 the battle of clontarf () was a battle that took place on 23 april 1014 at clontarf, near dublin, on the east coast of ireland. it pitted the forces of brian boru, high king of ireland, against a viking-irish alliance comprising the forces of sigtrygg silkbeard, king of dublin, mÃ¡el mÃ³rda mac murchada, king of leinster, and a viking contingent 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 forces. it is estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 men were killed. although brian's forces were victorious, brian himself was killed, as were his son murchad and his grandson toirdelbach. leinster king mÃ¡el mÃ³rda and viking leaders sigurd and brodir were also slain. after the battle, the vikings of dublin were reduced to a secondary power. brian's family was temporarily eclipsed, and there was no undisputed high king of ireland until the late 12th century. the battle was an important event in irish history and is recorded in both irish and norse chronicles. in ireland, the battle came to be seen as an event that freed the irish from foreign domination, and brian was hailed as a national hero. this view was especially popular during english and british rule in ireland. although the battle is today viewed in a more critical light, it still has a hold on popular imagination.downham, clare. "the battle of clontarf in irish history and legend". history ireland. == background == [[image:www.wesleyjohnston.com-users-ireland-maps-historical-map1014.gif|thumb|map of the larger irish
11th_century_in_Ireland Battles_involving_the_DA!l_gCais Battles_involving_the_Laigin Battles_involving_the_Vikings Clontarf,_Dublin Conflicts_in_1014 History_of_County_Dublin O\'Brien_dynasty