General Notes

Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig
King of Ireland, 1002-1014; king of Mumu (Munster), 978-1014.

Brian became king of Munster upon defeating and killing the previous king Máel Muad mac Brain (of Éoganacht Raithlind) in 978 [AU; CGH 360 (Munster king list)]. In 1002, he was recognized as king of Ireland on the submission of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill. His forces were victorious at the famous Battle of Clontarf near Dublin on Good Friday, 23 April 1014, but both Brian and his son Murchad were killed there [AU; AI; CS; AFM; ALC].

Date of Birth: possibly 941 [AU]. Although his birth entry in the Annals of Ulster is certainly retrospective, it would make Brian about 73 at the time of his death, and is much more likely than the date of ca. 926 that is indicated by other annals [e.g., CS, AFM, both also retrospective].
Place of Birth: Unknown

Date of Death: 23 April 1014 [AU; AI; CS; AFM; ALC, of which the last two of these indicate that the battle occurred on Good Friday, which was on 23 April in 1014]
Place of Death: Battle of Clontarf (near Dublin), buried at Ard Macha (Armagh) [AU].

Father: Cennétig mac Lorcáin, king of Tuadmuman (Thomond), d. 951 [CGH 237, 250, 427]

Mother: Bé Binn ingen Aurchada, daughter of Aurchad mac Murchada, king of of Uí Briúin Seóla (West Connacht) [BS 188-9, 227]

Spouses:
There is some uncertainty about the order of Brian's four known wives. As mother of Murchad, apparently Brian's eldest son, Mór would appear to be the first wife, and Dub Choblaig appears to have been a wife married late in life. The order of Echrad and Gormlaith is more ambiguous, but Gormlaith's son by Brian survived Brian by fifty years, suggesting the order shown here.

(1) Mór ingen Eiden, daughter of Eiden mac Clérig of Uí Fiachrach Aidne [CGH 238; BS 228, which give her parentage and state that she was the mother of Murchad, Conchobar, and Flann, but neither of these two sources give her first name, which is given by Todd clxiii, clxxvi (citing O'Donovan, ed. The genealogies, tribes and customs of the Hy Fiachrach, 398)].

(2) Echrad ingen Carrlusa, daughter of Carrlus mac Ailella, king of Uí Áeda Odba [BS 189, 228, which states that she was Tadc's mother. The Book of Lecan version of the Banshenchus indicates that Echrad was also married (order uncertain) to a certain Gilla Pátraic (somtimes identified with the king of Osraige of that name, but actual identity uncertain) [BS 189].

(3) Gormlaith ingen Murchada, d. 1030 [AT; CS], daughter of Murchad mac Finn, king of Laigen (Leinster) [BS 314, 338, 189, 227; CS, which state that she was the mother of Murchad.] Gormlaith had previously been married to Amlaíb Cuaran (Anlaf Cwiran, Olaf Cuaran), d. 981, king of Dublin and York, by whom she was the mother of Sitriuc mac Amlaíb, king of Dublin [AT; BS 314, 338, 189, 227], and also a son-in-law of Brian (see below). She is said to have been repudiated by Brian, after which she married Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, king of Ireland and Mide (Meath).

(4) Dub Choblaig, d. 1009, daughter of the king of Connacht [AU and other Irish annals, which do not state which king of Connacht was her father. The king reigning at the time of her obituary in the annals was Cathal mac Conchobair (reigned 973-1010), and he would be the most likely candidate for her father.]

Children:

by Mor ingen Eiden:

Murchad mac Briain, rígdamna of Ireland, slain at Clontarf, 23 April 1014.

Conchobar mac Briain. No further information known.

Flann mac Briain. No further information known.

by Echrad ingen Carrlusa:

Tadc mac Briain, rígdamna of Ireland [AI], d. 1023 [CGH 250, 427; BS 189, 228]

by Gormlaith ingen Murchada:

Donnchad mac Briain, king of Mumu, d. 1065 [CGH 238; BS 314, 338, 189, 227]

mother unknown:

Domnall mac Briain, d. 1011 [AI; AFM]

Slani ingen Briain, m. Sitriuc mac Amlaíb (Sigtryggr Óláfsson, Sitric "Silkenbeard"), king of Dublin [HGaC, which further gives the line of descent of Gruffudd ap Cynan, king of Gwynedd, from Slani. The marriage is partially confirmed by CGG193, 257, which states that the "son of Amlaíb" (clearly referring to Sitriuc) was married to a daughter of Brian.]

Sadb ingen Briain, d. 1048 [AI], said to have married Cian mac Máel Muaid, a son of Brian's predecessor in the kingship of Munster, Máel Muad mac Brain [Todd cxl, but without citing a source].

Dub Essa ingen Briain, d.1052 [CS; AFM]

Bé Binn ingen Briain, d. 1073 [AU; AFM]
Commentary

Supposed additional daughter (probably falsely attributed):

NN, stated without evidence to have been a wife of Malcolm II, king of Scotland [Newman 144, 161 states that a daughter of Brian (name not provided) was married to Malcolm II, without providing any supporting evidence. This alleged daughter has been supplied with the name of "Blanaid" in some databases, evidently based on certain works of historical fiction written by novelist Morgan Llywelyn which used Newman's book as a source. This supposed daughter is absent from other recent histories of both Ireland and Scotland that would have been expected to mention the marriage if there was any good evidence for it, and the existence of this supposed daughter cannot be accepted based on any currently known evidence.]
Bibliography

AFM = John O’Donovan, ed. & trans., Annála Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters (7 vols., Dublin, 1848-51).

ALC = W. M. Hennessy, ed. & trans., Annals of Loch Cé (Rolls Series 54, London, 1871).

AI = Seán Mac Airt, ed. & trans., The Annals of Inisfallen (Dublin, 1944, reprinted 1988).

AU = Seán Mac Airt and Gearóid Mac Niocaill, ed. & trans., The Annals of Ulster (Dublin, 1983).

AT = Whitley Stokes, ed., ‘The Annals of Tigernach’, Revue Celtique 16 (1895), 374-419; 17 (1896), 6-33, 116-263, 337-420; 18 (1897), 9-59, 150-303, 374-91. (Includes text plus translation of Irish text, but no translation of Latin text.)

CGG = J. H. Todd, ed. & trans., Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh. The War of the Gaedhil with the Gall (Rolls Series 48, London, 1867). (An early twelfth century source describing the wars between the Irish and Vikings, generally regarded as propoganda written in favor of the descendants of Brian Bóruma, but also incorporating earlier material. Information from the actual text of Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh is cited above as "CGG", whereas statements made by Todd in the lengthy introduction are cited above as "Todd".)

CGH = M. A. O’Brien, ed., Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae (Dublin, 1962, reprinted 1976 with new Introduction by J. V. Kelleher).

CS = W. M. Hennessy, ed. & trans., Chronicum Scotorum (Rolls Series 46, London, 1866).

HGaC = Genealogies from Hanes Gruffudd ap Cynan, in Peter C. Bartrum, ed., Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts (Cardiff, 1966), 35-7.

Newman = Roger Chatterton Newman, Brian Boru, King of Ireland (Dublin, 1983).

Todd = Todd's notes and introduction from CGG above.

Compiled by Stewart Baldwin
Submitted 9 September 2001.
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Brian Boroimhe * (Boru), the 175th Monarch of Ireland: a younger son of Cieadh; b. 926, at Kincora, the royal seat of his ancestors; and fell by the hand of Brodar, the Danish admiral at, the battle of Clontarf, on Good Friday, the 23rd April, 1014, in the 88th year of his age. This Brian ("Brian": Irish, very greath strength), was the ancestor of O'Brien, Kings of Thomond. He had eleven brothers, of whom only four left issue, viz. - I. Mahoun, the eldest brother, who was King of Munster, before Brian, and a quo many families. II. Donchamacn, who was the ancestor of among other families, Custace, O'Kennedy, O'Regan (of Thomond), O'Kelleher, O'Beollan (or Boland), O'Casey, Power, Twomey, etc. III. Eichtigern (a quo Ahearne, Hearne, Heron), who was ancestor of MacCraith, (or MacGrath), of Thomond, ets. IV> Anlmacn, who was the ancestor of Quirk, etc.

Brian Boroimhe was four times m.; his first wife was Mor, dau. of Flan O'Hyne, Prince of Hy-Fichra Aidhue, in Galway, by whome he had three sons of whom Murrough, who fell at the Battle of Clontarf, was one. Brian was secondly m. to Eachraidh, dau. of Cerbhall, son of Olioll Fionn, and had: 1. Teige; 2. Donal, who distinguished himself at Clontarf, and was slain by the Siol Murray in a battle fought by the Dalcassians against the Conacians. His third wife was Gormliath, the "Kormloda" of Icelandic history; sister of Maelmora, King of Leinster: and relict of Aulaf, the Danish King of Dublin, to whom she bore the celebrated Sitric, who succeeded his father as King of the Danes of Dublin. By Gormliath Brian had Donogh, the 176th Monarch of Ireland, who was the ancestor of Plunkett, and of the O'Briens of Coomacgh, in Limerick, and of Aherlow, in Tipperary; and a daughter Dabh, who m. Cian who is #109 on the "O'Mahony" pedigree, by whom she had Mathgabhuin, the founder of the family of O'Mahony, in the county Cork. Brian's fourth wife was Dubhcobhla, who d. s.p. 1009; she was dau. of Cathal O'Connor, King of Connaught.

*Brian Boroimhe is represented by our old annaists as a man of fine figure, large stature, of great strength of body, and undaunted valour; and has been always justly celebrated as one of the greatest of the Irish Monarchs, equally conspicuous for his mental endowments and physical energies; a man of great intellectmacl powers, sagacity, and bravery; a warrior and legislator; and, at the same time, distinguished for his munificence, piety, and patronage of learned men: thus combining all the elements of a great character, and equally eminent in the arts of war and peace; a hero and patriot, whose memory will always remain famous as one of the foremost of the Irish Kings, in wisdom and valour. Brian lived at his palace of (Cean Cora) (Kincora), in a style of regal splendour and magnificence, unequalled by any of the Irish Kings since the days of Cormac MacArt, the celebrated Monarch of Ireland in the third century - the glories of whose palace at Tara were for many ages the theme of the Irish bards. [Irish Landed Gentry, pp 122-123]


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Annals of Ulster has many various entries on Brian Boru from about 999 until his death in 1014. (pp 429-449)

U1014.2
Brian son of Ceinnetig son of Lorcan, king of Ireland, and Mael Sechnaill son of Domnall, king of Temair, led and army to Ath Cliath. All the Laigin were assembled to meet him, and the foreigners of Aith Cliath, and a like number of the foreigners of Scandinavia, i.e. to the number of 1,000 breastplates. A valiant battle was fought between them, the like of which was never before encountered. Then the foreigners and teh Laigin first broke in defeat, and they were completely wiped out. There fell on the side of the foreign troop in this battle Mael Morda son of Murchad, king of Laigin, and Domnal son of Fergal, king of the Forthmactha, and of the foreigners there fell Dubgall son of Amlaib, Siucraid son of Lodur, jarl of Innsi Orc, and Gilla Ciarain son of Glun Iairn, heir designate of the foreigners, and Oittir Dub and Smacrtgair and Donnchad grandson of Erulb and Grisene and Luimne and Amlaib son of Lagmann and Brotor who slew Brian i.e. chief of the Scandinavian fleet, and six thousand who were killed or drowned. Of the Irish moreover there fell in the counter-shock Brian son of Ceinneting, over-king of the Irish of Ireland, and of the foreigners and of the Britons, the Augustus of the whole of north-west Europe, and his son Murchad, and the latter's son, i.e. Tairdelbach son of Murchad, and Conaing son of Donn Cmacn son of Cenneitig, heir designate of Mumu, and Mothla son of Domnal son of Faelan, king of the Deisi Muman; Eochu son of Dunadach and Niall mac Cuinn and Ceineitig's son, - Brian's three companions; two kings of Ui Maine, mac Cellaig .......... , and Mael Rmacnaid mac hEidin, king of Aidne, and Claen, king of Ciarraige Lmacchra and Domnall son of Diarmait, king of Corcu Daiscinn, and Scannlan son of Cathal, king of Eoganacht of Loch Lein, and other nobles. Mael Muire son of Eochaid, successor of Patrick, with his venerable clerics and relics, came moreover to Sord Coluim Chille, and brought away the body of Brian, king of Ireland, and the body of his son Murchad, and the head of Conaing and the head of Mothla, and buried them in Ard Macha in a new tomb. For twelve nights the community of Patrick waked the bodies in honour of the dead king. [Annals of Ulster, p 447-449]

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Annals of the Four Masters has many entries on Brian Boru from about 997 until his death in which it has in1013. (pp 737-781)

M1013.11
An army was lead by Brian, son of Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, King of Ireland, and by Maelseachlainn, son of Domhnall, King of Teamhair, to Ath-cliath. The foreigners of the west of Europe assembled against Brian and Maelseachlainn; and they took with them ten hundred men with coats of mail. A spirited, fierce, violent, vengeful, and furious battle was fought between them, the likeness of which was not to be found in that time, - at Clmacintarbh, on the Friday before Easter precisely. In this battle were slain Brian, son of Ceinneidigh, monarch of Ireland, who was the Augustus of all the West of Europe, in the eighty-eighth year of his age; Murchadh, son of Brian, heir apparent to the sovereignty of Ireland, in the sixty-third year of his age; Conaing, son of Donncmacn, the son of Brian's brother; Toirdhealbhach, son of Murchadh, son of Brian; Mothla, son of Domhnall, son of Faelan, lord of the Deisi-Mumhan; Eocha, son of Dunadhach, i.e. chief of Clann-Scannlain; Niall mac Cuinn; Cuduiligh, son of Ceinneidigh, the three companions of Brian; Tadha mac Cealliagh, lord of Ui Maine; Maelrmacnaidh na Paidre mac hEidhin, lord of Aidhne; Geibheannach, son of Dubhagan, lord of Feara-Maighe; Mac-Beatha, son of Muireadhach Claen, lord of Ciarraighe-Lmacchra; Domhnall, son of Diarmaid, lord of Corca-Bhaiscinn; Scannlan, son of Cathal, lord of Eoghanacht-Locha Lein; and Domhnall, son of Einhin, son of Cainneach, great steward of Mair in Alba. The forces were afterwards routed by dint of battling, bravery, and striking, by Maelseachlainn, from Tulcainn to Ath-cliath, against the foreigners and the Leinstermen; and there fell Maelmordha, son of Murchadh, son of Finn, King of Leinster; the son of Brogarbhan, son of Conchobhar, Tanist of Ui-Failghe; and Tuathal, son of Ugaire, royal heir of Leinster; and a countless slaughter of the Leinstermen along with them. There were also slain Dubhghall, son of Amhlaeibh, and Gillaciarain, son of Gluniairn, two tanists of the foreigners; Sichfrith, son of Loder, Earl of Innsi hOrc; Brodar, chief of the Danes of Denmarks, who was the person that slew Brian. The ten hundred in armour were cut to pieces, and at the least three thousand of the foreigners were slain. It was of the death of Brian and of this battle the following quatrain was composed:
Thirteen years, one thousand complete
Since Christ was born, not long since the date,
Of prosperous years - accurate the enumeration -
until the foreigners were slaughtered together with Brian.
Maelmuire, son of Eochaidh, successor of Patrick, proceeded with the seniors and relics to Sord-Choluim-Chille; and they carried from thence the body of Brian, King of Ireland, and the body of Murchadh, his son, and the head of Conaing, and the head of Mothla. Maelmuire and his clergy waked the bodies with great honour and veneration; and they were interred at Ard-Macha in a new tomb. [Annals of the Four Masters, pp 773-781]  (from Jane Williams Flank tree at Ancestry.com)