The War of the Irish with the Foreigners
Encyclopedia
Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib is a medieval Irish
text that tells of the depredations of the Vikings in Ireland and the Irish king Brian Boru
's great war against them, beginning with the Battle of Sulcoit
in 967 and culminating in the Battle of Clontarf
in 1014, in which Brian was slain but his forces were victorious. The chronicle, which compares King Brian to Augustus
and Alexander the Great, was written in the early twelfth century, at least a hundred years after the events it describes.
Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib has been found in three texts. These three are the Books of Leinster c. 1160 C.E., the Dublin Manuscript dated to be from 14th Century and the Brussels Manuscript from 1635.
The text goes on to say that Brian and his Dál Cais are comparable to Augustus
and Alexander the Great, even going on to suggest that Brian's son Murchadh "was the metaphorical Hector
of all-victorious Erinn, in religion, and in valour, and in championship, in generosity, and in munificence." The text draws heavily on figures of mythology and the Bible, attributing characteristics of Hercules and Samson to Murchadh.
In contrast with the lavish praise bestowed on the Dál Cais, the text describes the Vikings with vehemence and condemnation, though in terms no less hyperbolic:
The text's censure of the foreigners elevates the Irish and Brian even further, setting up a striking difference in moral and religious character between the two groups.
There are similarities to a part of the Icelandic Njals saga, which was composed in about 1280. In 1954 the scholar Einar Olafur Sveinsson postulated the incorporation into Njals saga of a slightly earlier and lost thirteenth-century Icelandic saga, Brjánssaga
("Brian's Saga") The relations between the accounts remains a matter of debate, and all the Icelandic written sources are considerably later that the chronicle.
The chronicler of Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib depicts the Vikings as vicious barbarians and suggests that the Dubliners are like their ancestors. In short, it may have been partly an attempt to "put the Dubliners in their place."
Modern scholars consider Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib to be a piece of "brilliant propaganda" written in a "bombastic style and full of patriotic hyperbole." Although the chronicle remains a valuable source of information about the Viking Age
in Ireland, its accuracy is uncertain.
Comparable works include the earlier Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
and the later Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
.
, this only after a long introduction, the "first part" of the chronicle, which is composed primarily of valuable annalistic material taken from sources mostly no longer extant today.
The Munster
section comprises a full quarter of the Cogad in total and a third of the narrative proper. The principal characters are:
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
text that tells of the depredations of the Vikings in Ireland and the Irish king Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
's great war against them, beginning with the Battle of Sulcoit
Battle of Sulcoit
The Battle of Sulcoit was an important victory for the rising Dál gCais against their enemies, the Norse of Limerick under Ivar of Limerick. The Dál gCais army was led by Mathgamain mac Cennétig with the possible assistance of his younger brother Brian Bóruma....
in 967 and culminating in the Battle of Clontarf
Battle of Clontarf
The Battle of Clontarf took place on 23 April 1014 between the forces of Brian Boru and the forces led by the King of Leinster, Máel Mórda mac Murchada: composed mainly of his own men, Viking mercenaries from Dublin and the Orkney Islands led by his cousin Sigtrygg, as well as the one rebellious...
in 1014, in which Brian was slain but his forces were victorious. The chronicle, which compares King Brian to Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
and Alexander the Great, was written in the early twelfth century, at least a hundred years after the events it describes.
Date
Based on internal evidence and on the nature of the text's allusions to Brian’s great-grandson Muirchertach Ua Briain (d. 1119), it has been suggested that the work was composed sometime between 1103 and 1111.Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib has been found in three texts. These three are the Books of Leinster c. 1160 C.E., the Dublin Manuscript dated to be from 14th Century and the Brussels Manuscript from 1635.
Characterization of Brian and the Foreigners
The author makes extensive use of long, elaborate passages that describe and highlight the contrast between the Irish king Brian and the foreign army he wars against. Brian and his followers are described in terms of their virtue and courage, often emphasizing their Christian background and piety:- But on the other side of that battle were brave, valiant champions; soldierly, active, nimble, bold, full of courage, quick, doing great deeds, pompous, beautiful, aggressive, hot, strong, swelling, bright, fresh, never weary, terrible, valiant, victorious heroes and chieftains, and champions, and brave soldiers, the men of high deeds, and honour, and renown of Erinn...
The text goes on to say that Brian and his Dál Cais are comparable to Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
and Alexander the Great, even going on to suggest that Brian's son Murchadh "was the metaphorical Hector
Hector
In Greek mythology, Hectōr , or Hektōr, is a Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War. As the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, a descendant of Dardanus, who lived under Mount Ida, and of Tros, the founder of Troy, he was a prince of the royal house and the...
of all-victorious Erinn, in religion, and in valour, and in championship, in generosity, and in munificence." The text draws heavily on figures of mythology and the Bible, attributing characteristics of Hercules and Samson to Murchadh.
In contrast with the lavish praise bestowed on the Dál Cais, the text describes the Vikings with vehemence and condemnation, though in terms no less hyperbolic:
- Now on the one side of that battle were the shouting, hateful, powerful, wrestling, valiant, active, fierce-moving, dangerous, nimble, violent, furious, unscrupulous, untamable, inexorable, unsteady, cruel, barbarous, frightful, sharp, ready, huge, prepared, cunning, warlike, poisonous, murderous, hostile Danars; bold, hard-hearted Danmarkians, surly, piratical foreigners, blue-green, pagan; without reverence, without veneration, without honour, without mercy, for God or for man.
The text's censure of the foreigners elevates the Irish and Brian even further, setting up a striking difference in moral and religious character between the two groups.
Political purpose
The main purpose of the chronicle seems to be to eulogize Brian Boru and thereby to show that the record of achievements of Brian's Dál Cais dynasty proved that they deserved Ireland's high kingship. This was an issue because the Ua Briain sept of the Dál Cais was struggling to remain High Kings of Ireland at the time of the chronicle's writing.There are similarities to a part of the Icelandic Njals saga, which was composed in about 1280. In 1954 the scholar Einar Olafur Sveinsson postulated the incorporation into Njals saga of a slightly earlier and lost thirteenth-century Icelandic saga, Brjánssaga
Brjáns saga
Brjáns saga is a hypothetical early specimen of Old Norse literature. According to the hypothesis certain episodes in Njáls saga and Þorsteins saga Síðu-Hallssonar drew on this lost saga....
("Brian's Saga") The relations between the accounts remains a matter of debate, and all the Icelandic written sources are considerably later that the chronicle.
The chronicler of Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib depicts the Vikings as vicious barbarians and suggests that the Dubliners are like their ancestors. In short, it may have been partly an attempt to "put the Dubliners in their place."
Modern scholars consider Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib to be a piece of "brilliant propaganda" written in a "bombastic style and full of patriotic hyperbole." Although the chronicle remains a valuable source of information about the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
in Ireland, its accuracy is uncertain.
Comparable works include the earlier Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland are a Middle Irish combination of chronicle from various Irish annals and narrative history. They were compiled in the kingdom of Osraige, probably in the lifetime of Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic , king of Osraige and of king of Leinster.The Fragmentary Annals were...
and the later Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin ChaisilDonnchadh Ó Corráin writes that this title "was first given it by Eugene O'Curry in his transcript of the text. It has no title in the earliest copy, that in the Book of Lismore...
.
Structure and principal characters
The narrative of the Cogad actually begins with the arrival of the tyrannical Ivar of LimerickIvar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
, this only after a long introduction, the "first part" of the chronicle, which is composed primarily of valuable annalistic material taken from sources mostly no longer extant today.
The Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
section comprises a full quarter of the Cogad in total and a third of the narrative proper. The principal characters are:
- Ivar of LimerickIvar of LimerickIvar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
- Mathgamain mac CennétigMathgamain mac CennétigMathgamain mac Cennétig was King of Munster from around 970 to his death in 976. He is the elder brother of Brian Bóruma and the ancestor of the McMahon family of County Clare in Western Ireland ....
- Brian BoruBrian BoruBrian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
- Máel Muad mac BrainMáel Muad mac BrainMáel Muad mac Brain , commonly anglicised Molloy, was King of Munster, first possibly from 959 or alternatively 963 to around 970, when he may have been deposed by Mathgamain mac Cennétig of the Dál gCais, and then again from 976, following his putting to death of the latter, until his own death...
, defeated and slain in the Battle of Belach LechtaBattle of Belach LechtaThe Battle of Belach Lechta or Bealach Leachta was an important battle fought in 978 in Munster between Máel Muad mac Brain, King of Munster, and Brian Bóruma, younger brother of Mathgamain mac Cennétig and future High King of Ireland... - Donnubán mac CathailDonnubán mac CathailDonnubán , Donndubán , or Donnabán mac Cathail, anglicised Donovan, son of Cahall , was a 10th century ruler of the Irish regional kingdom of Uí Fidgenti, and possibly also of the smaller overkingdom of Uí Chairpre Áebda within that...
, defeated in the Battle of Cathair CuanBattle of Cathair CuanThe Battle of Cathair Cuan refers to a perhaps extended conflict fought in or between 977 and 978, or simply to a single battle in one or the other year, in Munster in Ireland. Attacking were Brian Bóruma and the Dál gCais, while defending were Donnubán mac Cathail and the remainder of the royal...