The Vikings and Ireland - iisresource.org · Ireland in Key Stage 2 History The Vikings The Vikings and Ireland Brian Boru - national hero? Initial teacher training: Lesson plans

Ireland in Key Stage 2 HistoryThe Vikings

The Vikings and IrelandBrian Boru - national hero?

Initial teacher training: Lesson plans

by

Student-teachersofPaul BraceySenior Lecturer in Education (History)Northampton University College

University College, NorthamptonSchool of Education Northampton Pilot Scheme ’Ireland in Schools�

Contents

Introduction

Lesson plan 1: Brian Boru

Sources

Examples of children•s responses

Lesson plan 2: Brian Boru - a hero?

Sources

UCN, Brian Boru - national hero?, page 1

Introduction


Lesson plan 1 - Brian Boru: character and achievements

Date: 14/06/00 Year Group: 6

Group size: ? Location of Group: Tables

Main Subject Focus: The Vikings - The character and achievements of Brian Boru

Learning objectives

To use and compare different texts to gain an interpretation of Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf.

Previous knowledge

Vikings, where they came from, the aspect of raiders and killers .

Teaching and learning strategies

‘ Whole class introduction (10 mins), after which the children are separated into small groups‘ Main task (45 mins)

(1st part):Children read different texts as group. Pick individual children to read.Discuss what they have found from the texts. Do they think the sources are true. Is the textinformative?Give children question cards. True/false, reasonings and evidence for their ideas

(2nd part):Children make up their own questions. Comparison - discussion of King Alfred. With othergroup. Discuss their own ideas.

Vocabulary

Brian Boru ForeignersKing Alfred PaganVikings BrodirArd-Ri EvidenceFelled Victorious.

Resources

Question sheetsText sheetsCartoon sheets x 2Dictionaries.

Differentiation

To observe the children and differentiate appropriately.

Plenary

In front of whole class, discuss their ideas and findings.


Question card

Read and discuss the different sections of text.

Decide whether they support or oppose each of the following statements.

Think about your answers and decide why you think this and what evidence there isto support your ideas.

1. Brian Boru•s religion was an important aspect in his life.

2. The Battle of Clontarf is the most important battle because the Irish defeated theVikings.

3. During the Battle of Clontarf Brian was a ferocious fighter.

4. Brian was a young warrior who fought for his country•s rights.

5. Brian died bravely during the battle as he fought the Vikings.


Source 1Morgan Llywelyn & Michael Scott, Ireland. A Graphic History, Element, Dorset 1995

I N T R O D U C T I O N

In the tenth century an obscure Irish chieftain from the banks of theShannon made his reputation fighting Vikings, then rose to become king ofthe province of Munster and ultimately High King. In the Book of Armagh,Brian Boru would one day style himself Emperor of the Irish.

Ireland had never seen anything like him. He was an exceptionalcombination of warrior and statesman, a pragmatic strategist who studiedthe careers of Caesar and Charlemagne, and won as many battles throughpsychology as with the sword. He also loved poetry and played the harp.During the course of his long life he had several wives and more than thirtyconcubines, and marriages which he arranged for his children passed hisblood into the royal houses of Europe.

Brian Boru was the first to envision an Ireland in which the various peopleswould flow together like many streams to form one river. With subtlediplomacy he made allies among the Vikings who had been his enemiesand encouraged them to become part of Irish society. During his reign asHigh King the island enjoyed an era of relative peace and prosperity. Heeven planned the establishment of a royal dynasty that would carry hisvision for Ireland into the future.

Then in 1014, rebellion. Brian had set aside his troublesome wifeGormlaith, a princess of Leinster. By an earlier marriage to a Viking shewas mother to Sitric Sillbeard, Viking king of Dublin. Gormlaith and herbrother Maehnora encouraged Sitric to call allies from throughoutScandinavia to overthrow Brian and complete the conquest of Ireland. Sitricactually offered his mother in marriage to any northman who killed BrianBoru.

A giant of a man in his seventy third year, Brian Boru rode to battle for thelast time. At the fishing weir of Clontarf, north of Dublin, his Irish andViking allies fought the rebellious Leinstermen and an invasion force oftheir Viking allies. At the end of that fateful Good Friday Brian had won,and the threat of foreign domination was destroyed ... but at a terrible cost.





Source 2The Battle of Clontarf web site on www.okelly.net/battles/boru.htm

The battle was scheduled for Good Friday, 1014 AD.

Brian felt much grieved that a day so sacred to the Christians should have been destinedfor the work of death; but with dauntless spirit and a calm and confident exterior he issuedorders for arranging troops in order of battle.

Source 3The Battle of Clontarf web site on www.okelly.net/battles/boru.htm

The result of the battle. (Do you think it is true?)

The battle was so fierce that it is said that in places the trees wept blood and the nearbyRiver Tolka turned red.

Source 4The Lion of Ireland: Brian of the Tributes web site on www.mindspring.com/~cc003636/boru.html

The Battle of Clontarf.

The Battle of Clontarf was fought on holy day, Good Friday, and the battle lasted fromearly morning to the setting sun. Brian was too old to fight, but he appeared before histroops to inspire them to their duty in the early morning. Throughout the day, Brianprayed in his tent.... A fleeing Viking chief, Brodar of the Isle of Man, came upon Brian‘stent and slaying several body guards, he cleved the bare head of the Ard-Ri of Ireland whilehe was praying thanks in his tent. But Brodar was captured later and died a most hideousdeath.

Source 5Morgan Llywelyn, Brian Boru, O�Brien Press, Dublin 1990

The Battle of Clontarf, 1014 AD.

Brodir of Man was running wildly through Tomar‘s Wood ... He was the last invadingwarlord left alive.

Soon Brodir, mad with fear, would stumble across a leather tent and a tall, white-hairedold man who still had his sword.

Neither would live to see the first star.

But Brian did not know this as he stood listening to the last sounds of the battle. He knewonly that Murcha [his son] was dead, and that his army had won a mighty victory. Neveragain would the Vikings try to take Ireland by force.


Source 6Liam de Paor (ed.), ’Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf�, Milestones in Irish History

The Battle at Clontarf was not a struggle between the Irish and the Vikings for thesovereignty of Ireland. Neither was it a great national victory which broke the power ofthe Vikings forever. Clontarf was part of the internal struggle for sovereignty between thegreat Irish provincial rulers and it was in essence the revolt of the Leinstermen againstdominance from Munster, a revolt in which the Viking allies played a very important butsecondary role.

Source 7??The Battle of Clontarf web site on www.okelly.net/battles/boru.htm??

However, that illustrious, all-victorious king, fell [was killed] by the foreigners [Vikings],in his eighty-eighth [88th] year of his age, and in the thirty-eighth [38th] year of his reign[as king], in Mumhain; and in his twelfth year as the chief sovereignty [ruler] of Erinn.

The boy Tadk threw up an arm to protect Brian, but the sword cut off the arm and theKing's head. The King's blood spilled over the stump of the boy's arm, and the woundhealed at once. Then Brodir shouted, álet the word go round that Brodir has felled [killed]King Brian.‘

Brian himself then became in story what he never was in fact, the defender of Irelandagainst the pagan hordes of Vikings, the saviour of Christianity, the sovereign ruler ofIreland who led the forces of the nation to victory over the foreigners. And that, of course,is how he is remembered in popular tradition.


Responses


Jamie

1. True, because the battle was scheduled forGood Friday. (A Holy Day.) Which he didn�tlike. Also because he was praying in battle.

2. False, because the Irish were fightingthemselves.

3. False, because he was to old to fight.4. False, because he was an old man that

prayed in his tent.5. True, because he died fighting and didn�t

run away. Considering his age he was verybrave.

Paul

1. True. The battle was scheduled from goodfriday 1014 AD.

2. False because one of the texts is writtenlike a story and the other text has morefacts in it.

3. False because he was in his tent and waseighty eight.

4. False because he was very old.5. False because he stayed in the tent and he

got his head cut off and he didn�t diebravely. He didn�t die bravely because hejust stood there because he was to old torun or fight.

Jade

1. True. The Battle was fought on GoodFriday.

2. False. The Battle of clontarf was not astruggle between the Irish and the Vikings.

3. False. He was 88 and he sat in his tent.4. False. He had his head cut of by his tent.5 False. He dided by haveing his head cut off.

Laurence

1. True because the battle was scheduled forgood friday, a holy day. Which he didn�tlike. Also because he was praying allthrough the battle.

2. False because the battle was between theIrish and the Irish.

3. False because he was 88 and too old tofight.

4. False because he was 88 and didn�t fight anymore.

5. False. We found out that some of thelegend about Brian Boru was truce once butmost of it says he is brave and he reallyisn�t that brave. I don�t think he diedbravely because he did not try and defendhimself.

Anon

1. Brian�s religion was an important aspect ofhis life because the Christians fought thePagans. This is proved because they foughton good friday.

2. The battle wasn�t the most importantbecause we know that the Irish werefighting against the other Irish rulers.

3. Brian wasn�t a ferocious fighter because hewas 88 and was praying in his tent.

4. Brian wasn�t young he as 88! He didn�t fightfor his countries rights he fought for hisreligion.

Ben

1. True, because he was unhappy that thebattle was scheduled on good Friday and hedidn�t like it.

2. False, because they were actually fightingbecause of each other different religions.

3. False, because it says he sat in his tentpraying.

4. True, because in the text it says he issuedorders etc.


Lesson plan 2 - Brian Boru: a national hero?

Date: 15/06/00 Year Group: 6

Group size: 6 Location of Group: Tables

Main Subject Focus: The Vikings - Was Brian Boru a hero?

Learning objectives

‘ To learn about Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf. (Hi8a/b)‘ To use a range of historical sources as a form of evidence for and against Boru being a hero. (Hi4a/b)

Strategies

Timings

‘ Whole class introduction (10 mins).‘ Group introduction (10 mins).‘ Main task (1 St part) - Defining a hero, introducing the range of sources, children putting together

evidence for and against (40 mins).‘ Main task (2nd part) - Discuss/collating as a group evidence, refer evidence to question: Was Brian

a hero? - discuss as a group, children to design �Wanted• or �Hero• poster (40 mins).

Teaching Strategies

‘ Group introduction and overview of the Battle of Clontarf.Key questions: Who was Brian Boru? What did he do? What happened at the Battle of Clontarf?

‘ Ascertain children's knowledge and understanding of a hero. Key questions: What is a hero?Who is a heroWhy are they a hero?

‘ Definition of a hero.‘ Introduce different sources of information.‘ Discuss as a group how the different sources can be used. Key questions:

What do they show us?What can we see from the different sources?How might they be biased towards one side?

‘ Explain task - using sources to gather evidence for the case against Boru being a hero and the casefor him being a hero.

‘ Demonstrate to group using one source of evidence.‘ Children to work in pairs when gathering evidence.‘ Children to record their findings on a worksheet.‘ Discuss as group findings.‘ Relate findings to question. Do the children think Born was a hero?‘ Children to design a `Wanted' or `Hero' poster, detailing evidence for their choice.

Learning Strategies

‘ Group introduction to discuss task and ascertain children's previous knowledge.‘ Questioning to encourage discussion and understanding.


‘ Relate task e.g. What/who is a hero? to children's own experiences.‘ Using different sources of information to gather evidence.‘ Encouraging children to select relevant evidence from the different sources of information.‘ Children to demonstrate understanding by recording evidence for and against Boru being a hero.‘ Relate task to main aim, group discussion - Was Brian a hero?‘ Children to demonstrate their understanding by producing a poster.

Resources

Various sources of information.Sheet for recording evidence.Sugar paper.Plain paper.Pens.

Assessment

Observation.Questioning.Poster.

Differentiation

Extra adult support.


Prompt sheet

When researching you may wish to think about the following areas:

What was Ireland like in Boru�s time? (Background)

How did Boru become High King?

What did Boru do whilst he was High King? How did he die?

What type of person was Boru?


Source 1Morgan Llywelyn & Michael Scott, Ireland. A Graphic History, Element, Dorset 1995

See pages 4-7 above.


Source 2Morgan Llywelyn, Brian Boru, O�Brien Press, Dublin 1990

Brian Boru grow up in an Ireland torn by wars - chieftain against chieftain, tribe againsttribe - and devastated by the Vikings. As a boy, Brian wanted to be a mighty warrior, andwhen his family were massacred by the Vikings, his only aim was to defeat these enemiesforever. But Brian was not just a fearless fighter, he was a clever, educated man. Helearned the wars of his enemies and overcame opposition, prejudice and treachery tobecome High King of Ireland. In the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014 Brian Boru finallyconquered the Viking. It was his last act.

Source 3Philippa Wingate and Anne Millard, The Viking World, ??

In the eighth century, Ireland was a very prosperous country. It was divided into severalkingdoms, but the kings were united under one leader called the High King. Irishmonasteries had become the focus of learning and of great wealth and were a good targetfor the Vikings. Raiders first appeared in the 799s and carried out swift, vicious raids onisolated coastal villages and monasteries.

In 839, the Vikings came in large numbers. Norwegian fleets arrived and the warriors builtfortified camps where they spent the winter. These camps grow into Ireland‘s first citiessuch as Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Cork.

Merchants from all over the Viking world came to buy and sell goods at the trading campsor long-phorts, bringing wealth to Ireland. The Vikings built Scandinavian style housesand craftsmen made goods influenced by Norse tastes. Many Norwegians married Irishwomen and settled in the towns and became farmers.

The Irish tried many times to drive out the Viking intruders. Their best chance came at thebeginning of the eleventh century.


Brian BoruAn artists fictional rendering

Source 4Brian Boru, High King of Ireland web site on www.maui.net/~mauifun/bboru.htm

Brian Boru was a Christian, he had battled the ancestors of theO•Neills for many years and was the rebuilder of Viking-ravagedmonasteries and churches, Boru also built forts, and at the age of 74he commanded an army of thousands, he battled royally against theViking soldiers, his army slaying some 7000 Vikings.

In 1005 AD Boru reached Armagh, leading several armies fromMunster, Leinster, Meath, Connacht and Norse Dublin. He hadcome to the North two times previously, only to be repelled by theUlster kings. The Church had recognized Boru•s claim to supremacyafter he paid 20 ounces of gold to have the Church inscribe his namein the Book of Armagh as the �Emperor of the Irish• . A year later heestablished his claim with a circuit around Ulster. But Brian haddifficulties, the Leinster and Dublin armies called in allies from theViking world, creating the scenario for the battle that lead to Brian•sdeath.

It was Good Friday in the year 1014, and the battle lasted fromsunrise to sunset. The battle was called the �Battle of Clontarf• andwas also known as the Battle of Brian, and it ended the dominationof the Ui Neill, the ancestors of the O•Neill's of Tyrone andClandeboye.

Brian Boru was killed in his tent, by King Brodar of Man, followingClontarf, and 4000 other Irishmen also died that day, still King Brianwas considered triumphant. He was killed along with Sigurd, whowas Earl of the Orkneys, the King of Leinster, also two Connachtkings were slain, and Brian Boru•s son, Murchadh were all killedalong with many others of noble blood.

Brian Boru is remembered as one of the greatest hereos of all Irelandbecause he ended any hope of the Viking•s ever capturing Ireland.Brian Boru reportedly had 4 wives and 30 concubines and many,many Irish families trace their ancestral heritage to Brian Boru.


Source 5Brian Boru, web site on www.sleeping-giant.ie/bealick/boru.htm

The Battle of Bealach Leachta, in 978, marked the first major defeat of the Danes inIreland and established Brian Boru as a serious contender for position of Ard Ri (HighKing) of Ireland.

The battle was the climax of a power-struggle between the Dal gCais of North Munster andthe Lords of Carbery. Mahon of the Dal gCais was captured by Imar, a Limerick Danewho was allied to the O‘Donovans and O‘Mahonys of Carbery. Imar delivered Mahon, abrother of Brian Boru of Kincora, into the hands of Maolmuidh of the O‘Mahonys, whokilled him at Aghabullogue.

Brian Boru came seeking revenge, first despatching Imar the Dane, then picking offO‘Donovan, and then meeting the O‘Mahonys at Bealach Leachta. A fierce battle waswaged all day on the riverside plain - Brian's army had swelled as many minor chieftainsbegan to recognise his potential, and Maolmuidh had the support of the remains of theO‘Donovan clan and 1500 Danes.

Maolmuidh and his troops were forced back, and Maolmuidh took refuge at Leacha Dubh(site of Macroom Golf Course), where he was found and killed. Fulfilling a curse put onhim for the assassination of Mahon, Maolmuidh is buried on the north side of the hill,where the sun never shines, under a harsh wind.

Following the battle Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster. Three standing stoneswere erected on the site of the battle (of which two remain). One is known as LeachtMahon.


Source 6F. Donald Logan, The Vikings in History, Routledge, London 1983

What, then, of the Battle of Clontarf in 1014? Was this not the event by which Brian Borustopped the Viking threat once and for all and saved Ireland? Legends die hard, andperhaps no legend will die harder than the legend of Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf,for there are so many people in Ireland who claim descent from this legendary hero.

As the legend would have it, Brian emerged from the fastnesses of deepest Clare asoverking of the south and in time as High King of Ireland.... Brian stood tall as thenational leader to defeat the Vikings. It was at Clontarf north of the Liffey near Dublin,that the Irish faced the Vikings and Brian Born faced Sihtric. The Vikings had summoneda mighty Viking army from virtually the whole Viking world.... On the eve of the battleomens were seen across the north as far away as Iceland.... The day of battle arrived onGood Friday, 1014; and Brian‘s Irish army, lacking the Leinstermen, who had gone overto the Viking side ... Brian knelt on an animal skin in Tomar‘s Wood and refused himself,to enter into combat on this sacred day. Nevertheless, the battle went ahead. First, achampion from each side met, but with no decision. The forces of Munster then fell backbefore onrushing Leinster. The remnants of the Viking army and the men of Leinster wereforced to flee their ships through a nearby wood. There they saw an old man kneelingamong a circle of warriors. Brodir, King of isle of Man, asked who this man was, and hewas told Brian Boru. Brodir raised his mighty battle sword and hit the High King ofIreland. The day was already lost, however, and the blood of Brian Boru sealed the victoryof the Irish over the Viking. The Viking age had ended. Or, so the story goes.

Is this fact or fiction?

From this tangle of fact and fiction some sifting must be done. Brian Boru had indeedgained control over the south and, at times over parts of the north. He did lead some Irishtribes (and even some Viking forces) at a battle at Clontarf on Good Friday in 1014.However, his main opposition was not the Vikings, it was the King of Leinster, who hadtried to gain control over parts of Ireland. Brian Boru‘s forces were successful, but he fellin the battle. The struggle for control and peace in Ireland struggled for a 150 years afterClontarf, which was only one amongst many other battles. It did not destroy the power ofthe Vikings. Nothing so simple as a one-day battle in the spring of 1014 could do that. TheVikings had already become part of the Irish society and were no longer a strong force atthe time of the Battle of Clontarf.


Source 7Distribution of Scandinavian graves in the Viking Age in the British Isles

Documents

The Vikings and Ireland - iisresource.org · Ireland in Key Stage 2 History The Vikings The Vikings and Ireland Brian Boru - national hero? Initial teacher training: Lesson plans