1. The Battle of Clontarf

2. Unrest
 Maelmurra joined
forces with Sitric,
Viking King of
Dublin.
 In 1013, Brian
marched north to
attack Dublin.
 However, Brian
ran out of
supplies and had
to retreat to
Munster for the
winter.
Sitirc, Viking King of Dublin

3. The Battle of Clontarf
 In the spring of
1014, Brian’s
Brian’
army attempted to
besiege Dublin
again.
 The largest Viking
army Ireland had
ever seen were
ready to fight.
 Irish
independence
was under threat.
A Viking Army

4. The Eve of Battle
 Brian’s army set
Brian’
up camp in
Clontarf.
 The night before
the battle, Mael
Sechnaill and
Brian had a row.
 Mael declared
that he would not
now help the High
King.

5. The Battle of Clontarf

The Battle of
Clontarf was
fought on Good
Friday, 1014.
 Brian was now 72
years old, did not
fight in the battle.
 Instead Murcadh,
his son, led
Brian’s forces.

6. The Battle of Clontarf
 The battle began
at dawn and
lasted the entire
day.
 At the beginning,
it seemed that the
Vikings were
leading.
 As the day grew
longer however, it
seemed that the
Irish could win.

7. The Battle of Clontarf
 Mael Sechnaill
then decided to
enter the battle.
 The Vikings
caught out.
 They had arrived
in over 300 ships,
but fled home in
less than 24
boats.

8. The death of Brian
Boru
 Throughout the
battle, Brian
prayed in his tent.
 As he was fleeing,
Brodir, the Viking
king of the Isle of
Man, came across
his tent.
 He killed the old
king as he was
bowed in prayer.

9. 
Brian’s greatest
Brian’
victory
Brian died alongside
his son, Murcadh,
and his grandson.
 Yet he had broken
the military power of
the Vikings in
Ireland.
 “Brian fell, but saved
his kingdom.
This Brian was the
best of Kings”
Kings ”

10. 
Brian’s greatest
Brian’
victory
Brian died alongside
his son, Murcadh,
and his grandson.
 Yet he had broken
the military power of
the Vikings in
Ireland.
 “Brian fell, but saved
his kingdom.
This Brian was the
best of Kings”
Kings ”