Brian Boru

Brian Boru (Brian Mac Cenneidigh), born in 941 and died in 1014, is a king Irish which reigned on the whole of the island at the beginning of the 11th century.

Biography

Wire of king Cenneidigh de Dal Cais, and of Be Binn, girl of a king of the Connaught, it was born in 941 in Killaloe. The function of “laughed Ard Érenn” (supreme king) had been until there more mythical than real, it becomes an objective for certain big families, such Uí Néill, Eóganachta and Dál Cais (originating in current the Comté of Clare).

Starting from the end of the 8th century, the Viking S undertook the invasion of the Ireland: first raids in 795, foundation of Dublin in 841; the city is destroyed by Irish in 902 and is rebuilt by the Normands in 917.

In 976, having inherited sovereignty on the kingdom of Dal Cais, following the assassination of his brother, it beats Scandinavian king Ivar of Limerick. He becomes king of Munster in 978. In 997, Mael Seachlainn II Mór, the king of Tared, cannot resist Brian Boru, they meet in Clonfert: Brian Boru becomes the Master of all the south of the island. Two years later, with the Battle of Glenn Máma, Brian Boru subdue a revolt of the Vikings of Dublin and warriors of Leinster. The year 1000 sees the conquest and bag of the kingdom of Dublin. After having beaten the kings of Leinster and Connaught, with warriors Vikings of Waterford, Mael Seachlainn II Mór, incompetent to resist, his tender with Brian Boru in 1003 makes, which becomes laughed Ard Érenn of Ireland. The new king goes to Armagh and makes an important gift with the Saint-Patrick church. One gives him in return the title of imperator Scottorum . Its reign sees the rebuilding of monasteries and libraries, destroyed by the Vikings.

King de Leinster, Mael Morda, enters in rebellion, allied for the circumstance with the Danish of Sigurd, the count of the the Orkneys. The April 23rd 1014 takes place the Bataille of Clontarf : the Danes are beaten, but a warrior succeeds in killing Brian Boru, whereas he requests in his tent, the day of the Good Friday. The threat Viking is drawn aside, but the death of the laughed Ard Érenn opens one period of instability.

In 1052, Diarmait mac Maíl, king de Leinster, conquers Dublin and drives out the last Scandinavian king

Four successive wives are known to him:

  • Mór, mother of Murchad killed to the Battle of Clontarf with his/her own Muircherteach son.
  • Echrad, mother of Tadgh (successor of Brian Boru killed in 1023 by his/her brother Donnchad.
  • Dub Choblaig died in 1009, girl of a king of Connaught
  • Gormflaith, girl of the king de Leinster Murchad Mac Fine repudiated, mother of Donnchad (future king de Munster).

The descendants of Brian Boru are O' Brien (Irish Ua or Ui Briain ).

Brian Boru remains present in the collective memory like the resistant one and the winner of the invaders. According to Pierre Joannon, this proposed historiography not the nationalist mediums is prone to guarantee: “achieved war leader, fine policy, Petri of ambition It by no means sought to reject the Vikings with the sea; what he wanted, it was to conquer the supreme capacity. ” The battle of Clontarf is not the victory of Gaëls over the Vikings, (of the Scandinavian warriors, called Ostmen , fought in the two armies) it is the fight for sovereignty between rival dynasties.

Related articles

Bibliographical sources

  • Bonds with University Cork College & Annals of Ulster

  • Pierre Joannon, History of Ireland and the Irishmen , Perrin Editions, Paris, 2006,
  • John Haywood, (transl. Colette Stévanovitch), Historic atlas of the Celts , Editions Differently, “coll Atlas/Memories”, Paris, 2002,

Note

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