Great medieval hero on which I hope to make a film like Mel Gipson Origins [edit]
Brian Boru was born probably around 941 near the town of Killaloe in the region of Thomond. When his father died, ruler of the region, the crown passed to his brother Mathgamain more, and when the latter was assassinated in 976 the crown passed to Brian and then he became ruler of the entire kingdom of Munster. His mother was killed by the Vikings when he was a child. Brian in 1002 forced the then King of Ireland Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill to give him the crown, being careful not to stay king of Ireland only on a par, but really trying to become king of all Ireland. For this reason, led all Irish governments to recognize his authority in 1011, but this balance was short lived. The following year, in fact, the King of Leinster revolted against the authority of Brian, and although his forces were subjected un duro colpo nella battaglia di Clontarf nel 1014, lo stesso Brian cadde vittima dello scontro insieme a molti altri leader del Munster. Il suo corpo venne sepolto a Faugher nel Dundalk.
L'origine del suo cognomen Boru o Boruma (tributo) dovrebbe essere collegata all'usanza del suo clan, i Dál gCais di lasciare al clan a cui dovevano obbedienza, gli Eóganachta, il tributo di una mandria di bestiame per l'attraversamento del fiume Shannon. Un'altra versione, più leggendaria, vuole che il cognome venga dalla sua abitudine di prendere tributi dai suoi vassalli per ricostruire monasteri e librerie che erano andati distrutti durante l'invasione dei Vichighi.
