Brian Bórú, High King of Ireland

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: Brian Bórú was born at a time when the Norse had secured many seaports and frequently plundered and harried the neighbouring countryside. In 976 he succeeded his brother Mathúin as king of Dál gCais and claimant to the kingship of Munster. By 999, after a series of wars, he was acknowledged as High King of Ireland. Brian Boru's reign was marked by continuous opposition. This came to a head in the early eleventh century. Máel Mórda, the king of Leinster, made an alliance with the Dublin Norse under Sigurd, Earl of Orkney and their overseas allies. Brian's forces defeated this union at Clontarf, about four miles north of modern Dublin, on Good Friday, April 23, 1014. Brian, too aged to fight, was awaiting news of the battle when he was slain in his tent by a Viking intruder. The battle of Clontarf marked the end of any major Viking involvement in Irish wars.
• Reign: From 976 to 1002; King of Munster
• Reign: From 999 to 1014; High King of Ireland
• Military: 1014

Notes:

Name:


Brian Bórú was born at a time when the Norse had secured many seaports and frequently plundered and harried the neighboring countryside.

Reign:
He succeeded his brother Mathúin as king of Dál gCais and claimant to the kingship of Munster.

Reign:
After a series of wars, he was acknowledged as High King of Ireland.

Military:
Brian Boru's reign was marked by continuous opposition. This came to a head in the early eleventh century. Máel Mórda, the king of Leinster, made an alliance with the Dublin Norse under Sigurd, Earl of Orkney and their overseas allies. Brian's forces defeated this union at Clontarf, about four miles north of modern Dublin, on Good Friday, April 23, 1014.

Died:
Brian, too aged to fight, was awaiting news of the battle when he was slain in his tent by a Viking intruder.

Family/Spouse: Gormflaith of Naas. Gormflaith (daughter of Murchad, King of Leinster) died in 1030. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Donnchad, King of Munster died in 1064 in Ireland.