Brian Boru, Emperor of the Gaels: From 12th Son to Death at Clontarf

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Tenth century Ireland had fewer than 500,000 people and over 150 kings. Brian, born around 941 at Kincora in modern County Clare, was the 12th son of a Dál gCais chief and was sent to study on Inisfallen. At about 10 he and his brother Mathgamain watched Limerick Vikings sail up the River Shannon, raid their home, and kill their mother and several brothers. When Mathgamain, king of Munster, made peace with Limerick, Brian waged a guerrilla war from the hills, at one point down to 15 men, until his brother rejoined him. Together they won at Sulcoit in 968 and sacked Limerick.

After Máel Muad killed Mathgamain in 976, Brian killed Limerick's Viking governor and his sons in the sanctuary of Scattery Island, then defeated Máel Muad in 978 to take Munster. From 982 to 997 he fought the high king Máel Sechnaill, moving a fleet of 300 ships up the Shannon alongside his land army, until the two split Ireland in 997. By 1002 Brian was high king. In 1005 he laid 22 ounces of gold on the altar at Armagh and had himself recorded as Emperor of the Gaels. His wife Gormflaith's brother, king of Leinster, and her son Sitric Silkbeard of Dublin rebelled, bringing the Orkney and Isle of Man Norse to Clontarf on April 23, 1014.

• Máel Sechnaill cut down the sacred tree where Brian's ancestors had been inaugurated.
• A large part of Brian's river fleet was ambushed and destroyed in Connacht.
• Folklore says a banshee warned Brian he would die, a story that may have been added to dignify his death.
• Brian's bodyguard Ulf the Quarrelsome caught his killer Brodir and executed him by forcing him to walk around a tree on his own intestines.
• Brian was buried at Armagh, Máel Sechnaill resumed the high kingship, and Brian's O'Brien descendants traded on his legend for centuries.