The Uniting of Erie
Chapter 1: The Assembly of Toirrdelbach O’Brien
On the day after Christ’s Mass, in the first year of his reign, a messenger arrived in the court of Toirrdelbach, and announced that William of Normandy intended to be crowned as King of England on the Roman New Year. Toirrdelbach, who was at the time burying his wife, Gormlaith, found the message troubling.
And so Toirrdelbach O’Brien, King of Munster called a council of his nobles to gather at his keep on the River Shannon in Desmumu. Among the assembled were his three bachelor sons, Muirdertach, Tadg and Donnchad; his cousin Lorcan O’Brien, who also marshaled the armies of Munster; Maoil Sechluinn O’Faelain, the King of Urmumu and vassal of Toirrdelbach; Seoan O’Flynn, the steward of Munster; and myself, Aibinn, wife of Seoan O’Flynn and Cancelleria Mumae.
At this gathering, Toirrdelbach rose and called, “Am I not the heir to Brian Boru? A Norman Duke calls himself the King of the Englands, and yet as the heir to the High King of Eire, I am to be contented with Munster? Indeed, not!” And in the chambers there was a murmur. Toirrdelbach called again, “We shall march north to the lands of Meath, and assert the right of the High King to Tara Hill! Cousin Lorcan, you shall gather the men of the Tuadmumu and the north and west and leave immediately for Mide in the morning. Maoil Sechluinn shall follow you with his host, the men of the south and east, with all the haste he can make.”
And then, Muirdertach, the eldest son of Toirrdelbach stood, “And father, what of us, your sons, who shall we ride with?”
Toirrdelbach replied, “You shall go in the summer, we have business here in court to attend.”
And with that the assembly did end.
(According to the sources I found Toirrdelbach actually assumed the throne of Munster in 1068, but for game play reasons, I shall place it at some point in 1066. Also, I killed Gormlaith, as her death would give a role-play reason for him taking leave of his wits to unite Ireland)
Chapter 2: Winter Court in Desmumu
With Lorcan and Maoil Sechluinn dispatched Toirrdelbach, and sons, especially Tadg, who was adept at these tasks, began to compile the genealogies of their family and establish their claims to Eire. Toirrdelbach tasked me with keeping a history of his reign and accomplishments.
The period between the Epiphany and the New Year was filled with feasts and celebrations. Adelaida the Hungarian arrived at court with a significant dowry and a general census was taken to provide for her wedding to Toirrdelbach. Jimena of Castille was wed to Muirdertach.
At the wedding of Lorcan to Gudrid the Norwegian of Vestiland, a noble of the Duke of Deheubarth in Wales arrived to request an alliance. A request King Toirrdelbach was happy to grant, but put off for a day as not to interfere with the wedding.
But Lorcan had already rejoined the armies in the north by the time Gurtrude of Altmark married Donnchad. And the next morning, as Tadg was marrying Adelinde of Anjou, Lorcan routed the forces of Murchad, King of Mide at Baile Atha Luain.
On Candle Mass, the court was greeted with the joyful message of the concession and tribute of Murchad of Mide and spoiled by the messengers informing us that Ce Ulaith Ua Flaithri intended to aid Aedh Ua Ruairc, against whom, Lorcan was currently marching.
Chapter 3: Campaigns against Sligo and Ulaid
Lorcan quickly fell upon and routed Aedh Ua Ruairc’s host by the river Garavogue. Maoil Sechluinn was descended on near Baile Atha Luain by Ce Ulaith Ua Flaithri but repulsed his attacks.
Lorcan and Maoil Sechluinn united at Baile Atha Luain and set march for Ulaid. By the solstice, news had made it back to Desmumu that Ce Ulaith Ua Flaithri had been defeated defending the shores of the river Boyne by Maoil Sechluinn due to Lorcan’s great speed at crossing on the right flank.
Maoil Sechluinn brought the army to lay siege to the keep at Downpatrick, and the army sat in siege until Advent. Ce Ulaith Ua Flaithri household knights and levies attempted to relieve the siege after the Assumption, and were met in the field at Downpatrick.
At Downpatrick, the enemy rode furiously and struck down Maoil Sechluinn on the first charge. The sight of the fallen commander broke the moral of the Urmumu troops, and their lines collapsed. But Lorcan’s wing surprised the pursuing enemy, and Lorcan turned the enemy from the field.
Ce Ulaith Ua Flaithri would make another attempt to raise the siege, just before All Hallowed’s Eve. But Lorcan would easily defeat the haggard enemy.
The messages of Ce Ulaith Ua Flaithri’s surrender would reach Desmumu by Christmas.
(“A Commander displays great skills on the Battlefeild” Lorcan at the battle of the river Boyne)
Chapter 4: Events in Court in the late Summer, Fall and Winter
By Assumption, it was clear that a number of the new wives were with child. I and Queen Adelaida, both expecting to become mothers, began to spend a great deal of time together discussing our future children. Later we discussed what a terrible burden An Dall, the new King of Urmumu had been give at the tender age of 12. The Queen would tell me the wonderful gifts that the king presented her.
A few days after the Feast of All Saints, Maoil Sechluinn’s widow gave birth to a son, Foreanan and Jeminica bore Muirdertach a daughter, Slaine. These miracles came the same morning even. My own daughter, Fioanghualla, came but a week later. Gertrude bore Donnchad a daughter, Judith, on Saint Lucy’s day and just before Christmas Adelinde presented the King with a grandson, and Tadg a son. Even the Queen was visibly with child.
Just before Easter, the Queen gave birth to a daughter Christina.
(“Sharing the Wonders of Childbearing has made you a new friend” Aibinn and Adelaida, Toirrdelbach in love with wife)
Chapter 5: The First War with Leinster
After Easter, Lorcan returned with news that he had forced Tir Eoghan to capitulate and the King took Lorcan, Adelinde and myself on a great hunt. Adelinde and I discussed the nurse-maids and nannies at court while Lorcan and the King discussed the compaigns. Toirrdelbach was grieved to still not be in control of Tara Hill, the ancient home of the High King, and Lorcan warned him that Murchad Ui Mortha, King of Leinster would hold fast to Tara and the Dubh Linn.
Toirrdelbach decided that they would arrive at Beltane; Toirrdelbach himself would march on Tara Hill. Several days after Beltane, Murchad Ui Mortha was defeated by Toirrdelbach at Tara Hill. When Murchad Ui Mortha withdrew to Wykynlo, Murchad O’Niell, leading the Urmumu band drove him back north.
Ten days before the solstice, Toirrdelbach found himself once more against Murchad Ui Mortha’s battered host and soundly routed the Leinster King.
The badly defeated, and greviously wounded Murchad Ui Mortha was forced to surrender all of his lands outside of the Manx Island.
Chapter 6: The Second War with Leinster
Laigin and Dublin were firmly under the Kings control and rider’s were dispatched to Enna Ui Mortha, Bishop of Osriage and brother of the King of Leinster that his lands were forfeit under his brother’s surrender. The Bishop declared that his brother did not have the rights to Bishopric and he would defend his lands with life.
Lorcan was tasked with raising an army to do just that.
Enna Ui Mortha was not content with waiting for our armies, and set forth to lay siege to the Court at Desmumu. In Desmumu, we had just finished celebrating the Feast of St. John the Baptist and the return of the King and his troops when the Bishop of Osriage arrived. The King led his exhausted forces to meet the invaders. As God was intent on reminding the King who had the right to decide who the High King would be, God used his Bishop to teach the King humility. King Toirrdelbach rallied his forces within the walls of the keep and set down for a long siege.
Lorcan was laying siege to Enna Ui Mortha’s keep and could not come to relieve our forces and Dunnchad was intend bringing more knights from Dublin to relieve the siege but was caught by Amalgain Ui Mortha’s Manx warriors at Tara Hill.
Amalgain had prevailed on his brother the King of Leinster that they could not abandon Osraige. Murchad Ui Mortha, unable to lead due to injuries suffered at Tara Hill gave Amalgain Ui Mortha his blessings.
Dunnchad defeated Amalgain Ui Mortha, and decided to punish the treacherous King of Leinster and set sail for the Isle of Man.
We were joyed to hear of Dunnchad’s victory but despaired when we learned he was not returning to relieve the siege. By St Martin’s day, rations are running low, and Jimena, Adelinde and Adeliada were all with child, and Muirdertach was charged with making sure that they and the young royals were adequately feed during the siege. This responsibility obviously weighed heavily on Muirdertach and King Toirrdelbach was not impressed with Muirdertach’s performance.
Adelinde gave birth to Brigit several days before St Andrew’s Feast, of which we had none. Enemy messengers gave us reports of how well our lord’s wonderful harvests in Laigin, and taunted us if Toirrdelbach gave up his claim to Osraige, we would enjoy it before the week was out.
About a week later, Jimena presented Muirdertach with a son, Trian, who would die the day after Epiphany from a lack of milk. Adelinda gave birth during lent to a daughter, Eaghaialt.
Lorcan’s siege forced Enna Ui Mortha to surrender at Easter, and that brought incredible relief as our own beseigement was lifted.
On March 3th, news returned to us that Murchad Ui Mortha had surrendered all claims to titles and lands.
The King relieved my husband as steward, informing him that in the coming days, more experienced knights would be needed to lead armies and in recent weeks the King had been relying more on Gurtrude as a source of gossip and intrigue than his son Tadg.
On March 4th, the King declared a great holiday as he was crowned High King of Erie. High King Toirrdelbach announced that from hence forward there would only be one King in Erie.
(Muirdertach stressed)
