Although many historians dispute the age of Brian Boru, how he lead his men and when he died, it is safe to say that the Battle of Clontarf was surely his finest moment. It was during this battle that Boru secured his claim as Emperor of the Irish and extended his rule over the entire island. At the time, the King of Leinster, Mael Morda mac Murchada, was rebelling against the King's rule with the help of his kinsman, Sigtrygg the Second, King of Dublin. Sigtrygg's forces under the command of Manx Viking Commanders met with Boru's forces at Clontarf, north of Dublin city on Good Friday, 1014.
The battle was long, although no historian holds much note of what occurred during the battle, what is assured is that Brian Boru was the victor and the Dublin and Leinster armies were decimated. After the battle, Brian Boru ordered his men to march on Dublin, where Sigtrygg and his garrison awaited. Legend holds that at the sight of Boru's army, Sigtrygg boarded a ship and fled to his allies in Orkney. Although it is unkown when Sigtrygg left Ireland, it is known that he must have before he returned in 1018, after the death of Emperor Brian.
After capturing Dublin, Brian Boru became the unchallenged Emperor of the Irish, his throne recognized by the Papal representatives in Dublin. Boru then set about uniting his new Kingdom. This resulted in the War of Unity in which he set off to force the King's to resign their thrones and become lesser leaders whose fealty was to the King. After Boru's army beheaded Mael Morda in Dublin, the other royal houses resigned to the House of O'Brien. It was the beginning of a new age in Ireland, when Brian Boru died in 1017, leaving his son Murchada the throne of Ireland.
The battle was long, although no historian holds much note of what occurred during the battle, what is assured is that Brian Boru was the victor and the Dublin and Leinster armies were decimated. After the battle, Brian Boru ordered his men to march on Dublin, where Sigtrygg and his garrison awaited. Legend holds that at the sight of Boru's army, Sigtrygg boarded a ship and fled to his allies in Orkney. Although it is unkown when Sigtrygg left Ireland, it is known that he must have before he returned in 1018, after the death of Emperor Brian.
After capturing Dublin, Brian Boru became the unchallenged Emperor of the Irish, his throne recognized by the Papal representatives in Dublin. Boru then set about uniting his new Kingdom. This resulted in the War of Unity in which he set off to force the King's to resign their thrones and become lesser leaders whose fealty was to the King. After Boru's army beheaded Mael Morda in Dublin, the other royal houses resigned to the House of O'Brien. It was the beginning of a new age in Ireland, when Brian Boru died in 1017, leaving his son Murchada the throne of Ireland.