Murchada, commanded the last division,
composed
of Leinstermen, with a thousand Danish See
and barons.
and barons.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
ter O'Hallo- tion.
ran, Broder and Aisgiodal, two Danisti
landed as the leaders of two thou- fand choice troops, armed from head to foot. See "General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , pp. 260. 261.
steel. "—Denis Florence " Fer- MacCarthy's
princes,
* See Thomas McGee's " D'. \rcy
diah. " See "Poems," p. 41, Dublin, 1882, 8vo.
*' See Rer. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. ,
62.
*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea de Rehus Hibemicis," vol. i. Rev. Dr. Paul O'Britn's " Dissertations on the Na- tional Customs and State Laws of the Ancient Irish," part ii. , chap i. , p. 526.
"> A curious description and illustration of one of these ancient wooden sliields, covered with painted leather, and having iron hold- fasts for the arm, may be seen, in " Museum Wormianum seu Historia Rt rum Raiiorum, tam Naturalium, quam Artificialium, tam Domesticarum, quain lixoticanim, quo; Ha- friac Danoriim in sedilms Authoris servan- tur," Adornata ab Olas Worm, Med. Doct. et in Regia Ilafniensi Academia, ohin Pro- fessore Publico, lib. iv. cap. ix. , pp. 370, 371. Lugduni Batavorum, da. , be, Lv. , fol.
5° The vJrinAta tocViA C4 relate, that a thousand bold and powerful black Danar heroes took jiart in this war, h. iving shields and targets, with many corslets from Tha- finn. The editor, William M. Hennessey, deems the latter word to be an error, proba- bly, as it is nearly obliterated in tlie MS. This is Professor O'Curry's reading of it ; but Mr. Hennessey rather thinks o CA
IMnntoCl . , . from Finn Lochl \_ainn\, or Norway, to be more correct. See pp. 4,
Popu- lar History of Ireland," vol. i. , Book ii. ,
chap, vi. , p. 100.
" He is called, also, the son of Osli, in the
Co5<iT)h jAeoheL ne SAtLaibh, chap, cxvi. , pp. 206, 207.
* Or Caer-Eabhrog, Annals of Loui;h Ce.
as rendered,
in the
* The Latin version of the
"
calls him ". Sigurdo dynastae Hlddveris
filio. " See cap. civiii. , p. 601.
*° In the <VnnAU4 tocha Ci, edited by
William M. Hennessey, it is said Siograd Finn, interpreted . Sigurd the Fair, and
Siognd Donn, or Sigurd the Brown, two sons of Lothar, were on tliis expedition. See pp. 4, s, and nn. 6, 7.
*' There were one thousand men of the in- vaders, covere 1 with co. its of mail, accord- ing to tlie Annals of Boyle, of Ulster, and of ihe Four Masters.
*' Called also the son of Elbric, son to the King of Lochlann.
*' Such is tlie expression found, in the Dublin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemi- carum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 6l.
** See John O' Donovan's account of the Battle of Clontarf.
*5 This expression in the CogAtjh 5<ieD- heL ne SallAibh, should rather be south-
"NialsSaga
** "A skin protecting suit of flashing
4i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
brass, polished, pliable, and triple-plated. These were intended to protect their skulls, skins and bodies, from all sorts of heavy and sharp weapons. They bore stout, rough, broad, green and dark spears,? ' as also, heavy, strong and powerful swords. They drew polished and yellow-shining bows ; and, they carried quivers of a barbarous fashion, to contain their poisoned arrows ;
these were barbed and keen, sharp, bounding, penetrating, dealing terrible "
" to the green pagans;S=owingprobably
and murderous wounds. The Uanars are described, moreover, as blue-
fact,
suchanappearance. Inaddition,itmaybeobserved,thattheScandians,
as well as the, Irish, wore their hair in long and flowing locks. The foreigners of Dublin were marshalled, in one very strong battalion, under two brave soldiers, Dolat and Conmael. ss Luad was there, and fought with them. 54 This powerful corps was composed of most valiant fighting men ; and these are said to have been ranked' behind the Denmarkians already mentioned. At their head were Dubhgall,55 Gilla Ciarain,56 Donchad,? ? and Amlaf Lag- mund,5^ four crown princes of the foreigners. Besides these, Ottir, or Oitir the Black,55 Grisin ^ or Grifin, or Greisiam,^' Lummin or Luimnin, and Snad- gair,*^ four petty kings of the foreigners, and four chieftains of ships, with the foreign nobles of Erinn, joined their division. It seems probable, that here, too, were ranged the "great armies and famous young bands of Fine-Gall. "'3 Another battalion or division consisted of Lagenians. These were about nine thousand strong, and they were commanded by their King Maelmordha
MacMorough. ^'t Underhim,severalminorprincesbroughttheirclansmen
to battle. The Ui Cennselaigh were joined with the Laighin, and both con- tingents are stated to have been ranked, behind the Irish-Scanian forces.
Boetan, son to Dunlang, King of Western Laighin, and Domhnall,*5 King over
theForthuaghaofLaighin,werejoinedwiththem. TheMacTuathal,or
O'Toole, named Dunlang,*^ King of the Liffey territory, was there, as also,
Brogorban,*? prince of Hy-Falgy, or Ophaly. Besides these, the nobles of
Leinster, and a large body of the Danes, fought under Maelmordah's com-
mand. '^ Dunlang,*9 Kin- of the Liffey, kept the flank of the pirates, with ten hundred men armed for battle ; and, his position was on the north side of
the great centre body, or nearest to Howth, thus forming the extreme right wing of the Leinster and Scandian army. 7° The third division was formed of
e and n. 10.
5> In the museums of Scandinavia, as in
those of Ireland, we have yet numerous spc- cimens of spear-heads, answering to this description, admittedly belonging to the Northmen, and probably of that period.
5' See CojA'oh jAeoheb lie S-illAibh,
chap, xci. , pp. 158 to 161.
5^ See the Dublin copy of the Annals of
Innisfallen, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p.
,
gj
54 ggg nid_
55 Son of Amlaf.
5' Son of Glun-iaraind, son of Amlaf.
57 Grandson of Erulf.
5* Son of Goffvaidh.
5' He is also called Uithir the Black, i. e.
the warrior of Caer-Eighist, not identified by by the editor of OiTinAt,A tochA C6. See pp.
. eandn. 2.
1^' Called Grisine, a Knight of the Flem-
'' A oftheNormans. Seeibid. Knight
'*
Besides these, in the Codex B, are named Suainin and Sigraidh.
'^ gee AnriAld tochA C<J, or the Annals
of Lough Ce, edited by William M. Hen-
nessey, pp. 4, J.
'• See " Annales Inisfalenses," Dublin
"
copy, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's Rerura
_
ings.
See ibid.
that their armour them gave
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomusii. , p. 61. '5 Son of Fergal.
"
^' Son of Conchobhar.
Son of Tuathal.
'•
Another account has it, that thL^ second division consisted of the insular Danish auxi- liaries, under the command of Sitricus, son
"
to Lodar. See General Vallancey's lectanea de Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i.
Paul O'Brien's "Dissertations on the Na- tional Customs and State Laws of the Ancient Irish," part ii. , chap, i. , p. 526.
^ ^'^ °"s instance, he seems, by over- sight, to have been Ciilled Dunnall, King of
L'phe.
Col- Dr.
1
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
Northmen, collected from the Isles,? ' and from their various dependencies in Scotland. Accounts somewhat differing are given, regarding those who cora- manded. 7' Loder," or Loader,? * Earl of the Orkneys, is said by some to have borne the chieftaincy of that valiant,and adventurous division. Yet, this statement is not so historically exact ; for, we read, in nearly all accounts, that Sigard, his son, was the celebrated Jarl there ruling, at this period, and theircommander. AccordingtotheScandinavianaccounts,? ^Brodirwason one wing of the battle, and King Sigtrygg on the other, while Earl Sigurd was in the middle. ? ^ However, it does not seem to be established, that King Sigtrygg was engaged with the hosts,? ? in the field, at least during the after part of the battle ; forj he is described as being a spectator of the conflict
from the walls of Dublin,? ' where it would seem he had charge of the garri- son. In the third division, we are told,? 9 Bruader the Danish leader fought; and, here were placed, likewise, the men of Cornwall, with those Scanians fromtheregionofsnow,andfromMediterraneanGothland. '" BothBlack Lochlonnachs and Fair Lochlonnachs were ranged on the field of battle. '" With the expeditionary army came merchants from the lands of the Saxons, fromtheBritons,andevenfromtheRomans. '^ Francealsosentitscontin- gent of invaders. '^ The fleet, which had brought the auxiliary Northmen to Ireland, was commanded by Broder, who now fought on land, in this third division. Under him were ranged the Danes from Anglesy and Wales, as also the Manxmen. '• From Innsi-Gall and from Renna,'5 as also from Flan- ders, came warriors to join in this struggle. **
However, Bryan was not dismayed by this mighty force ; but, depending on Divine Providence, and on the bravery and skill of his troops, the Irish Mon-
archpreparedforbattle. Inthefront,herangedthevaliant,active,intelligent and intrepid Dalcassians,'? and with them were the Clann Laighdeach," These
? " See Co5<s-oli J-ieoViel lie JiUaibh, chap, xciv. , ci , pp. 162 to 165, and 176, 177.
' from Cead, eru hurt- Namely (literally
" In the Dublin copy of the Innisfallen Annals.
Hibemicarum dreJ), or the Hebrides, from Man, from 62, with notes.
Scriptores,
" tomus ii.
,
pp. 61,
Shetland, from Lewis, fromCantyre, as also *' See -dmiALA LochA Ci, or Annals of the eastern Irish. See the Dublin copy of Lough Ce, edited by WUliam M. Hennessy, the Annals of Innisfallen, in Rev. Dr. pp. 4, 5.
O Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum res," tomus ii. , pp. 61, 62.
Scripts-
'' . See ibiii.
'* At this period, it was greatly disturbed, by the disorders and feuds of the petty kings
"
Histoire de France," tome iii. Deuxiime—Partie, liv. xvii. , France du Moyen Age. Feodalit^,
'» By the author o( " Dissertations on the Nation. al Customs and State Laws of the Ancient Iri^h," it is stated, that Maelmordha Mac .
Murchada, commanded the last division, composed of Leinstermen, with a thousand Danish See
and barons. See Henri Martin's
troops. Vallancey's
part ii. , chap, i. , p. 526.
General Hibernicis," vol. i.
" Collectanea de Rebus lar of Ireland," vol. i. , Book ii. , History
"OrHlodver. Hewasnotlivingatthis
period, having died about the year 980.
chap, vi. , p. lOO. '^SupposedtobederivedfromRintt,"a
point," and probably meaning the Rinns of
" See " Annates "
Inisfalenses, Dublin Galloway,
copy, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 61.
's "
See Nials-Saga," cap. clviii. , p. 602.
in . Scotland,
" See <\nti4t4 LocHa C^, or the " Annals
of Loch Ce, edited by William M. Hen-
? * See Webbe Dasent's " George
nessy, pp. 4, 5,
Story of Burnt Njal,'' vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 334.
" According to the Co5it)h JaeTjheL lie jAtbaibh, the son of Amlaibh, and King of Ath Cliath, went not into battle on that day.
See chap, cxvii. , pp. 206, 207.
'' See ibid. , chap, cviii. , ex. , pp. 190, 191,
'9*1'93-
*= See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
"Rerura
pp. 38 to 49.
** See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's
"
Popu-
and n. 8.
"' These are called the Gamandraidh, an
ancient warlike people of the Firbolg race, who lived at Erris, in Connaught ; but, the name is here used in the general sense of heroes or warriors.
*" or Also written the Clann Luighdecli,
Ludech, or the descendents of I. uyaidMenn, KingofThomond. Hewasancestorofthe
DI
4i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
latter were probably the men of the five Dealbnas. '' It is said, the monarch divided the troops under liis command into three distinct corps. One of tliese was directed to oppose the enemy's first division, and it was placed under his son Murchadh or Morough,9° who, after the Trojan hero, is styled "the match- less Hector of Erinn". '' Along with him fought his own son Tordhelbach, or Torlough,9' with a select body of the brave IJalcassians. 's Some of the Mun- ster historians state, however, that Murchadli, the son of Bryan, was placed, mixed with the battalions of Desmond, as of Thomond, and that both of thesewerepostedsidebyside. NexttoAedhUaNeill,Murchadhwaslord of the volunteers of Erinn, for there was not a king of any single tribe in the island, that had not a son or a brother in his household. The northern chroniclers state,9< that among the Irish in mid-battle was Kerthialfad,95 and before him the banners were borne. s* The son of Murchadh, named Tord- helbach, was deemed the best crown prince of Erinn, in his time. '' With him was Conaing, the son of Doncuan, one of the three men in Erinn most valued by Bryan ; also, there stood Niall Ua Cuinn,? ^ Eochaidh,? ? and Cudulligh,'°° the three rere-guards of the Monarch ; and, Domhnall. '"' King of Corcabhais- cinn, with the greater part of the bravest men among the Dalcassians. Be- sides these already mentioned, four other sons of Bryan are said to have been in the field ; namely, Tadgh or Teige, Domhnall or Donald, Conchubhar, or
Dal Cais Borumha, from whom, in the six- son of Oenghus Tirech, who are called the teenth degree, Bryan himself descended. See Dal Cais of Borumlia, and the stainless in- Appendix B, Table iii. , in tlie CogA-oVi telligent heroes of the Gaidhill along with
5Aet>Viel tie JdltiibVi, p. 247. them. These were a tribe, worthy ol being •' In such case, they had only a collateral compared with the sons ofMiledh, forking- relationship with Bryan, branching from liness and gre. it renown, for energy and dig- Lugaid Dcalbh n Aodh, brother to Blod, nity, and martial prowess. They were the and ninth in descent from Oilioll Olum. Franks of ancient Fodhia, in intelligence
See ibid.
9° While some writers state, he was sixty-
three years of age, at this time. Dr. O'Dono- van thinks his ^e was only fifty-three, or perhaps, only forty-three.
9' The writer of the CojAibh jAeoheb He
5<il,l-aibVi furthermore pronounces the high eulogy, that he was the yew of Ross—one of the famous old trees of Ireland—among the
of Erinn ; the head of the valour,
Erinces munificence, liberality and ravery, chiv. ilry,
beauty of the men of the world in his time, and during his career ; since the historians of the tiacdhil do not relate, tliat there was any man amoni; the sons of Adam in his time, who could hold a shield in mutual interchange of blows with him.
9' Also called Terence, as Anglicised.
'3 The following extravagancies of panegy- ric and style are lavi-hed on them, we sus- pect by a writer of Thomond. He describes them as "brave, valiant champions; sol- dierly, active, nimble, bold, full of courage, quick, doing greai deeds, pompous, beauti- ful, aggressive, hot, strong, swelling, bright, fresh, never weary, terrible, valiant, victo- rious heroes and chieftains, and champions
and brave soldiers, the men of high deeds, and honour, and renown of Erinn ; namely, the heavy weight that broke down every stronghold, and cleft every way, and sprang
over every obstacle, and flayed every stout head,thatistosay,thedescendantsofLugaidh,
and pure valour, the comely, beautiful, noble, ever victorious sons of Israel of Krinn, for virtue, for generosity, for dignity, for truth,
and for worth, the strong tearing, brave lions of the Gaedhil for valour and bold deeds ; the terrible nimble wolf-hounds of victorious Banba, for strength and firmness, the graceful symmetrical hawks of mild Europe, against whom neither battle, nor battlefield, nor conflict, nor combat—, was ever before,northenwasmaintained," CojAwh
5aeT>hel Tie Jabbiibh, pp. l6o, i6l. "
'*See Nials-. Saga,"cap. clviii. ,p. 602.
95 Krom the part he is made to take in the battle, we are inclined to believe, the North- men intended by this name to designate Murchadh. However, it is intimated, that he survived the baitle of Clontarf, in the northern account ; but, it would seem, rumour furnished the chief stap'e, for their writers, in reference to this day.
"
9* See George Webbe Dasent's Burnt Nj il," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 334.
9' At this period, he was only fifteen years of age, according to the Annals of Clonmac- noise.
9* The Ui Cuinn were a distinguished sept of the Dal-Cassians, and from them the Earls of Dunraven have descended.
''^ Son of Dunadach.
"" Son of Cennetigh. "" Son of Diarmaid.
"'According to Dr. Sylvester O'Hallo-
Story of
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
Connor, and Flann. '°' Moreover, various chieftains were there, such Donchuad,
son of Kennedy, Lonargain, Ceiliochuir, Fiongallach and lonnrachtach ; toge- ther witli three Reguh from Teffia, as also Laogegan and Ultan. '°3 A body of men Irom Conmaicne-mara, a western part of Irehmd, were marshalled under Carnan. their chief '°« These were ordered, with Feargal Ua Ruairc and the Ui Brinin, to the left wing of the army. It seems doubtful properly to name or identify that Irish leader, called in the northern clironicles Ulfus Hraeda,'°5 or Wolf the quarrelsome,'"* who was on that wing of the battle against which Brodir stood ; we are told, moreover, on the other wing, where Sigtrygg stood against the Irish, were Ospak and his sons. '°7 To this division Maelseachlainn, King of Temhair, was ordered by Bryan to join his followers, composingthebattalionofthemenofMidhe. '°^ Itispretended,'"'thathe had arranged with the foreigners, on the preceding day, to have a ditch between himself and thera,"° both parties engaging mutual forbearance dur- ing the fight, provided the foreigners should not attack Maelseachlainn. With this evil understanding, it is said, that the King of Temhair refused to take thepostassignedhim. ThetenMormaersorGreatStewardsofBryanwere drawn up, with their foreign auxiliaries, on one side of his army. Foremost among these was Domhnall,'" son of Eimin,"" high steward of Alban,"3 others call him the Mormaer of Marr. "* With him was Muredach, descended from Maine Leamhna,"^ Mormhaor of Leavna, or Lennox ;"* and, although we only find these names recorded, the whole force of Alljan was probably here arrayed, and on Bryan's side. "'
Over that division, which was in order of battle to fight the second pf their enemy, commanded by Maelmordha, King of Leinster, Bryan placed Kian "' and Donald,"' two princes of the Eugenian line, under whom were the chiefs and forces from Desmond, and from other southern
ran, there were iu the field of Bryan's imme-
from the place of battle. See the Innisfallen Annals, and the Dublin copy, at p. 65.
'"Chief of the Eochanachts of Magh
Geirrginn, or Marr, in Scotland.
"' He was son to Canicli. See Roderick
O'Flaherty's"Ogygia,"pars,iii. , cap. Ixxxi. , pp. , 382, 384.
diate fam ly, five sons, his grandson, and fif- "
teennephews. See GeneralHistoryofIre- land,'' vol. ii. , IJook xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'"3 See the Dublin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, in the Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Reruin Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
'« Tiie Annali tocVid C^ state, howevej, that save the Hi-M line and the Hi-Fiachrach' and Cencl Oedha, tlie menof Connaught did not aid Brian ; and as no goo<l-will existed between hiniself and Tadhg an-eichghil, son of Cath. il, son to Conchobhar, King of Con- naught, so lie r'-fused to go with the Mon- arcli to Cluain tarbh. See pp. 6, 7.
"S See "Nials-Saga," cap. clviii. , p. 602.
"* He is called a great champion and war-
rior, while he is said to have been brother
to King Brian, in the Saga.
"'See Geoige Webbe Dasent's "Story
ofthe Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , 41.
334.
"* . See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerura
Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62. Dublin copy of the Innisfallen Annals.
"« The <lnn<iL4 tochd Ci have it, that the men of . Mumha alone, MaeKhechlainn, with the men of Midlie, and the South Con- nacians, were the cliief supporters of Bryan on this day. See pp. 6, 7.
"° Tiie previous autliority has it, that Maelseachlainn retired the space of a field,
"3 See CogAoh Jieohet He jAtUaibli, chap, xcvi. , c, pp. 168, 169, 174, 175.
'"See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land : A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. , Book i. , chap, viii. , p. 387.
"^ This Maine Leamhna was son to Core,
son of Lughaidh, son to OilioU Flainibeg, son of Fiacha Meuillcathan, son to Eoghan Mor, son to OilioU OUum, King of Mun- ster.
"* See O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , chap. Ixxxi. , pp. 382 to 384. According to this writer, from the former descended the ancient Earls of Marr, tracing their origin to Carbre the Pict ; while from the latter de- sceiid the E iris of Lennox, supposed to be derived from -Manius Levinius.
"' See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
Isnd : A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Book i. , chip. , viii, p. 387, n. 4.
"' . Son 01 Maolmuadh, son to Bron. See
Dublin copy of the Annah of Innisfallen, in
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip-
tores," tomus ii. , p. 63
"'SontoDubdaboren. Heelii't/.
"°
See Hid.
430 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
parts of Ireland. Kian is said to have been one of the tallest and most beau- tiful among the Irish chieftains. "" According to another account, Bryan col- lected one very strong and great battalion, formed from the chosen hosts of all Munster, who were stationed as supports, in the rere of his foremost troops. "' At tlie head of those reinforcements, he had two chief leaders.
ran, Broder and Aisgiodal, two Danisti
landed as the leaders of two thou- fand choice troops, armed from head to foot. See "General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , pp. 260. 261.
steel. "—Denis Florence " Fer- MacCarthy's
princes,
* See Thomas McGee's " D'. \rcy
diah. " See "Poems," p. 41, Dublin, 1882, 8vo.
*' See Rer. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. ,
62.
*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea de Rehus Hibemicis," vol. i. Rev. Dr. Paul O'Britn's " Dissertations on the Na- tional Customs and State Laws of the Ancient Irish," part ii. , chap i. , p. 526.
"> A curious description and illustration of one of these ancient wooden sliields, covered with painted leather, and having iron hold- fasts for the arm, may be seen, in " Museum Wormianum seu Historia Rt rum Raiiorum, tam Naturalium, quam Artificialium, tam Domesticarum, quain lixoticanim, quo; Ha- friac Danoriim in sedilms Authoris servan- tur," Adornata ab Olas Worm, Med. Doct. et in Regia Ilafniensi Academia, ohin Pro- fessore Publico, lib. iv. cap. ix. , pp. 370, 371. Lugduni Batavorum, da. , be, Lv. , fol.
5° The vJrinAta tocViA C4 relate, that a thousand bold and powerful black Danar heroes took jiart in this war, h. iving shields and targets, with many corslets from Tha- finn. The editor, William M. Hennessey, deems the latter word to be an error, proba- bly, as it is nearly obliterated in tlie MS. This is Professor O'Curry's reading of it ; but Mr. Hennessey rather thinks o CA
IMnntoCl . , . from Finn Lochl \_ainn\, or Norway, to be more correct. See pp. 4,
Popu- lar History of Ireland," vol. i. , Book ii. ,
chap, vi. , p. 100.
" He is called, also, the son of Osli, in the
Co5<iT)h jAeoheL ne SAtLaibh, chap, cxvi. , pp. 206, 207.
* Or Caer-Eabhrog, Annals of Loui;h Ce.
as rendered,
in the
* The Latin version of the
"
calls him ". Sigurdo dynastae Hlddveris
filio. " See cap. civiii. , p. 601.
*° In the <VnnAU4 tocha Ci, edited by
William M. Hennessey, it is said Siograd Finn, interpreted . Sigurd the Fair, and
Siognd Donn, or Sigurd the Brown, two sons of Lothar, were on tliis expedition. See pp. 4, s, and nn. 6, 7.
*' There were one thousand men of the in- vaders, covere 1 with co. its of mail, accord- ing to tlie Annals of Boyle, of Ulster, and of ihe Four Masters.
*' Called also the son of Elbric, son to the King of Lochlann.
*' Such is tlie expression found, in the Dublin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemi- carum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 6l.
** See John O' Donovan's account of the Battle of Clontarf.
*5 This expression in the CogAtjh 5<ieD- heL ne SallAibh, should rather be south-
"NialsSaga
** "A skin protecting suit of flashing
4i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
brass, polished, pliable, and triple-plated. These were intended to protect their skulls, skins and bodies, from all sorts of heavy and sharp weapons. They bore stout, rough, broad, green and dark spears,? ' as also, heavy, strong and powerful swords. They drew polished and yellow-shining bows ; and, they carried quivers of a barbarous fashion, to contain their poisoned arrows ;
these were barbed and keen, sharp, bounding, penetrating, dealing terrible "
" to the green pagans;S=owingprobably
and murderous wounds. The Uanars are described, moreover, as blue-
fact,
suchanappearance. Inaddition,itmaybeobserved,thattheScandians,
as well as the, Irish, wore their hair in long and flowing locks. The foreigners of Dublin were marshalled, in one very strong battalion, under two brave soldiers, Dolat and Conmael. ss Luad was there, and fought with them. 54 This powerful corps was composed of most valiant fighting men ; and these are said to have been ranked' behind the Denmarkians already mentioned. At their head were Dubhgall,55 Gilla Ciarain,56 Donchad,? ? and Amlaf Lag- mund,5^ four crown princes of the foreigners. Besides these, Ottir, or Oitir the Black,55 Grisin ^ or Grifin, or Greisiam,^' Lummin or Luimnin, and Snad- gair,*^ four petty kings of the foreigners, and four chieftains of ships, with the foreign nobles of Erinn, joined their division. It seems probable, that here, too, were ranged the "great armies and famous young bands of Fine-Gall. "'3 Another battalion or division consisted of Lagenians. These were about nine thousand strong, and they were commanded by their King Maelmordha
MacMorough. ^'t Underhim,severalminorprincesbroughttheirclansmen
to battle. The Ui Cennselaigh were joined with the Laighin, and both con- tingents are stated to have been ranked, behind the Irish-Scanian forces.
Boetan, son to Dunlang, King of Western Laighin, and Domhnall,*5 King over
theForthuaghaofLaighin,werejoinedwiththem. TheMacTuathal,or
O'Toole, named Dunlang,*^ King of the Liffey territory, was there, as also,
Brogorban,*? prince of Hy-Falgy, or Ophaly. Besides these, the nobles of
Leinster, and a large body of the Danes, fought under Maelmordah's com-
mand. '^ Dunlang,*9 Kin- of the Liffey, kept the flank of the pirates, with ten hundred men armed for battle ; and, his position was on the north side of
the great centre body, or nearest to Howth, thus forming the extreme right wing of the Leinster and Scandian army. 7° The third division was formed of
e and n. 10.
5> In the museums of Scandinavia, as in
those of Ireland, we have yet numerous spc- cimens of spear-heads, answering to this description, admittedly belonging to the Northmen, and probably of that period.
5' See CojA'oh jAeoheb lie S-illAibh,
chap, xci. , pp. 158 to 161.
5^ See the Dublin copy of the Annals of
Innisfallen, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p.
,
gj
54 ggg nid_
55 Son of Amlaf.
5' Son of Glun-iaraind, son of Amlaf.
57 Grandson of Erulf.
5* Son of Goffvaidh.
5' He is also called Uithir the Black, i. e.
the warrior of Caer-Eighist, not identified by by the editor of OiTinAt,A tochA C6. See pp.
. eandn. 2.
1^' Called Grisine, a Knight of the Flem-
'' A oftheNormans. Seeibid. Knight
'*
Besides these, in the Codex B, are named Suainin and Sigraidh.
'^ gee AnriAld tochA C<J, or the Annals
of Lough Ce, edited by William M. Hen-
nessey, pp. 4, J.
'• See " Annales Inisfalenses," Dublin
"
copy, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's Rerura
_
ings.
See ibid.
that their armour them gave
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomusii. , p. 61. '5 Son of Fergal.
"
^' Son of Conchobhar.
Son of Tuathal.
'•
Another account has it, that thL^ second division consisted of the insular Danish auxi- liaries, under the command of Sitricus, son
"
to Lodar. See General Vallancey's lectanea de Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i.
Paul O'Brien's "Dissertations on the Na- tional Customs and State Laws of the Ancient Irish," part ii. , chap, i. , p. 526.
^ ^'^ °"s instance, he seems, by over- sight, to have been Ciilled Dunnall, King of
L'phe.
Col- Dr.
1
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
Northmen, collected from the Isles,? ' and from their various dependencies in Scotland. Accounts somewhat differing are given, regarding those who cora- manded. 7' Loder," or Loader,? * Earl of the Orkneys, is said by some to have borne the chieftaincy of that valiant,and adventurous division. Yet, this statement is not so historically exact ; for, we read, in nearly all accounts, that Sigard, his son, was the celebrated Jarl there ruling, at this period, and theircommander. AccordingtotheScandinavianaccounts,? ^Brodirwason one wing of the battle, and King Sigtrygg on the other, while Earl Sigurd was in the middle. ? ^ However, it does not seem to be established, that King Sigtrygg was engaged with the hosts,? ? in the field, at least during the after part of the battle ; forj he is described as being a spectator of the conflict
from the walls of Dublin,? ' where it would seem he had charge of the garri- son. In the third division, we are told,? 9 Bruader the Danish leader fought; and, here were placed, likewise, the men of Cornwall, with those Scanians fromtheregionofsnow,andfromMediterraneanGothland. '" BothBlack Lochlonnachs and Fair Lochlonnachs were ranged on the field of battle. '" With the expeditionary army came merchants from the lands of the Saxons, fromtheBritons,andevenfromtheRomans. '^ Francealsosentitscontin- gent of invaders. '^ The fleet, which had brought the auxiliary Northmen to Ireland, was commanded by Broder, who now fought on land, in this third division. Under him were ranged the Danes from Anglesy and Wales, as also the Manxmen. '• From Innsi-Gall and from Renna,'5 as also from Flan- ders, came warriors to join in this struggle. **
However, Bryan was not dismayed by this mighty force ; but, depending on Divine Providence, and on the bravery and skill of his troops, the Irish Mon-
archpreparedforbattle. Inthefront,herangedthevaliant,active,intelligent and intrepid Dalcassians,'? and with them were the Clann Laighdeach," These
? " See Co5<s-oli J-ieoViel lie JiUaibh, chap, xciv. , ci , pp. 162 to 165, and 176, 177.
' from Cead, eru hurt- Namely (literally
" In the Dublin copy of the Innisfallen Annals.
Hibemicarum dreJ), or the Hebrides, from Man, from 62, with notes.
Scriptores,
" tomus ii.
,
pp. 61,
Shetland, from Lewis, fromCantyre, as also *' See -dmiALA LochA Ci, or Annals of the eastern Irish. See the Dublin copy of Lough Ce, edited by WUliam M. Hennessy, the Annals of Innisfallen, in Rev. Dr. pp. 4, 5.
O Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum res," tomus ii. , pp. 61, 62.
Scripts-
'' . See ibiii.
'* At this period, it was greatly disturbed, by the disorders and feuds of the petty kings
"
Histoire de France," tome iii. Deuxiime—Partie, liv. xvii. , France du Moyen Age. Feodalit^,
'» By the author o( " Dissertations on the Nation. al Customs and State Laws of the Ancient Iri^h," it is stated, that Maelmordha Mac .
Murchada, commanded the last division, composed of Leinstermen, with a thousand Danish See
and barons. See Henri Martin's
troops. Vallancey's
part ii. , chap, i. , p. 526.
General Hibernicis," vol. i.
" Collectanea de Rebus lar of Ireland," vol. i. , Book ii. , History
"OrHlodver. Hewasnotlivingatthis
period, having died about the year 980.
chap, vi. , p. lOO. '^SupposedtobederivedfromRintt,"a
point," and probably meaning the Rinns of
" See " Annates "
Inisfalenses, Dublin Galloway,
copy, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 61.
's "
See Nials-Saga," cap. clviii. , p. 602.
in . Scotland,
" See <\nti4t4 LocHa C^, or the " Annals
of Loch Ce, edited by William M. Hen-
? * See Webbe Dasent's " George
nessy, pp. 4, 5,
Story of Burnt Njal,'' vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 334.
" According to the Co5it)h JaeTjheL lie jAtbaibh, the son of Amlaibh, and King of Ath Cliath, went not into battle on that day.
See chap, cxvii. , pp. 206, 207.
'' See ibid. , chap, cviii. , ex. , pp. 190, 191,
'9*1'93-
*= See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
"Rerura
pp. 38 to 49.
** See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's
"
Popu-
and n. 8.
"' These are called the Gamandraidh, an
ancient warlike people of the Firbolg race, who lived at Erris, in Connaught ; but, the name is here used in the general sense of heroes or warriors.
*" or Also written the Clann Luighdecli,
Ludech, or the descendents of I. uyaidMenn, KingofThomond. Hewasancestorofthe
DI
4i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
latter were probably the men of the five Dealbnas. '' It is said, the monarch divided the troops under liis command into three distinct corps. One of tliese was directed to oppose the enemy's first division, and it was placed under his son Murchadh or Morough,9° who, after the Trojan hero, is styled "the match- less Hector of Erinn". '' Along with him fought his own son Tordhelbach, or Torlough,9' with a select body of the brave IJalcassians. 's Some of the Mun- ster historians state, however, that Murchadli, the son of Bryan, was placed, mixed with the battalions of Desmond, as of Thomond, and that both of thesewerepostedsidebyside. NexttoAedhUaNeill,Murchadhwaslord of the volunteers of Erinn, for there was not a king of any single tribe in the island, that had not a son or a brother in his household. The northern chroniclers state,9< that among the Irish in mid-battle was Kerthialfad,95 and before him the banners were borne. s* The son of Murchadh, named Tord- helbach, was deemed the best crown prince of Erinn, in his time. '' With him was Conaing, the son of Doncuan, one of the three men in Erinn most valued by Bryan ; also, there stood Niall Ua Cuinn,? ^ Eochaidh,? ? and Cudulligh,'°° the three rere-guards of the Monarch ; and, Domhnall. '"' King of Corcabhais- cinn, with the greater part of the bravest men among the Dalcassians. Be- sides these already mentioned, four other sons of Bryan are said to have been in the field ; namely, Tadgh or Teige, Domhnall or Donald, Conchubhar, or
Dal Cais Borumha, from whom, in the six- son of Oenghus Tirech, who are called the teenth degree, Bryan himself descended. See Dal Cais of Borumlia, and the stainless in- Appendix B, Table iii. , in tlie CogA-oVi telligent heroes of the Gaidhill along with
5Aet>Viel tie JdltiibVi, p. 247. them. These were a tribe, worthy ol being •' In such case, they had only a collateral compared with the sons ofMiledh, forking- relationship with Bryan, branching from liness and gre. it renown, for energy and dig- Lugaid Dcalbh n Aodh, brother to Blod, nity, and martial prowess. They were the and ninth in descent from Oilioll Olum. Franks of ancient Fodhia, in intelligence
See ibid.
9° While some writers state, he was sixty-
three years of age, at this time. Dr. O'Dono- van thinks his ^e was only fifty-three, or perhaps, only forty-three.
9' The writer of the CojAibh jAeoheb He
5<il,l-aibVi furthermore pronounces the high eulogy, that he was the yew of Ross—one of the famous old trees of Ireland—among the
of Erinn ; the head of the valour,
Erinces munificence, liberality and ravery, chiv. ilry,
beauty of the men of the world in his time, and during his career ; since the historians of the tiacdhil do not relate, tliat there was any man amoni; the sons of Adam in his time, who could hold a shield in mutual interchange of blows with him.
9' Also called Terence, as Anglicised.
'3 The following extravagancies of panegy- ric and style are lavi-hed on them, we sus- pect by a writer of Thomond. He describes them as "brave, valiant champions; sol- dierly, active, nimble, bold, full of courage, quick, doing greai deeds, pompous, beauti- ful, aggressive, hot, strong, swelling, bright, fresh, never weary, terrible, valiant, victo- rious heroes and chieftains, and champions
and brave soldiers, the men of high deeds, and honour, and renown of Erinn ; namely, the heavy weight that broke down every stronghold, and cleft every way, and sprang
over every obstacle, and flayed every stout head,thatistosay,thedescendantsofLugaidh,
and pure valour, the comely, beautiful, noble, ever victorious sons of Israel of Krinn, for virtue, for generosity, for dignity, for truth,
and for worth, the strong tearing, brave lions of the Gaedhil for valour and bold deeds ; the terrible nimble wolf-hounds of victorious Banba, for strength and firmness, the graceful symmetrical hawks of mild Europe, against whom neither battle, nor battlefield, nor conflict, nor combat—, was ever before,northenwasmaintained," CojAwh
5aeT>hel Tie Jabbiibh, pp. l6o, i6l. "
'*See Nials-. Saga,"cap. clviii. ,p. 602.
95 Krom the part he is made to take in the battle, we are inclined to believe, the North- men intended by this name to designate Murchadh. However, it is intimated, that he survived the baitle of Clontarf, in the northern account ; but, it would seem, rumour furnished the chief stap'e, for their writers, in reference to this day.
"
9* See George Webbe Dasent's Burnt Nj il," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 334.
9' At this period, he was only fifteen years of age, according to the Annals of Clonmac- noise.
9* The Ui Cuinn were a distinguished sept of the Dal-Cassians, and from them the Earls of Dunraven have descended.
''^ Son of Dunadach.
"" Son of Cennetigh. "" Son of Diarmaid.
"'According to Dr. Sylvester O'Hallo-
Story of
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
Connor, and Flann. '°' Moreover, various chieftains were there, such Donchuad,
son of Kennedy, Lonargain, Ceiliochuir, Fiongallach and lonnrachtach ; toge- ther witli three Reguh from Teffia, as also Laogegan and Ultan. '°3 A body of men Irom Conmaicne-mara, a western part of Irehmd, were marshalled under Carnan. their chief '°« These were ordered, with Feargal Ua Ruairc and the Ui Brinin, to the left wing of the army. It seems doubtful properly to name or identify that Irish leader, called in the northern clironicles Ulfus Hraeda,'°5 or Wolf the quarrelsome,'"* who was on that wing of the battle against which Brodir stood ; we are told, moreover, on the other wing, where Sigtrygg stood against the Irish, were Ospak and his sons. '°7 To this division Maelseachlainn, King of Temhair, was ordered by Bryan to join his followers, composingthebattalionofthemenofMidhe. '°^ Itispretended,'"'thathe had arranged with the foreigners, on the preceding day, to have a ditch between himself and thera,"° both parties engaging mutual forbearance dur- ing the fight, provided the foreigners should not attack Maelseachlainn. With this evil understanding, it is said, that the King of Temhair refused to take thepostassignedhim. ThetenMormaersorGreatStewardsofBryanwere drawn up, with their foreign auxiliaries, on one side of his army. Foremost among these was Domhnall,'" son of Eimin,"" high steward of Alban,"3 others call him the Mormaer of Marr. "* With him was Muredach, descended from Maine Leamhna,"^ Mormhaor of Leavna, or Lennox ;"* and, although we only find these names recorded, the whole force of Alljan was probably here arrayed, and on Bryan's side. "'
Over that division, which was in order of battle to fight the second pf their enemy, commanded by Maelmordha, King of Leinster, Bryan placed Kian "' and Donald,"' two princes of the Eugenian line, under whom were the chiefs and forces from Desmond, and from other southern
ran, there were iu the field of Bryan's imme-
from the place of battle. See the Innisfallen Annals, and the Dublin copy, at p. 65.
'"Chief of the Eochanachts of Magh
Geirrginn, or Marr, in Scotland.
"' He was son to Canicli. See Roderick
O'Flaherty's"Ogygia,"pars,iii. , cap. Ixxxi. , pp. , 382, 384.
diate fam ly, five sons, his grandson, and fif- "
teennephews. See GeneralHistoryofIre- land,'' vol. ii. , IJook xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'"3 See the Dublin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, in the Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Reruin Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
'« Tiie Annali tocVid C^ state, howevej, that save the Hi-M line and the Hi-Fiachrach' and Cencl Oedha, tlie menof Connaught did not aid Brian ; and as no goo<l-will existed between hiniself and Tadhg an-eichghil, son of Cath. il, son to Conchobhar, King of Con- naught, so lie r'-fused to go with the Mon- arcli to Cluain tarbh. See pp. 6, 7.
"S See "Nials-Saga," cap. clviii. , p. 602.
"* He is called a great champion and war-
rior, while he is said to have been brother
to King Brian, in the Saga.
"'See Geoige Webbe Dasent's "Story
ofthe Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , 41.
334.
"* . See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerura
Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62. Dublin copy of the Innisfallen Annals.
"« The <lnn<iL4 tochd Ci have it, that the men of . Mumha alone, MaeKhechlainn, with the men of Midlie, and the South Con- nacians, were the cliief supporters of Bryan on this day. See pp. 6, 7.
"° Tiie previous autliority has it, that Maelseachlainn retired the space of a field,
"3 See CogAoh Jieohet He jAtUaibli, chap, xcvi. , c, pp. 168, 169, 174, 175.
'"See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land : A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. , Book i. , chap, viii. , p. 387.
"^ This Maine Leamhna was son to Core,
son of Lughaidh, son to OilioU Flainibeg, son of Fiacha Meuillcathan, son to Eoghan Mor, son to OilioU OUum, King of Mun- ster.
"* See O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , chap. Ixxxi. , pp. 382 to 384. According to this writer, from the former descended the ancient Earls of Marr, tracing their origin to Carbre the Pict ; while from the latter de- sceiid the E iris of Lennox, supposed to be derived from -Manius Levinius.
"' See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
Isnd : A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Book i. , chip. , viii, p. 387, n. 4.
"' . Son 01 Maolmuadh, son to Bron. See
Dublin copy of the Annah of Innisfallen, in
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip-
tores," tomus ii. , p. 63
"'SontoDubdaboren. Heelii't/.
"°
See Hid.
430 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
parts of Ireland. Kian is said to have been one of the tallest and most beau- tiful among the Irish chieftains. "" According to another account, Bryan col- lected one very strong and great battalion, formed from the chosen hosts of all Munster, who were stationed as supports, in the rere of his foremost troops. "' At tlie head of those reinforcements, he had two chief leaders.
