Battle of Clontarf

The battles of Clontarf mark a victory of the Irishmen of Brian Boru over the Viking Irish S and their allies, which puts a final point at the conquest of the Ireland by the Scandinavians.

At the end of the 8th century, the Viking S make their first raids against Ireland on the side of Dublin.

At the 9th century, the Vikings start to install colonies of settlement and build forts on the coasts of Ireland, which will give rise to the towns of Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Cork and Limerick. About the middle of the 10th century, the Vikings enter in possession of large territories and extend their supremacy on part of Irlande.

Gormflaith, woman repudiated of Brian Boru, its Maelmordha brother, the king of Leinster and the king of Dublin Sigtryggr Silkiskegg (wire of Olaf Kvaran and Gormflaith) attack Brian with the assistance of the Scandinavians of the the Orkneys and the Hébrides.

The Good Friday April 23rd 1014, 12 years after being crowned " Emperor of Irlandais" , Brian Boru with the support of its former rival Mael Seachlainn II Mór ex king of Tara beats the Vikings with the battle of Clontarf, close to Dublin. But it will not have time to be delighted because it is killed after the combat.

73 years old Brian is killed under its tent by the Viking Brotor or Brodir while one of his Muiredach sons which ordered the men of the Munster and its Toirdlebhach grandson also perishes in the combat with 4.000 Irish. the Scandinavians are finally crushed but the Irishmen, disorientated by the loss of their chiefs, do not benefit from their victory to enter Dublin. The seven kingdoms are separate with as supreme kings the wire of Brian (O' Brien) until in 1103.

The battle of Clontarf mobilizes 20.000 men on the Irish side and lasts several days. One counts 7.000 victims on the Scandinavian side, of which:

Sigurdhr jarl of the the Orkneys,
Maelmordha king of Leinster and Domnall mac Fergal king de Forthuatha.
Dubgall mac Amlaib and Gilla Ciarain mac Glun Iairn, brother and a nephew of the king Sigtryggr Silkiskegg of Dublin
Oittir Dub, Suartgair, Donnchad Ui Erulb, Grisène, Luime and Amlaib mac Lagmann; chiefs Vikings.

The Norwegians understand that they will not be able to subject Ireland and are satisfied to fulfill their commercial role within the limits of their city-counters with Dublin, Wexford, Cork and Limerick.

The Irishmen disperse. At the 11th century, Ireland counts between hundred and two hundred very different kingdoms of importance. The Scandinavian elements tend little by little to be assimilated to the Celtic population. The Scandinavians teach with the Celts art to sail and draw the Irishmen from their relative insulation thanks to their city-counters. The Irishmen bring their literary and artistic culture to them, and play a part in their conversion.

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