1010-1029 Irish King Brian Boru Repels Vikings

This twenty year period started with the continuing reign of King Ethelred the 'Unready' of England and Queen Emma. Ethelred was dispossessed of his kingdom by the Danish King Swegn Forkbeard between 1013-1014, then regained it only to die in 1016.

Edmund Ironside became king briefly in 1016 and then Canute the Great --- Swegn Forkbeard's son -- became King of England.

The Dane Vikings were also invading Ireland under Ivar.

Mahon, King of the Dalcassians, desired peace with the invaders but his younger brother, Brian Boru urged armed violent resistance and convinced the Irish that they had to fight Ivar and his Vikings.

After defeating the Vikings there was peace for eight years then Ivar returned and assassinated King Mahon -- at which Brian Boro succeeded his older brother Mahon, and the fight was on.

King Brian Boru controlled most of southern Ireland and King Malachy -- who controlled the north -- ceded the high kingship of Ireland to him.

To complicate matters, Brian's deserted wife, Maelmora, gained revenge by promising the Vikings riches and land if they would defeat Brian.

With her assistance the Vikings returned but Brian had summoned a massive force consisting of all Irish from all over the kingdom and -- holding a sword upright in one hand, and a crucifix in the other -- he instilled his men with so much ferocity that they wiped out the Danes in 1014 at the Battle of Clontarf.

Only twenty or so Vikings escaped the Battle of Clontarf alive, and Brian himself died in the battle.