Title

Boru's last costly victory

Page 5 of 10

Brodir, described by the Irish as a Christian "magician" with hair so long he had to tuck it in his belt and with mailed armour that reportedly could not be pierced by steel, make the same "deal" with Sigtrygg that Sigurd had made - Brodir was promised the Irish throne as well as a bride in return for military assistance. Sigtrygg went so far as to tempt his own brother, but his brother, disgusted with the treacherous double-dealings of his sibling, joined the army of Brian Boru instead. Still, the Vikings of Sigurd and Brodir, more than 2,000 of them, were a force to be feared. (1,000 of whom were covered in chain-mail from head to foot. )

As the forces formed during the winter of 1013-1014, Brian, informed of the mustering of Vikings and rebellious Irish clans in Dublin, called in his own allies - his old enemy Malachi and the clans of Meath, the clans of Connacht, Munster and his own Dal Caissans, as well as a thousand foreign (Viking) mercenaries. Once the muster had been completed, Brian sent his second oldest son, Donnchad, on a raiding expedition into the rebellious Irish territories, while Brian himself took the main army and marched through Leinster toward Viking Dublin. Brian's strategy was sound. By attacking and continuing to harass the rebel bases, he saw to it that many of the rebellious clans would refuse to leave their threatened homes and march to Dublin. The rebel army never reached the size it potentially could have because Brian cleverly managed to neutralise a sizeable portion of it.

As Sigurd and other Viking adventurers who had joined him sailed in the tributaries outside Dublin, they were met by Sigtrygg, Mael Morda's Irish Leinstermen, the Dublin Vikings, and the Irish rebels from various clans. Shortly thereafter, Brodir of Man and his Viking warriors arrived. The allied-Viking army resisting Brian Boru reportedly also contained English, Gall-Gael, Welsh, Flemish and French warriors, as well as a handful of Normans. This amalgamation of troops allegedly fought for promised land and pillage as well as for glory and honour. Yet, to read of their determined hand-to-hand combat, revenge for age-old wrongs seems as much a determinant as anything else.

As he approached the town, Brian Boru's own Irish army suffered a serious blow. Perhaps because of old quarrels, the Irishmen of Meath, commanded by ex-high king Malachi, drew off from the rest of the army and refused to take part in the battle plans. Although upset by the reluctance of his ally, Brian then was heartened by "news" that the Viking forces had boarded their longships and headed out to sea, apparently deserting Sigtrygg. Unknown to the Irish leaders, of course, Sigtrygg, Brodir and Earl Sigurd had planned this ruse to lull the Irish into a sense of false security. The Vikings sailed out of sight and immediately turned around, arriving back on the darkened beaches near Clontarf after sunset and thus ensuring that a battle would be fought on Good Friday.

Brian's army, depleted by Malachi's refusal to fight, still managed to muster 7,000 or so warriors. Not only were Brian's Irish troops present, but there were also warriors from "Alba" (Scotland) and Norway and a contingent of newly Christianised Manx Vikings - all of whom prepared to fight the more heavily armoured allied-Viking group.

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	Boru's last costly victory Page 5 of 10 << previous page Brodir, described by the Irish as a Christian "magician" with hair so long he had to tuck it in his belt and with mailed armour that reportedly could not be pierced by steel, make the same "deal" with Sigtrygg that Sigurd had made - Brodir was promised the Irish throne as well as a bride in return for military assistance. Sigtrygg went so far as to tempt his own brother, but his brother, disgusted with the treacherous double-dealings of his sibling, joined the army of Brian Boru instead. Still, the Vikings of Sigurd and Brodir, more than 2,000 of them, were a force to be feared. (1,000 of whom were covered in chain-mail from head to foot. ) As the forces formed during the winter of 1013-1014, Brian, informed of the mustering of Vikings and rebellious Irish clans in Dublin, called in his own allies - his old enemy Malachi and the clans of Meath, the clans of Connacht, Munster and his own Dal Caissans, as well as a thousand foreign (Viking) mercenaries. Once the muster had been completed, Brian sent his second oldest son, Donnchad, on a raiding expedition into the rebellious Irish territories, while Brian himself took the main army and marched through Leinster toward Viking Dublin. Brian's strategy was sound. By attacking and continuing to harass the rebel bases, he saw to it that many of the rebellious clans would refuse to leave their threatened homes and march to Dublin. The rebel army never reached the size it potentially could have because Brian cleverly managed to neutralise a sizeable portion of it. As Sigurd and other Viking adventurers who had joined him sailed in the tributaries outside Dublin, they were met by Sigtrygg, Mael Morda's Irish Leinstermen, the Dublin Vikings, and the Irish rebels from various clans. Shortly thereafter, Brodir of Man and his Viking warriors arrived. The allied-Viking army resisting Brian Boru reportedly also contained English, Gall-Gael, Welsh, Flemish and French warriors, as well as a handful of Normans. This amalgamation of troops allegedly fought for promised land and pillage as well as for glory and honour. Yet, to read of their determined hand-to-hand combat, revenge for age-old wrongs seems as much a determinant as anything else. As he approached the town, Brian Boru's own Irish army suffered a serious blow. Perhaps because of old quarrels, the Irishmen of Meath, commanded by ex-high king Malachi, drew off from the rest of the army and refused to take part in the battle plans. Although upset by the reluctance of his ally, Brian then was heartened by "news" that the Viking forces had boarded their longships and headed out to sea, apparently deserting Sigtrygg. Unknown to the Irish leaders, of course, Sigtrygg, Brodir and Earl Sigurd had planned this ruse to lull the Irish into a sense of false security. The Vikings sailed out of sight and immediately turned around, arriving back on the darkened beaches near Clontarf after sunset and thus ensuring that a battle would be fought on Good Friday. Brian's army, depleted by Malachi's refusal to fight, still managed to muster 7,000 or so warriors. Not only were Brian's Irish troops present, but there were also warriors from "Alba" (Scotland) and Norway and a contingent of newly Christianised Manx Vikings - all of whom prepared to fight the more heavily armoured allied-Viking group. next page >>
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