Saturday, May 2, 2015
Irish Historian's Report - May 2015
Irish Historian’s Report
Division One is honored to share Irish History articles provided
by The National Historian of The Ancient Order of Hibernians
BRIAN BORU
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| Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in the Year 1014 |
A centenary is a 100-year
anniversary and next year we will commemorate the Centenary of the Easter
Rising. However, last year Ireland commemorated a millennium, or a
thousand year anniversary, of the Battle of Clontarf in which the power of the
Vikings in Ireland was forever broken – the only country to ever do so.
Wherever Vikings settled, they took control, but when they tried to control
Ireland they failed. For two centuries they attacked towns and
monasteries, making quick raids and plundering wherever and whenever they
could. Their failure came at the hands of Brian mac Kennedy in 1014.
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| Brian Boru was The Last High King of Ireland |
Born near present day Killaloe, Co
Clare on the west side of the River Shannon, he was the youngest son of
Kennedy, Chief of the Dal Cassian. His eldest brother Mahon was to
succeed as Chieftain so Brian was sent to Clonmacnoise to become a monk.
At the monastery he learned to read, write and appreciate his heritage.
He studied military leaders & tactics and learned to despise the Viking
raiders who were plundering Irish monasteries. In 951, word came that
Brian’s parents had been killed by Vikings and he left the monastery to seek
revenge. Mahon, who was now Clan Chieftain, announced he was making a
treaty with the Vikings of Limerick, but Brian objected! He and a group
of followers left the clan and began raiding Viking camps. Though few in
numbers, his men defeated larger forces and his fame spread throughout Munster
attracting many more to his banner. As Viking raids continued, Mahon
realized that Brian had been right. He renounced his truce with the
Vikings and the two brothers joined forces. They took Cashel from another
Celtic Chieftain who had made an alliance with the Vikings to stay in
power. Mahon then realized that Limerick was too close to Cashel and his
stronghold in Co. Clare so; Viking power in Limerick had to be eliminated.
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| Statue of Brian Boru |
In 968, the two brothers defeated
the Vikings in Limerick and ruled peacefully for eight years over Clare, Cork,
Kerry, Tipperary and Limerick. However, the Vikings returned in 976, and
Mahon attended what was to have been a peace conference with a Chieftain named
MacBrain and his Viking allies. At the meeting, Mahon was killed.
Brian was now the undisputed Chieftain and he attacked and defeated the forces
that had slain his brother. After fortifying his power in the south,
Brian built a fleet of ships to patrol the Shannon and defeated the Vikings in
Waterford. Brian then set his sights on the Vikings of Dublin who had
allied with the King of Leinster and were raiding the center of Ireland.
With the support of Malachy, the King of Meath at Tara, who controlled the
northern part of Ireland, they beat the Vikings of Dublin in 1000. Brian
allowed the Vikings to stay, but an annual tribute was imposed. It’s for
that reason that Brian MacKennedy became known as Brian Boru or Brian of the
Tributes. Brian now led his army to Tara, where his ally, Malachy,
ruled. Brian’s reputation was so wide-spread that Malachy submitted with
little resistance and Brian Boru was now High King of all Ireland.
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| Ireland marked the 1,000 year anniversary of the battle in 2014 |
Brian’s reign as High King lasted 12
years and the country prospered. Monasteries and schools destroyed by
Vikings were rebuilt as were roads, bridges and churches. Illuminated
manuscripts and delicate metal work that had been hallmarks of monastic art saw
a rebirth. Trade increased and emissaries were even sent to Scotland and
Wales to solicit tribute in return for the protection of the King of
Ireland. Brian built his palace, Kincora, on a hill overlooking a
shallow part of the Shannon where tribute cattle could be driven across.
Today it is the town of Killaloe and a Catholic Church stands on that
hilltop. In its day, Kincora was the most noble of all the halls in
Ireland. Throughout his reign, Brian fought challenges from minor
Chieftains who refused to submit to his authority, but by 1011, all regional
rulers had acknowledged him as High King.
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| Re-enactment of The Battle of Clontarf in 2014 |
Then, in 1012, Maelmora, King of
Leinster, rebelled. Knowing he would need help to defeat Brian, he
invited the return of the Vikings, who were eager for revenge. Sigtrygg
Silkbeard, a Dublin Viking leader, called on Vikings from Orkney to the Isle of
Man as well as rebellious Vikings from Limerick, Waterford, Wexford and other
towns Brian had subdued. To Dublin they came and were joined by a few
Irish chieftains who saw this as a chance to quit their obligation to Brian and
avoid their annual tributes. Brian saw this as a threat to his plans for
a better Irish nation. He regretted letting the Vikings stay in Ireland
as long as they promised to be loyal. He would now have to settle this
for good. Brian called the clans for support and even received troops
from ‘Wolfe the Quarrelsome’ and other Vikings whom he had left to rule their
own territories. It was to be Irish and their Viking allies against
Vikings and their Irish allies. Brian set out for Dublin and the final
battle. In the early dawn of Good Friday, March 25, 1014, the army of
High King Brian Boru assembled on the field of Clontarf, just north of Dublin.
Brian, at 73-years old, was too old to lead so the army was commanded by his
son Murchad. Brian was safe behind the lines with his personal
guard. The battle was a bloody clash lasting all day. By evening
the Vikings were pushed back into the sea and the rest of the rebels fled back
to Dublin. The Irish chased them and those who had been guarding Brian
joined in the chase. Brian, meanwhile, knelt in prayer in his tent giving
thanks for the great victory and envisioning a New Ireland. A Viking
warrior named Brodar, who had fled the battle, came across Brian in his
tent. He saw that there were few men guarding the King and he hacked his
way through Brian’s attendants and came up behind the King of Ireland, kneeling
in prayer. It is recorded that Brian, startled by the noise behind him,
turned and drew his sword, prepared to defend himself. He slashed
Brodar’s leg, but it was too late. Brodar’s sword was already descending
and cut off Brian’s head. The High King of Ireland was dead, but
Brodar did not escape to brag of his treachery. Brian’s furious men
seized the wounded Brodar and dispensed proper justice to the man who had
killed the greatest leader that the Irish had ever known. They left
him tied to a nearby tree – with his own intestines!
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| Brian Boru Grave Marker St. Patrick's Cathedral, County Armagh |
Brian’s body was taken to Armagh,
the ecclesiastic center of Ireland, and was entombed in the wall of St.
Patrick’s cathedral. His army had been victorious and Ireland had become
the only country to break Viking power. After 1014, there was never
another Viking raid in Ireland. After Brian’s death, Malachy returned as
High King and Dalcassian strength was reduced to Munster only. Viking
presence remained in Ireland; their power crushed, but as Brian had decreed –
only as merchants and traders. Eventually they adopted Irish manners and
customs and were absorbed into the mainstream of Irish life. Although the
position of High King was filled from time to time after Brian’s death, Ireland
would never again have a ruler who controlled the entire country as Brian had.
Brian Boru was in fact, the last true High King of the Irish. Centuries
later, when Thomas Davis wrote his inspiring ballad A Nation Once Again,
the reign of Brian Boru was his reference.
Note:
In 977 A.D., when Brian defeated the
Vikings of Limerick, he made them a tribute tribe. Led by ‘Wolf the
Quarrelsome’, they soon became close allies to Brian with Wolf himself
sometimes referred to as Brian’s “brother-in-arms”. Wolf survived
the Battle of Clontarf, but lost his “brother-in-arms” when Brian was killed.
He watched Ireland return to factional fighting and knew there would never be
another High King like Brian Bóru. He left Ireland and travel to the Viking
colony in Iceland. As he sat around the fires on cold Icelandic nights he
retold the story of the Battle of Clontarf, and of the man he knew as a friend
for 37 years. His memoirs were written down and became part of the Icelandic
Sagas. They are considered more factually accurate than any other
accounts for he had attended every council meeting with Brian and was better
informed than any other author.
