Ireland in the Middle Ages
As Ireland flourished with in Christianity and Celtic culture it was known as the golden age of Christian Irish culture the Vikings had begun their crusade around Europe invading Ireland along their way.
For 200 years waves of Vikings invaded Ireland plundering monasteries and towns throughout the country. They had started settling establishing Waterford in 914, Dublin in 916 and Limerick in 920.
One of Ireland greatest warriors, Brian Boru was born in 940 and by 976 he became the King of Munster. In 1002 he became High king of Ireland but his status was often challenged by Norse Gaels, by 1014 Boru and his army went to war with the armies of Leinster and Dublin at Clontarf, located near Dublin.
The Battle of Clontarf became one of Ireland’s biggest and most important battles in history with thousands of soldiers on each side going to battle; it turned into a blood bath. It was at the Battle of Clontarf where Boru lost his life, fleeing soldiers stumbled upon his tent killing him before moving on.
Although the Irish were victorious at the Battle of Clontarf pockets of Vikings still remained in Ireland but their crusade to take over the island was no longer a threat. Many Vikings settled into the Irish way of life, as many did before, with their counterparts no longer taking interested with invading the island again.
With the High King of Ireland now dead the island faced a new problem, who would now rule the country? Kings on the island set out in a race to become High King causing more instability in the country. The King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada, was ousted from power and fled Wales in fear of his life. From there he moved onto England and then France to seek help from the feared King Henry II. This call for help would lead to Diarmait Mac Murchada being Ireland’s biggest traitor in Irish history. Although his call for help was for him to regain power of Leinster and the whole of Ireland he didn’t foresee Ireland being under foreign occupation for over 800 years, now that the Normans invaded Ireland.
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