Battlefield in Unknown

Battle of Dublin, 919. Possibly fought somewhere in the vicinity and along the southern edge of the modern Phoenix Park. (First Battle of) Dublin, AD 919 - Summary by Dr Gavin Hughes. Uploaded 10/12/2020 Olive Alcock Following his victorious battle at Cenn Fuait (Confey) (CW026-106----) and defeat of Augaire Uí Muiredaig, king of Leinster in 917, the Viking leader Sitric (Ceach) continued his dominance. The earlier campaign had shown major strategic weaknesses in Niall Glúndub (of the northern Uí Néill), high king of Ireland. Although he had technically held Sitric's kinsman, Ragnall, at bay at the battle of Tober Glethrach (see also CW026-106----), Glúndub had also been obliged to withdraw and leave Leinster to the mercy of the Scandanavians. Consequently, Sitric became king of Dublin and re-established Viking military power there. As such, the campaign of 919 centred upon the Viking settlement of Dublin and an attempt by Glúndub to oust Sitric and the descendants of Ímar from the island. The sources for the battle mainly stem from the entries in the Annals of Ulster (Mac Airt and Mac Niocaill 1983, 368-9), the Chronicon Scotorum (Hennessy 1866, 190-91), the Annals of Clonmacnoise (Murphy 1896, 146), the Annals of Inisfallen (Mac Airt 1951,146-7) and the later, and often factually ambivalent, Annals of the Four Masters (O’Donovan 1848-51, vol. 2, 484-5). The contemporary annals all refer to this battle occurring at Dublin (Áth Cliath) with the Annals of Ulster (Mac Airt and Mac Niocaill 1983, 368-9) directly stating that it was fought at Duiblinn. However, references in the Annals of Clonmacnoise (Murphy 1896, 146) note that the battle occurred at 'Kilmashog[ue]', near Rathfarnham, whilst a poem in the Annals of the Four Masters (O’Donovan 1948-51, vol. 2, 484-5) insists that it was fought at a place called 'Cill-Mosamhog' (Cell mo Shámoc). This site has been noted as possibly being where a small church on the north bank of the Liffey once stood (now the Phoenix Park, in between the Wellington Memorial and the Magazine Fort). The church also gave its name to an ancient ford, where the modern Sarah Bridge (or at a place just upstream) crosses the Liffey. The Annals of Ulster (Mac Airt and Mac Niocaill 1983, 368-9) very clearly state that the battle was fought on the 'eighteenth of the calends of October', which is 14 September and not 17 October as the Annals of the Four Masters (O’Donovan 1848-51, vol. 2, 484-5) mistakenly recorded. There is very little in the sources to indicate the size of either army, although as Glúndub commanded an alliance of contingents drawn from the kingdoms of Ulaid, Brega, Airgíalla, Mide and south Brega, his force must have been significant. Similarly, no numbers are recorded for the strength of Sitric's army and it is presumed to have comprised at least the same number of warriors as fought at Cenn Fuait. The annals, with the exception of the poem in the Annals of the Four Masters (ibid.) provide few details of the battle itself. It seems to have lasted less than a day and Sitric's Dubliners are thought to have come out of their longphort (normally a fortified temporary encampment but in the case of Dublin, an established settlement) to meet the enemy. As it is likely the engagement occurred at the site of the ford at Cell mo Shámoc, it is plausible that Glúndub's army attempted to force a crossing of the Liffey and that Sitric's warriors gathered to oppose it. It is unknown how long the battle lasted but, according to the last verse of the poem, Glúndub was slain by a Viking named 'Amhlaeibh' (Óláfr). This may have heralded the end of the engagement and, certainly, Sitric's Viking army was victorious. Although no figures are recorded for the numbers of dead, it would appear that the alliance's losses were very heavy. Of those kings and princes recorded in the annals as being present with Glúndub, all were killed in the battle; Máel Mithig mac Flannacain, client king of Brega, Conchobar mac Flainn of Mide (heir to the nominal title of Tara - in practice, Glúndub had pronounced himself king of Tara in 916) and Cellach mac Fogartaig of south Brega. Those who had accompanied Glúndub from the north, Mael Craíbe, son of Dub Sínaig, king of Airgíalla and Áed, son of Eochocáin, king of Ulaid were also killed. The inclusion of the latter is of particular interest, as kings of Ulaid rarely joined with the northern Uí Néill. Sitric's victory and the death of Glúndub at Dublin had direct implications. The Scandinavian authority of Dublin was cemented, just as the influence of the northern Uí Néill fell away; its southern branch reclaimed Tara and kingdoms regrouped around new alliances. According to the Annals of Ulster (Mac Airt and Mac Niocaill 1983, 368-9), it was 'to view the heaven and not to see the sun, to behold Niall's plain without Niall.' However, a year after the first battle of Dublin, Sitric had also gone - but only to succeed Ragnall (his brother or cousin) as king of York.