Editing Battle of Clontarf (section)

== Background ==
[[File:Www.wesleyjohnston.com-users-ireland-maps-historical-map1014.gif|thumb|Map of the larger Irish kingdoms in 1014]]
The Vikings (or Norsemen) began carrying out raids on [[Gaelic Ireland]] in the late eighth century, and over the following few decades they founded a number of settlements along the coast. Vikings first established themselves in Dublin in 838 when they built a fortified area, or ''{{lang|ga|[[longphort]]}}'', there.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Viking Empires |last=Forte |first=Angelo |author2=Richard Oram |author3=Frederik Pedersen |year=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=0521829925 |page=81 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_vEd859jvk0C |access-date=18 April 2014 }}</ref> During the tenth century, Viking Dublin developed into the [[Kingdom of Dublin]]—a thriving town and a large area of the surrounding countryside, whose rulers controlled extensive territories in the [[Irish Sea]] and, at one time, [[Scandinavian York|York]].<ref>{{Cite book |chapter=The Conversion of the Scandinavians of Dublin |last=Abrams |first=Lesley |title=Anglo-Norman Studies XX: Proceedings of the Battle Conference in Dublin, 1997 |editor-last=Harper-Bill |editor-first=Christopher |year=1998 |publisher=Boydell |location=Woodenbridge |isbn=0851155731 |pages=2–3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gRBAQBB5PiQC&pg=PA1 |access-date=18 April 2014 }}</ref> Over time, many Vikings were assimilated into Gaelic society and became the [[Norse-Gaels]]. Dublin was closely involved in the affairs of the [[Kingdom of the Isles]], which included the [[Isle of Man]] and the [[Hebrides]], and when the Dublin king [[Amlaíb Cuarán]] was defeated by [[Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill]] at the [[Battle of Tara (Ireland)|Battle of Tara]] in 980, he was supported by the men of the Isles.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Downham |first=Clare |date=March–April 2014 |title=Clontarf in the wider world |journal=History Ireland |volume=22 |issue=2 |page=23 }}</ref><ref name="Etchingham 2001">{{cite journal|last=Etchingham|first=Colmán|title=North Wales, Ireland and the Isles: the Insular Viking zone|journal=Peritia|date=2001|volume=15|pages=145–87|doi=10.1484/J.Peri.3.434}}</ref> Amlaíb's son, [[Sigtrygg Silkbeard]], who was King of Dublin from 990, allied himself with his uncle [[Máel Mórda mac Murchada]], King of [[Laigin|Leinster]]. They met [[Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill]] and [[Brian Boru]] at the [[Battle of Glenmama]] in 999, where they were defeated.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter=The battle of Glenn Máma, Dublin and the high-kingship of Ireland |last=Mac Shamhráin |first=Ailbhe |title=Medieval Dublin II |editor-last=Duffy |editor-first=Seán |year=2001 |publisher=Four Courts Press |location=Dublin |isbn=1851826076 |pages=53–64 }}</ref>

From the time of the seventh century and the reign of [[Domnall mac Áedo]], the [[kingship of Tara]] was a title which was strongly associated with the [[High King of Ireland|high kingship of Ireland]] and was held by members of the [[Uí Néill]] dynasty, who controlled the northern half of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter=Domnall mac Aedo maic Anmirech |last=Koch |first=John T. |author-link=John T. Koch |title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |volume=2 |editor-last=Koch |editor-first=John T. |year=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara |isbn=1851094407 |page=605 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA605 |access-date=18 April 2014 }}</ref> In the tenth century, the [[Dál gCais]], until then a small kingdom in what is now [[County Clare]], began to expand. By the time of his death in 951, [[Cennétig mac Lorcáin]] had become King of [[Thomond]]. His son, [[Mathgamain mac Cennétig]], was [[List of kings of Munster|King of Munster]] when he died in 976.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter=Dál gCais |last=Ó Faoláin |first=Simon |title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |volume=2 |editor-last=Koch |editor-first=John T. |year=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara |isbn=1851094407 |pages=554–55 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA554 |access-date=18 April 2014 }}</ref> Mathgamain's brother, Brian Boru, quickly asserted his claim to the kingship of Munster, then invaded [[Laigin|Leinster]] and gained its submission.<ref name=lydon32>{{Cite book |title=The Making of Ireland: From Ancient Times to the Present |last=Lydon |first=James |author-link=James Francis Lydon |year=1998 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=0415013488 |page=32 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zYwdY_H0LOoC&pg=PA32 |access-date=18 April 2014 }}</ref> In 998 he attacked the Uí Néill stronghold of [[Kingdom of Meath|Meath]]. Máel Sechnaill responded by attacking Munster in 999, and over the following years the two kings struggled for supremacy in Ireland. In 997, Brian and Máel Sechnaill met in [[Clonfert]] and reached an agreement where they recognised each other's reign over their respective halves of the country—Máel Sechnaill in the north and Brian in the south. Brian received the hostages of Leinster and Dublin from Máel Seachnaill, and surrendered the hostages of [[Connachta|Connacht]] to him.<ref name=lydon32/> The peace was short-lived. After they had jointly defeated the Vikings at Glenmama, Brian resumed his attacks on Máel Seachnaill.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf |last=Duffy |first=Seán |year=2013 |publisher=Gill & Macmillan |location=Dublin |isbn=9780717157785 |pages=123–24 }}</ref> He marched on Tara in 1000 with the combined armies of Munster, [[Kingdom of Ossory|Osraige]], Leinster, and Dublin, but after an advance party consisting of the latter two groups was destroyed by Máel Sechnaill, Brian Boru withdrew from the area without giving battle.<ref>Duffy (2013), pp. 129–33</ref> In 1002 he marched with the same army to [[Athlone]], and took the hostages of Connacht and Meath. He was now the undisputed High King of Ireland.<ref>Duffy (2013), pp. 134–35.</ref>