Brian Boru was the first high king of Ireland, credited with uniting his country against the Vikings. Not as popular as Saint Patrick, he is still revered by the Irish.
The advent of Saint Patrick’s Day brings to mind not only the priest credited with bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle and driving out the snakes, but a whole host of heroes and heroines, who lived and often died for their beloved country. Though second in renown to Saint Patrick, Brian Boru, the first high king of Ireland, is much revered by his countrymen.
Born in 941 near Killaloe, Brian was a member of the Dalcassian tribe of County Clare. At the age of 35, he became king of Dal Cais, and then of Munster, the latter following the death of his brother, Mahon.
During this time, Ireland, like most of Europe, was suffering from the constant incursions of marauding Vikings, who sailed up and down the Shannon River, sacking towns and cities. Brian knew that a united Ireland was the best defense against invaders, and after a number of victories against the Vikings was able to consolidate his power in southern Ireland while his surviving brother, Malachy, ruled the north. Soon Brian forced Malachy to abdicate, whereupon Brian became high king of Ireland in 1002. Relative peace followed for 12 years, until a coalition led by Sitric of Dublin, who was half-Danish and had Viking sympathies, Danish leader Sigurd the Stout, who ruled the Orkney Islands, and Maelmora of Leinster, Brian’s traitorous brother-in-law, sought to oust Brian from power.
Thousands of Danes and Irish clashed on Good Friday, April 23, 1014, at the Battle of Clontarf, near Dublin. Brian’s forces were assisted by those of his brother, Malachy, who although he resented being forced to abdicate this throne to Brian, preferred to see an Irish ruler rather than a Viking upstart. The battle eventually ended with an Irish victory, with heavy casualties on both sides.
Brian, who was 74, was persuaded by his son to wait out the fight in his tent, a short distance from the battlefield. Fleeing from the mêlée, a group of Danish soldiers discovered Brian’s tent, overpowered his guards and slaughtered the aging ruler.
Following Brian’s death, his brother Malachy succeeded him as high king of Ireland until Malachy himself died in 1022. Disorder followed, with various nobles all vying for control. This situation was later complicated by the Norman invasion of England in 1066.
Aside from his obvious distinction as a strong leader who unified a troubled, chaotic country, Brian gave rise to the Irish surname "O’Brien." The prefix "O" means "son of" or "descendant of (O’Brien: 52)."
Sources
"Brian." The New Encylopaedia Brittanica. 2007.
O’Brien, Elinor. The Land and People of Ireland. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia: 1953. 1972.
51-53.
McCarthy, Joe et al. Ireland. Time Inc., New York: 1964. 44-45.
