User:Angusmclellan/Brian

Brian mac Cennétig (c. 941–23 April 1014), called Brian Bóruma (Brian Boru, Brian Boraime), was an Irish king who overthrew the centuries-long domination of the Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated Leinster, making himself ruler of the south of Ireland.

The Uí Néill king Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, abandoned by his northern kinsmen of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill, acknowledged Brian as High King at Athlone in 1002. In the decade that followed, Brian campaigned against the northern Uí Néill, who refused to accept his claims, against Leinster, where resistance was frequent, and against Dublin. Brian's hard-won authority was seriously challenged in 1013 when his ally Máel Sechnaill was attacked by the Cenél nEógain king Flaithbertach ua Néill, with the Ulstermen as his allies. This was followed by further attacks on Máel Sechnaill by the Norse Gaels of Dublin under their king Sihtric and the Leinstermen led by Máel Mórda mac Murchada. Brian campaigned against these enemies in 1013. In 1014, Brian's armies confronted the armies of Leinster and Dublin at Clontarf near Dublin on Good Friday. The resulting Battle of Clontarf was a bloody affair, with Brian, his son Murchad, and Máel Mórda, among those killed. The list of the noble dead in the Annals of Ulster includes Irish kings, Norse Gaels, Scotsmen, and Scandinavians. The beneficiary of this slaughter was Máel Sechnaill who resumed his interrupted reign as the last Uí Néill High King.

Brian dead proved to be a greater figure than in life. The court of his great-grandson Muirchertach Ua Briain produced the Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, a work of near hagiography. The Norse Gaels and Scandinavians too produced works magnifying Brian, among these the now-lost Brian's Saga, Njal's Saga, and the Orkneyinga Saga. Brian's war against Máel Mórda and Sihtric was to be inextricably connected with his complicated marital relations, in particular the various marriages of Gormlaith, Máel Mórda's sister, Sihtric's mother, who had been in turn the wife of Amlaíb Cuarán‎, king of Dublin and York, then of Máel Sechnaill, and finally of Brian.


 * Saves Ireland from the evil foreigners, yadda, yadda.

Rise of the Dál gCais

 * Eóganachta, Cellachán Caisil/Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil/Cellachán mac Buadhacháin
 * Uí Thairdelbaig, Cennétig, Tuadmumu
 * Meic Cennétig
 * Mathgamain

King of Cashel

 * 977: Attacks Limerick; kills k. Ívarr at the shrine of Saint Senan (is this the point of the St Senan stuff in ALC?) on Scattery Island
 * 978: Attacks Uí Fidgente; battle of Belach Lechta, defeats E. king Máel Muad mac Brain (d. ?)
 * 982 Attacks Osraige
 * Rebellion by Áed m. Mathgamain (sp.?)
 * Marcán abt. Emly in 989 (d.? c1012)
 * Navy in 988 (but see Domnall ua Néill)

King of Leth Moga

 * 990, defeated at Carn Fordroma by Máel Sechnaill
 * 991, defeated in Leinster
 * 992, raids into Mide, to Lough Ennell, forced to retreat
 * 993, fleet again, Máel Sechnaill raids Munster
 * 995, forts at C., &c
 * 996, raids Mide, hostages from L.
 * 997, Máel Sechnaill agrees to divide Ireland at "Port Dá Chaineóc, near Clonfert", k. Leth M.
 * Cooperation with Máel Sechnaill
 * 1000, "first turning against Máel Sechnaill the Great, through treachery" (AT)
 * 1001, defeated. Máel Sechnaill and Cathal mac Conchobair "& all of L. Cuinn", build fences &c. across the River Shannon, nr.Athlone. This may seem very dim if we dont mention the medieval geography of Munster.

Apotheosis

 * Cogad
 * Harp