Brian Boru (c941 - 1014), High King of Ireland, King of Munster, leader of the Dál Cais, died #OnThisDay in #Dublin at the battle of Clontarf

#OTD #IrishHistory #GlobalIrishNation

2) What we know about Brian is obscured by the passage of over 1,000 years. The name Boru apparently is a moniker attributed to him after his death an refers to his place of origin, Béal Bóraimhe near Killaloe in #Clare. It’s thought that Brian was born in this area around 941

3) While Brian’s Dál Cais family were influential in their #Clare locale, they did not have a long history of prominence across Ireland. The family’s rise began with Brian’s father Cennétig who’s ambition for greater renown led to the death of many of Brian’s siblings

4) By the time Cennétig died c951, 4 of his sons had perished in battle. His successor Lachtna would fall in battle 2 years later and was succeeded by his more successful brother Mathgamain who rose to the Kingship of Munster, traditionally installed at Cashel

5) Despite surviving till 976, Mathgamain too would die violently leaving the way open for a 35 year old Brian to assume leadership. Brian proved to be even more adept than his deceased brother and gained effective control of Munster by 978

6) While Brian had gained successful control of Munster, that would not sate his ambition. He seems to have used a combination of land and naval might to penetrate deeper into Ireland through the Shannon and along the coasts likely using coopted Norseman and their ships

7) Ultimately Brian’s ambition was to control all of Ireland and to seize the High Kingship from the dominant Ui Neill family of Ulster. The effort to gain and maintain control of Tara’s Lia Fháil would occupy Brian for the rest of his life

8) There would be multiple attempts to deny Brian’s dominance and Clontarf in 1014 was an example of the restive nature of Ireland’s politics. @ElvaBJohnston of @UCDHistory explains the forces and complexities that clashed outside #Dublin

9) An aged Brian would die at Clontarf at the hands of Bróðir, a Dane from the Isle of Man. For the Dál Cais, though there was double traged, Brian’s ablest son Murchad also died in battle. The loss of both men would result in Ireland reverting to its pre Boru dueling fiefdoms

10 The dead victors of Clontarf would be brought for burial at #Armagh the seat of St Patrick

11) Many of the details in this thread are open to dispute. Clontarf, however, would live on in Irish memory and would be invoked for political purposes in subsequent centuries. This video from @UCDHistory explains this well in some detail:

12) To learn more about Brian Boru his Ireland and Clontarf give @DIB_RIA’s article a visit => https://www.dib.ie/biography/brian-borama-boruma-boru-a0954