Clontarf

Clontarf, battle of

Clontarf, battle of (1014). This most famous of all Irish battles was fought near Dublin between Brian Bóruma (Boru) at the head of a predominantly Munster army on the one side, and an alliance of Leinster and Viking forces on the other. While a significant encounter at the time, its fame grew even more in the telling, and tracts such as Cogadh Gáedhel re Gallaibh and the Old Norse Brennu‐Njáls Saga present us with a considerably embellished version of events. In such literary accounts, the battle is portrayed as a struggle for the sovereignty of Ireland with the victory of Brian's forces signalling, according to Irish scribes, the final defeat of a foreign oppressor. Annalistic records, generally of a more sober nature, suggest that the battle should instead be viewed as an attempt by the Leinstermen, with the help of their Norse allies, to assert their independence against their dominant Munster neighbour. Moreover, despite being defeated, the Leinstermen did in fact gain respite following the encounter, since Brian's death in the battle marked the beginning of a temporary decline in Dál Cais power.

Máire Ní Mhaonaigh

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"Clontarf, battle of." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Clontarf, battle of." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-Clontarfbattleof.html

"Clontarf, battle of." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-Clontarfbattleof.html

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Clontarf, battle of

Clontarf, battle of, 1014. Brian Boru claimed the high kingship of Ireland, though resisted by Leinster and by the Norse kingdom of Dublin. After an inconclusive campaign in 1013, the Norse were reinforced from Orkney and the Isle of Man. On 23 April 1014 just outside Dublin, battle was joined. Brian Boru was too old to fight and his troops, largely from Munster, were led by his son Murchad. The Norsemen were led by Sihtric, king of Dublin. Though the Norse were defeated, Brian Boru, inadequately guarded, was killed and the victory was not followed up.

J. A. Cannon

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JOHN CANNON. "Clontarf, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Clontarf, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Clontarfbattleof.html

JOHN CANNON. "Clontarf, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Clontarfbattleof.html

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Clontarf, battle of

Clontarf, battle of, 1014. Brian Boru claimed the high kingship of Ireland, though resisted by Leinster and by the Norse kingdom of Dublin. On 23 April 1014 just outside Dublin, battle was joined. Brian Boru was too old to fight and his troops were led by his son Murchad. Though the Norse were defeated, Brian Boru, inadequately guarded, was killed.

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JOHN CANNON. "Clontarf, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Clontarf, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Clontarfbattleof.html

JOHN CANNON. "Clontarf, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Clontarfbattleof.html

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Clontarf

Clontarf , suburb of Dublin, Co. Dublin, E Republic of Ireland. It was the scene of a decisive defeat (1014) of the Danes by the Irish under Brian Boru , who himself was killed in the fighting. Clontarf Castle was built (1835) on the site of an ancient castle that belonged successively to the Knights Templars and the Knights Hospitalers.

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"Clontarf." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Clontarf." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Clontarf.html

"Clontarf." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Clontarf.html

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Clontarf

Clontarf [Ir. cluain tarbh, bull meadow]. Site of the battle where Brian Bórama (Boru) defeated the Danes on Good Friday, 1014. Today Clontarf is a northern suburb of metropolitan Dublin.

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See A. J. Goedheer , Irish and Norse Traditions About the Battle of Clontarf (Haarlem, Netherlands, 1938)

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JAMES MacKILLOP. "Clontarf." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES MacKILLOP. "Clontarf." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Clontarf.html

JAMES MacKILLOP. "Clontarf." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Clontarf.html

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Clontarf

Clontarf (Cluain Tarbh) Dublin. ‘Pasture of bulls’.

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A. D. MILLS. "Clontarf." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

A. D. MILLS. "Clontarf." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Clontarf.html

A. D. MILLS. "Clontarf." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Clontarf.html

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