Title

Boru's last costly victory

Page 7 of 10

Opposite the Viking allies, Brian's allied-Irish forces also formed into regional divisions. On the Irish right, 1,000 foreign mercenaries and Manx Vikings assembled opposite the Dublin Vikings. Next to them, 1,500 clansmen of Connacht were gathered under their kings, while more than 2,000 Munster warriors under Brian's son Murchad continued the front, flanked by 1,400 Dal Caissans on the extreme left - they were led by Murchad's 15-year-old son, Tordhelbach, and Brian's brother, Cuduiligh. Off to the right of the army and several hundred yards to the rear stood the reluctant army of Meath, 1,500 strong under Malachi, watching and waiting - perhaps to see which side prevailed before becoming involved.

As the forces formed up into their respective battle arrays, a Danish Viking chief roared a challenge across the field to an Irish leader, "Where's Domhnall?"Came the reply, "Here, thou reptile," and reportedly each man soon fell with the other's sword in his breast and holding the adversary's hair. Such was the grim, no-quarter combat that would be the norm this day.

Several other names were called out as more individuals advanced to the middle ground between the armies to settle grudges and family feuds. The massed onlookers cheered on the various combatants who strode into the no-man's land between the two forces to offer or accept a challenge. As the individual contests were fought between old enemies, the two armies slowly began to move toward each other in the early morning light.

Inevitably, the forces closed with crushing impact; their brutal edged weapons crashing down on helmet and shield. Swinging his deadly axe with frightful effect, Brodir fought his way through the first ranks of his enemies, pushing back the Irishmen before him until a renowned warrior, Wolf the Quarrelsome, sought him out and hit him twice with such force that the Viking fell, only managing to escape Wolf's axe by ignominiously fleeing into the woods to his right.

In the center, the Leinstermen of Mael Morda dealt harshly with the Munster clans opposing them. They pushed their fellow Irishmen back, and Sigurd's Orkney Vikings added to the Irish despair by smashing into the already engaged and lightly armed Munstermen.

Sigurd fought hard, following his "magical" raven banner and watching the prophecies of the seers come to pass. An Irish leader led a mad, impetuous attack directed at the raven standard and viciously killed the Vikings near it. He slew the standard-bearer, who was immediately replaced by another, but he, too, fell to the Irish blades.

According to the old histories, Earl Sigurd ordered the chieftain Thorstein to pick up the fallen standard, but Asmund the White warned that he would die if he took it. Thorstein walked away. Sigurd then turned to another chieftain, who told him to carry it himself. Sigurd, unwilling to show cowardice or fear, did pick up the banner, but placed it under his cloak, hoping to avoid the Irish blades. His ruse was to no avail - Brian's son Murchad sought him out and felled the Orkney leader with a spear thrust.

next page >>

	Boru's last costly victory Page 7 of 10 << previous page Opposite the Viking allies, Brian's allied-Irish forces also formed into regional divisions. On the Irish right, 1,000 foreign mercenaries and Manx Vikings assembled opposite the Dublin Vikings. Next to them, 1,500 clansmen of Connacht were gathered under their kings, while more than 2,000 Munster warriors under Brian's son Murchad continued the front, flanked by 1,400 Dal Caissans on the extreme left - they were led by Murchad's 15-year-old son, Tordhelbach, and Brian's brother, Cuduiligh. Off to the right of the army and several hundred yards to the rear stood the reluctant army of Meath, 1,500 strong under Malachi, watching and waiting - perhaps to see which side prevailed before becoming involved. As the forces formed up into their respective battle arrays, a Danish Viking chief roared a challenge across the field to an Irish leader, "Where's Domhnall?"Came the reply, "Here, thou reptile," and reportedly each man soon fell with the other's sword in his breast and holding the adversary's hair. Such was the grim, no-quarter combat that would be the norm this day. Several other names were called out as more individuals advanced to the middle ground between the armies to settle grudges and family feuds. The massed onlookers cheered on the various combatants who strode into the no-man's land between the two forces to offer or accept a challenge. As the individual contests were fought between old enemies, the two armies slowly began to move toward each other in the early morning light. Inevitably, the forces closed with crushing impact; their brutal edged weapons crashing down on helmet and shield. Swinging his deadly axe with frightful effect, Brodir fought his way through the first ranks of his enemies, pushing back the Irishmen before him until a renowned warrior, Wolf the Quarrelsome, sought him out and hit him twice with such force that the Viking fell, only managing to escape Wolf's axe by ignominiously fleeing into the woods to his right. In the center, the Leinstermen of Mael Morda dealt harshly with the Munster clans opposing them. They pushed their fellow Irishmen back, and Sigurd's Orkney Vikings added to the Irish despair by smashing into the already engaged and lightly armed Munstermen. Sigurd fought hard, following his "magical" raven banner and watching the prophecies of the seers come to pass. An Irish leader led a mad, impetuous attack directed at the raven standard and viciously killed the Vikings near it. He slew the standard-bearer, who was immediately replaced by another, but he, too, fell to the Irish blades. According to the old histories, Earl Sigurd ordered the chieftain Thorstein to pick up the fallen standard, but Asmund the White warned that he would die if he took it. Thorstein walked away. Sigurd then turned to another chieftain, who told him to carry it himself. Sigurd, unwilling to show cowardice or fear, did pick up the banner, but placed it under his cloak, hoping to avoid the Irish blades. His ruse was to no avail - Brian's son Murchad sought him out and felled the Orkney leader with a spear thrust. next page >>
	Footer goes here