Chapter 4
(The Hill of Tara where Tadgh was coronated. Brian himself was coronated at the family stronghold at Cashel, but Tadhg decided to continue with the millenia old tradition of receiving the Crown at the Lia Fáil)
The sun rose high on the morning of March 7, 1019 on the flat plains of Tara. A large crowd of men dressed in all manners of noble dress were amassed in solemn silence, their cloaks flapping in the breeze. They looked on as the priest recited the Lords Prayer;
"Pater noster, qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
sed libera nos a malo.
Amen."
With that, the Crown of Brian was slowly placed on the head of Tadhg mac Briain. Tadhg performed a perfunctory sign of the cross, and the audience did the same. He was now no longer a Tanist, but the Ard Rí na hÉireann and Imperator Scotorum. The new King looked out on the endless green fields of his homeland, and allowed himself to indulge in the sin of pride. Everything in sight and beyond was subject to him. It felt good. Being an ambitious young man of a now illustrious family, Tadhg even thought that perhaps lands beyond his island may bow down before him and acknowledge him as their High King.
These dreams were going to have to wait though, because first Tadhg needed to secure his rule much as his father had done. For the next year or so, Tadhg would need to be on the road with his court constantly. He would have to journey to his home in Munster, to his friends in Connaught, to his allies in Ulaidh, to his potential enemies in Leinster, the list went on. This was all to build on his fathers work on centralization, loyalty, and security in his new Kingdom. Even the thought of it was enough to exhaust the normally vigorous Tadhg, but it was a measure that had to be done to honor his father's work and to strengthen his own clan within the dangerous game of Irish politics.
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"...The High King Tadhg spent his coronation mingling amongst his nobles and making grand promises. Particular interest was payed to the former High King Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, who was in possession of great renown for his former victories alongside High King Brian Bóruma. An agreement was struck promising the continued [1] recognition of the Ui Néill monastery in Armagh as head church and the keeping of the hostages exchanged in the year 998. After the noble dealings, the Dál gCais had a fierce celebration in nearby Dubhlinn for the new Ard Rí. Raucous toasts were made in honor of the great Brian and for the prosperity of Tadhg and many a man left inebriated from the night's escapades.
While the new King celebrated his coronation, the treacherous clan of Uí Dúnlainge who had produced Brian's old rival Máel Mórda once again proved their perfidious blood by attempting to capture the city of Dubhlinn and to take off with loot by Táin Bó (Cattle Raid). Already, Bran mac Máelmórda (son of Máel Mórda) marched north with a host of cavalry and levied infantry. This rebellious body marched through the night and into the next day in an attempt to catch the High King unawares. Bran's plan was seen to its conclusion and by dawn the next morning, the vanguard of his army arrived on the outskirts of the city. Everyone, man or woman, adult or child, was ran down by Bran's horsemen and all of the cattle was driven out of their enclosures and onto the wild fields. Houses were torched and any valuable was carried off as a prize of year
Upon seeing the flames in the distant skies, the guards of the city closed the gates and the King was awoken urgently. Tadhg, in his bravery, did not flee and prepared to sally out to protect his subjects from the ravages of the Uí Dúnlainge traitors. Assembling all of the Gael and Norse nobility with him, Tadhg's force rode out to meet these marauders. Scattered and disorganized in their attempt at looting, they were easily driven off by the concentrated charge of the Ua Briain.
(Banner of the Dál gCais that was likely flown by the Ua Briain at the battle. It depicts the Claidheamh Soluis or, Sword of Light, of Irish mythology)
Bran's cavalry had fled, but soon they regrouped and returned to the field. Tadhg charged valiantly at the head of his men and layed about on all slides, slaying many. The lighter armed cavalry of Bran was no match for the well equipped men of Tadgh. Bran himself fled dishonorably, and regrouped with his levies. He ordered them to march on the city and lay a siege, and the sheer multitude of them forced Tadhg's relatively small force to return to the safety of the city. In the meantime though, Tadgh has dispatched a noble to rally the septs of Meath to combat the rebellion. Dubhlinn was then set to siege and the King staunchly defended the city for two weeks. The walls were assaulted twice and each time, Bran's men were driven off and their ladders destroyed.
Eventually, the army of Meath came into viewer the end of the second week of the siege. Upon seeing this, the rebels quickly abandoned their siege lines and formed up for battle. The Army from Meath was smaller in size than the large Rebel Host, but was made up of good and experienced men. Tadhg took this opportunity to gather his cavalry and meet his allies before the battle ensued. The Ard Rí made an impassioned and rousing speech:
“...Ignore the racket made by these traitors before you. There are more children than men in their ranks. They are not soldiers—they're not even properly equipped. We've beaten them before under my father and when they see our weapons and feel our spirit, they'll break and run just like they did at Clontarf. Hold the line and stay true to your King. Throw the javelins, then push forward: knock them down with your shields and finish them off with your swords and spears. If we win, we shall take Cill Dara and Loch Garman [2] and seize their valuables. As treasure you shall have their cattle, their women, their land, they shall be driven from the earth!"
The speech was met with an intense clattering of shields and roars of approval. And then they advanced. The field of battle, only just outside the town of Dubhlinn, consisted of a flat field with a steep river bank on the left and a set of hills on the right. The two armies advanced and the first volleys of projectiles were exchanged. Tadhg’s men were ordered to charge and they did. The melee was particularly fierce and a gory stalemate ensued where man hacked and chopped and won themselves honor.
Tadgh then decided to ride around the battle, concealed by the hills on the right of the battlefield, and fall upon the rear of Bran's rebels. Bran had lost many of his horsemen in the earlier skirmish and thus when High King Tadgh came charging out of the hills like the Devil himself, Bran had no response. Tadgh fell upon the rear of the enemy host and there slew many. The foe, within minutes, lost heart, wavered, and fled from the battlefield. Bran himself fled on a spare horse and just barely escaped capture. The rest of his army was thoroughly routed and was pursued all day by Tadhg's cavalry. The King eventually set up camp and allowed his army two days respite before they marched south into Leinster itself..."
- Gesta Rex Hibernia, Chapter II
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[1] Brian had struck a deal with the Ui Néill during his reign that recognized the monastery in Armagh as the central Irish church. This was beneficial to both parties, as the Ui Néill dominated the Church and gave influence to the family and so having Brian support it was useful. For Brian, the Church and the Ui Néill were now liable to support him for fear that a future King would not guarantee them.
[2] Modern Kildare and Wexford in the contemporary Kingdom of Leinster, both major settlements.
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Back with another update. This time it has been a month or so since Brian passed away and we follow Tadhg as he is coronated and then abruptly confronted with the first rebellion of his reign by the unruly Leinstermen. Mirroring his father, Tadhg confronts the rebels near the city of Dubhlinn and wins a second victory over the rebels, essentially breaking the power of Leinster. In the next installment, we will cover the advance into Leinster and more. I am hoping that by the year 1025 or 1030, we can step back and do an interlude look at Europe and see what all has gone on. If you guys have any butterfly suggestions like “The North Sea Empire survives” or any pet PoD you’d like to see, please comment them below because it helps with the overall Timeline!
