The Battle of Belach Lechta or Bealach Leachta was a major battle fought in
Munster in 978 between
Máel Muad mac Brain
Máel Muad mac Brain (died 978), commonly anglicised Molloy, was King of Munster, first possibly from 959 Green, p. 362 or alternatively 963 to around 970, when he may have been deposed (usurped) by Mathgamain mac Cennétig of the Dál gCais, and ...
,
King of Munster
The kings of Munster ( ga, Rí Mumhan), ruled from the establishment of Munster during the Irish Iron Age, until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the '' Book of Invasions'', the earliest ...
, and
Brian Bóruma. In the battle, the king was killed and Bóruma took over the role as the ''de facto'' King of Munster. Bóruma was the younger brother of
Mathgamain mac Cennétig
Mathgamain mac Cennétig (also known as Mahon) was King of Munster from around 970 to his death in 976. He was the elder brother of Brian Bóruma.
Mathgamain was the son of Cennétig mac Lorcáin of the Dál gCais. His father died in 951 and ...
and in line to be the next
High King of Ireland.
Notes
References
*
* ''Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society'', Vol. IV, 2nd Series, 1898, via Harvard College 21 October 1919 Library
* O'Brien, John and John Conry,
Dublin Annals of Inisfallen' (18th century compilation based on older sources) (see O'Donovan for translation)
*
O'Donovan, John (ed. & tr.), ''
Annala Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters''. 7 vols. Dublin:
Royal Irish Academy. 1848–51. 2nd edition, 1856
Volume II pp. 704–5
* O'Mahony, John,
A History of the O'Mahony septs of Kinelmeky and Ivagha, in ''Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Volumes 12–16, Second Series''. 1906–1910.
* Ó Murchadha, Diarmuid, "Cenn Ebrat, Sliab Caín, Belach Ebrat, Belach Legtha/Lechta", in ''
Éigse'' 29 (1996): 153–71.
*
Todd, James Henthorn (ed. & tr.),
Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill'. London: Longmans. 1867.
Belach
Belach
O'Brien dynasty
978
10th century in Ireland
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