Database: The Irish

Embroiled in a seemingly endless turf war, the northern and southern Irish clashed with one another over the High Kingship for centuries, with power changing hands between two branches of dynastic families; the Northern Uí Néill and the Southern Uí Néill. When in power, the Irish to the north ruled out of Ulster, while those to the south ruled from the kingdom of Meath.

Throughout the 9th century, the escalating tensions between the two sides may not have disappeared, but the arrival of the Danes and subsequent Viking raids garnered the attention of all Christian-blooded Irishmen.

Under Áed Findliath, the Irish successfully fought off the Vikings in the 9th century, and in 866, cleared them of Ulster almost entirely. What followed was a period of relief from Danish incursions, but it was also the resumption of the age-old war for Ireland's throne.