engaged in frequent skirmishes and battles with rebellious kings in Leinster and Ulster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The family connections I already mentioned turned out to be part of his demise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family_And_Rebellion\"><\/span>Family And Rebellion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>M\u00e1el Morda of Leinster had publicly accepted Brian\u2019s authority but continued to resent his overlordship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>M\u00e1el Morda was the brother of Brian\u2019s third wife, Gormlaith. But Gormlaith had been married before to Olaf, a Viking king of Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve already mentioned Sitric, the son of Gormlaith and Olaf. Brian had restored Sitric to his position of king of Dublin, but Sitric was also feeling rebellious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>M\u00e1el Morda and Sitric formed an alliance and assembled Irish and Viking forces in Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian led a force from Munster in 1013 to blockade the city of Dublin. But they ran out of supplies and returned south at Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Battle_of_Clontarf\"><\/span>The Battle of Clontarf<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>M\u00e1el Morda may have hoped for support from kings in Ulster and Connacht. But although many kings of those provinces didn\u2019t give troops to Brian, they didn\u2019t support Mael Morda either.<br><br>Instead, the armies of the former Leinster king were made up of Norsemen, Dubliners, and Leinster men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian\u2019s armies of Munster and Connacht were joined by his old rival and ally Mael Sechnaill mac Domnaill, the king of Meath. He should have outnumbered the Leinster contingent significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, he fell out once again with Mael Sechnaill, who withdrew his forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And then, the Norsemen sailed in from their settlements in Orkney and the Isle of Man. They were in alliance with Sitric of Dublin and were led by Sigurd the Stout of Orkney and Brodir of Man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Battle_commences\"><\/span>Battle commences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Battle of Clontarf commenced on Good Friday in 1014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clontarf was just north of what was then the city of Dublin. The sea is its western border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The accounts from the time agree that a tough battle raged for a full day. It\u2019s thought that over seven thousand men died on the battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Battle_ends\"><\/span>Battle ends<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Toward the end of the day, Brian\u2019s forces were prevailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the opposing forces retreated to a wood. I mentioned that Clontarf is on the sea. The tide rises at about 6 pm, and it carried the Viking ships away from shore. It also cut off the men in the wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They were trapped by the sea and were set upon by the army led by Murchad, Brian\u2019s son. Those who didn\u2019t drown were killed by sword or spear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, the forces of Norse and Leinster men were routed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Death_Of_Brian_Boru\"><\/span>Death Of Brian Boru<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most accounts teach that that Brian was stabbed in the back whilst praying in his tent at Clontarf. There are a few that say he died in battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The accounts agree that his killer was Brodir, the Viking from the Isle of Man. But Brodir didn\u2019t get away unharmed. He in turn was killed as he tried to flee the battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_of_the_others\"><\/span>What of the others?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>M\u00e1el Morda was killed in battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian\u2019s son Murchad killed the other Norse leader, Sigurd the Stout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Murchad was also killed at the battle, as was his fifteen-year-old son. And of course, many of the opposing kings were also felled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"King_Sitric_Silkenbeard\"><\/span>King Sitric Silkenbeard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the wiliest of all these characters was Sitric Silkenbeard, King of Dublin. He didn\u2019t join his fellow Norsemen at the Battle of Clontarf. Instead, he stayed behind to guard the city of Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sitric and his wife Sl\u00e1ine watched the battle unfold from the city walls. Sitric reigned long enough to abdicate in 1036. He died some years later in exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During that time, he founded Christ Church Cathedral \u2013 still standing as a beautiful building in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Is_Brian_Boru_Buried\"><\/span>Where Is Brian Boru Buried?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brian Boru was taken to be waked at Swords, a place to the north of Dublin city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, a contingent traveled with his body to Armagh in Ulster. It\u2019s said that Brian Boru is buried in the north wall of St Patrick\u2019s Cathedral of Armagh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brian Boru was born in the first half of the 10th century and died in battle in 1014 in the Battle of Clontarf. As one of the greatest kings of Ireland, he gave his name to the O\u2019Brien clan and many other variations of the name. This article takes you through his rise from a &#8230; <a title=\"Brian Boru &#8211; Ancestor Of The O&#8217;Brien Clan\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/brian-boru\/\" aria-label=\"More on Brian Boru &#8211; Ancestor Of The O&#8217;Brien Clan\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42\/revisions\/204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}