1014: Brian Boru & the Battle for Ireland"A deftly written history that reads as smoothly as a novel." — Midwest Book Review In life, the eleventh-century Irish king Brian Boru held the Vikings at bay; in death, he remains a towering presence in history and legend. A thousand years have passed since the Battle of Clontarf, a turning point in Irish history in which two centuries of strife between Irish kings and Vikings climaxed in a fateful conflict in the swamps of Dublin. This fascinating survey explores the personalities on both sides and provides a vivid, accessible account of the historic clash. Morgan Llywelyn, author of the bestselling Lion of Ireland, ranks among the world's most successful and respected historical novelists writing about Ireland and Celtic culture. With this book she departs from fiction to transmit decades of research into a page-turning exploration of a warrior king's life, loves, and battles, bringing the facts to life with a novelist's eye for detail and drama. "Llywelyn's account is one of the most readable and dramatic on the subject. She brings the complexities of the Irish chieftain and inheritance systems to life and shows us how decisive the famous battle turned out to be." — Irish Voice |
Contents
Contents | 7 |
Morning | 21 |
Ireland in the Tenth Century | 37 |
Vikings | 65 |
The Principals | 81 |
A Spark in Dry Tinder | 101 |
The Northern Conspiracy | 119 |
The Dragons Are Coming | 149 |
The Week Before | 161 |
The Battleground | 179 |
Attack | 203 |
The End of the Day | 217 |
Sunset | 225 |
Afterword | 237 |
Kincora | 247 |
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Common terms and phrases
allies ancient appeared Árd Rí army arrived attack banner battle Battle of Clontarf became began blood body Brian Boru Brodir brother called carried cattle century Christian claimed Clontarf command continued Dalcassians Danes dead death died Dublin earl enemy entire face father field fight fleet followed force foreigners fought Gael give given Gormlaith ground hand head high king invasion Ireland Irish island join killed Kincora king of Leinster knew known land later Leinster live Maelmora Malachy Mór Munster Murrough never night Norse Northumbria offer once Orkney perhaps plans possible princes reached returned river royal seemed ships side Sigurd Sigurd the Stout Sitric Silkbeard sons stand sword took tribe tribute turned victory Viking waiting warriors weapons women young