page_title: Military history of Ireland
section_title: Early history
hierarchical_section_title: Military history of Ireland / Early history
caption_attribution_description: English: Battle of Clontarf, oil on canvas painting by Hugh Frazer, 1826
context_page_description: The military history of Ireland comprises thousands of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing the island of Ireland.
context_section_description: Ireland was never invaded by the Roman Empire, and the island remained a warring collection of separate kingdoms throughout its early history. Although it is known that the Romans traded with the Irish kingdoms, historically it was thought that the Romans never established a military presence in Ireland. In recent times the find of ruins of a possibly Roman fort in Drumanagh near Dublin has questioned this belief.
  In the 5th century, Irish tribes known to the Romans as the Scoti invaded northern Britain, displacing the native Picts and establishing the kingdom of Dál Riata. As this kingdom expanded in size and influence, the name of the tribe was applied to all its subjects – hence the modern terms Scot, Scottish and Scotland. The English annal writer, Bede, wrote how the Scoti harassed the Romano-British in piratical and border raids.
  The Vikings pillaged monasteries on Ireland's west coast in 795, and then spread out to cover the rest of the coastline. The north and east of the island were most affected. During the first 40 years, the raids were conducted by small, mobile Viking groups. From 830 on, the groups consisted of large fleets of Viking ships. From 840, the Vikings began establishing permanent bases at the coasts. Dublin was the most significant settlement in the long term. The Irish became accustomed to the Viking presence and culture and in many cases became allies, with intermarriage common throughout Ireland. A major Irish battle involving Vikings was fought at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which a large force of Vikings and their Irish allies were defeated by the gathered Irish forces of Brian Boru, then the High King of Ireland along with a small contingent of Viking defectors. After this date Viking activity was sporadic with various Kings and nobles attempting to extend their power base. In 1099, Magnus Barefoot, the King of Norway, and his Viking army had successfully campaigned alongside their Irish allies against opposing Irish warbands. On his return his force was ambushed and killed on the north coast of Ireland.
caption: The Battle of Clontarf in 1014 saw a large force of Vikings and their Irish allies defeated by the forces of the High King of Ireland.
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