Title

Boru's last costly victory

Page 4 of 10

Around the turn of the century, Brian broke a peace treaty with the king of Meath, attacking and defeating him. By 1005, he had used Viking-Irish renegades to mount raiding expeditions against the western shores of Britain, at the same time guaranteeing Danish Viking settlers in Ireland their territories in return for their military support. Still, the ethnic hatred smouldered. The text notes that around 1013 Vikings had been billeted in many Irish homes for some time. The moment came when Brian instructed his countrymen in each household to kill their "guests" on a given night as they slept and light a torch to signal that the deed was done. Such was the reality of warfare in the age of heroes.

By the time he was 60, Brian had defeated Vikings and Irish contenders alike, setting the stage for a strong dynasty to rule over the fragmented island. Factionalism was the only thing standing in the way of Irish unity.

The king of Leinster, Mael Morda, rose in revolt in 1012, refusing to acknowledge Brian's rule. Casting about for allies, he joined up with the always-troublesome Dublin Vikings in open defiance of the high king. Brian tried diplomatically to dissolve this alliance by giving his daughter to Sigtrygg Silkbeard, the Danish king of Dublin, while he himself married the legendary Gormlaith, mother of Sigtrygg, sister to King Mael Morda of Leinster and former spouse of none other than Malachi!This political alliance had too many powerful personages involved to be a success.

While transporting his "tree tribute" (a tax in the form of masts for ships), King Mael Morda broke a button off a tunic given to him by Brian. He asked his sister Gormlaith to mend it, but she started to scold and shame him for accepting anything from her husband, Brian, and being subject to his rule. Stung by his sister's insults to his honour and manhood, Mael Morda murdered one of Brian's heralds and rode off to his old allies, the Dublin Vikings. Sigtrygg, ever anxious for a fight, wasted no time in welcoming his uncle, and immediately attacked an Irish ally of Brian's, raising the banner of insurrection. Various disaffected and rebellious Irish clans quickly threw in their lot with the Dublin Vikings.

Brian, incensed by Gormlaith's meddling and intrigues, had her imprisoned while he marched for three months through the rebellious lands, raising havoc of his own before dispatching his son Murchad to raid the lands around Dublin.

Gormlaith, though imprisoned, did not sit idly by and accept her fate. At 50 years of age, she had retained her beauty; she had little trouble persuading Sigurd, the Viking earl of the Orkney Isles (who was half-Irish), to come to her rescue. Sigurd not only desired Gormlaith, but he also wanted to sit in Brian's seat as high king, like his countrymen Svein and Cnut had done in England. Sigtrygg also had sent an appeal for help to Sigurd, promising Gormlaith's hand in marriage and support for Sigurd's aspirations to the throne. It seemed that the ever-so-reasonable Sigtrygg only wanted Sigurd to guarantee his continued rule over Dublin. But Sigtrygg had other plans. Attempting to garner as much military help as possible, the wily Dubliner promised Gormlaith to another renowned Viking warrior of the age - to Brodir of the Isle of Man.

next page >>

	Boru's last costly victory Page 4 of 10 << previous page Around the turn of the century, Brian broke a peace treaty with the king of Meath, attacking and defeating him. By 1005, he had used Viking-Irish renegades to mount raiding expeditions against the western shores of Britain, at the same time guaranteeing Danish Viking settlers in Ireland their territories in return for their military support. Still, the ethnic hatred smouldered. The text notes that around 1013 Vikings had been billeted in many Irish homes for some time. The moment came when Brian instructed his countrymen in each household to kill their "guests" on a given night as they slept and light a torch to signal that the deed was done. Such was the reality of warfare in the age of heroes. By the time he was 60, Brian had defeated Vikings and Irish contenders alike, setting the stage for a strong dynasty to rule over the fragmented island. Factionalism was the only thing standing in the way of Irish unity. The king of Leinster, Mael Morda, rose in revolt in 1012, refusing to acknowledge Brian's rule. Casting about for allies, he joined up with the always-troublesome Dublin Vikings in open defiance of the high king. Brian tried diplomatically to dissolve this alliance by giving his daughter to Sigtrygg Silkbeard, the Danish king of Dublin, while he himself married the legendary Gormlaith, mother of Sigtrygg, sister to King Mael Morda of Leinster and former spouse of none other than Malachi!This political alliance had too many powerful personages involved to be a success. While transporting his "tree tribute" (a tax in the form of masts for ships), King Mael Morda broke a button off a tunic given to him by Brian. He asked his sister Gormlaith to mend it, but she started to scold and shame him for accepting anything from her husband, Brian, and being subject to his rule. Stung by his sister's insults to his honour and manhood, Mael Morda murdered one of Brian's heralds and rode off to his old allies, the Dublin Vikings. Sigtrygg, ever anxious for a fight, wasted no time in welcoming his uncle, and immediately attacked an Irish ally of Brian's, raising the banner of insurrection. Various disaffected and rebellious Irish clans quickly threw in their lot with the Dublin Vikings. Brian, incensed by Gormlaith's meddling and intrigues, had her imprisoned while he marched for three months through the rebellious lands, raising havoc of his own before dispatching his son Murchad to raid the lands around Dublin. Gormlaith, though imprisoned, did not sit idly by and accept her fate. At 50 years of age, she had retained her beauty; she had little trouble persuading Sigurd, the Viking earl of the Orkney Isles (who was half-Irish), to come to her rescue. Sigurd not only desired Gormlaith, but he also wanted to sit in Brian's seat as high king, like his countrymen Svein and Cnut had done in England. Sigtrygg also had sent an appeal for help to Sigurd, promising Gormlaith's hand in marriage and support for Sigurd's aspirations to the throne. It seemed that the ever-so-reasonable Sigtrygg only wanted Sigurd to guarantee his continued rule over Dublin. But Sigtrygg had other plans. Attempting to garner as much military help as possible, the wily Dubliner promised Gormlaith to another renowned Viking warrior of the age - to Brodir of the Isle of Man. next page >>
	Footer goes here