Battle of Glenmama

Battle of Glenn Máma
Part of the First Leinster revolt against Brian Boru

Site of the battle of Glen Máma
Date30 December 999[1]
Location
Glenn Máma, near Lyons Hill in modern-day Ardclough, County Kildare
53°16′48″N 06°31′30″W / 53.28000°N 6.52500°W / 53.28000; -6.52500
Result Decisive Munster–Meath victory
Occupation of Viking Dublin
Belligerents
Kingdom of Meath
Kingdom of Munster		 Kingdom of Leinster
Kingdom of Dublin
Commanders and leaders
Malachy MacDonnell[2]
Brian Boru[2]		 Malachy MacMurrough[3]
Colin, son of Eitigen †[2]
Sitric Silkbeard[Note 1]
Harold Olafsson †[2][Note 2]
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 7,000 Vikings[4]
Unknown Irish casualties
Battle of Glenmama is located in Ireland
Battle of Glenmama
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Approximate location

The Battle of Glenn Máma or Glenmama (Irish: Cath Ghleann Máma, The Battle of "The Glen of the Gap"[5]) took place most probably near Lyons Hill in Ardclough, County Kildare, Ireland, in AD 999[6][7][8] between Windmill Hill and Blackchurch.[9] It was the decisive and only engagement of the brief Leinster revolt of 999–1000 against the King of Munster, Brian Boru. In it, the combined forces of the Kingdoms of Munster and Meath, under King Brian Boru and the High King of Ireland, Máel Sechnaill II, inflicted a crushing defeat on the allied armies of Leinster and Dublin, led by King Máel Mórda of Leinster.

The two armies met in a narrow valley, causing a rout of Máel Mórda's army in at least three directions. They were pursued, and the main body of the army was slaughtered when they rallied at several fording points along the River Liffey. The main commanders were either killed or captured.

The battle resulted in the occupation of Dublin by Brian's Munster forces, and the submission of Máel Mórda and King Sigtrygg Silkbeard of Dublin to Brian Boru. The solution did not prove permanent, however, and eventually resulted in the second Leinster revolt against Brian and the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ulster568 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Annals was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ó Corráin, p. 123
  4. ^ MacManus, p. 276
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Library was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ The identification of the battlefield of Glenn Máma ad 1000 by joseph h lloyd, MRIA
  7. ^ The Battle of Glenn Mama, Dublin and the High Kingship of Ireland: a Millennial Commemoration by Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin (Medieval Dublin, edited by Sean Duffy, 2001, pp. 53–64). Article Stable URL
  8. ^ Site of the Battle of Glen-Mama by Goddard H. Orpen: The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Fifth Series, Vol. 36, No. 1, (31 Mar. 1906), pp. 78–80 JSTOR 25507500
  9. ^ The Circuit of Ireland. By Muirchertach na gCochall gCroiceann A.D. 941 by Henry Morris The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Seventh Series, Vol. 6, No. 1 (30 Jun. 1936), pp. 9–31 JSTOR 25513807