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King Brian Boru of Ireland defeats Viking forces at the Battle of Clontarf, freeing Ireland from foreign control

The Battle of Clontarf (Irish: Cath Chluain Tarbh) took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland.

The Battle of Clontarf (Irish: Cath Chluain Tarbh) took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland. It pitted an army led by Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, against a Norse-Irish alliance comprising the forces of Sigtrygg Silkbeard, King of Dublin; Máel Mórda mac Murchada, King of Leinster; and a Viking army from abroad led by Sigurd of Orkney and Brodir of Mann. It lasted from sunrise to sunset, and ended in a rout of the Viking and Leinster armies.

It is estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 men were killed in the battle, including most of the leaders. Although Brian's forces were victorious, Brian himself was killed, as were his son Murchad and his grandson Toirdelbach. Leinster king Máel Mórda and Viking leaders Sigurd and Brodir were also slain.

Historical Significance

The Battle of Clontarf (Irish: Cath Chluain Tarbh) took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland.

Events Before

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    Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who hacks the church's foundations down to the bedrock

  2. First known written mention of Lithuania, in the annals of Quedlinburg

    Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe.

  3. Ransom of 48,000 pounds is paid to Vikings, led by Thorkell the Tall, for the liberation of Canterbury, after a raid on

    Ransom of 48,000 pounds is paid to Vikings, led by Thorkell the Tall, for the liberation of Canterbury, after a raid on the city and the capture of Alphege [Aelfheah] Archbishop of Canterbury

  4. Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury Alphege murdered by Vikings while being held hostage by them in Greenwich, London

    Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury Alphege murdered by Vikings while being held hostage by them in Greenwich, London

  5. English earls declare Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard the first Viking king of England, disposing Ethelred the Unready

    English earls declare Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard the first Viking king of England, disposing Ethelred the Unready

Events After

  1. Henry I becomes Count of Leuven

    Henry I becomes Count of Leuven

  2. King of Denmark, Cnut the Great [Canute], claims the English throne after the death of Edmund Ironside

    Cnut ( kə-NYOOT; Old Norse: Knútr; c. 990 – 12 November 1035), also known as Canute and with the epithet the Great, was King of England from 1016, King of Denmark from 1018, and King of Norway from...

  3. Battle of Pontlevoy: one of largest battles of early Medieval France won by Fulk the Black and Hebert I of Maine against

    Battle of Pontlevoy: one of largest battles of early Medieval France won by Fulk the Black and Hebert I of Maine against Odo II of Blois in the Loire Valley

  4. Danes led by Cnut defeat the Saxon forces of Edmund Ironside at the Battle of Assandun (Ashingdon), completing their con

    Danes led by Cnut defeat the Saxon forces of Edmund Ironside at the Battle of Assandun (Ashingdon), completing their conquest of England

  5. The Holy Roman Empire and Poland conclude the Peace of Bautzen

    The Peace of Bautzen (German: Frieden von Bautzen; Polish: Pokój w Budziszynie; Upper Sorbian: Budyski měr) was a treaty concluded on 30 January 1018, between Holy Roman Emperor Henry II and Bolesław...

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Ransom of 48,000 pounds is paid to Vikings, led by Thorkell the Tall, for the liberation of Canterbury, after a raid on

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 23, 1014?
The Battle of Clontarf (Irish: Cath Chluain Tarbh) took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland. It pitted an army led by Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, against a Norse-Irish alliance comprising the forces of Sigtrygg Silkbeard, King of Dublin; Máel Mórda mac Murchada, King of Leinster; and a Viking army from abroad led by Sigurd of Orkney and Brodir of Mann. It lasted from sunrise to sunset, and ended in a rout of the Viking and Leinster armies.
Why is King Brian Boru of Ireland defeats Viking forces at the Battle of Clontarf, f... significant?
The Battle of Clontarf (Irish: Cath Chluain Tarbh) took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland.

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April 23 in HistoryYear 1014