BRIAN (926-1014), king of Ireland, known as BRIAN BORU, BOROMA, or BOROIMHE (from boroma, an Irish word for tribute), was a son of a certain Cenneide, a chieftain of Munster. He passed his youth in fighting against the Danes, who were con stantly ravaging Munster. In 976 his brother, Mathgamhain, who had become king of Thomond about 951 and afterwards king of Munster, was murdered ; Brian avenged this deed, himself be coming king of Munster in 978. He forced the tribes of Munster and then those of Leinster to own his sovereignty, defeated the Danes, who were established around Dublin, in Wicklow, marched into Dublin, and after several reverses compelled Maelsechlainn, the chief king of Ireland, who ruled in Meath, to bow before him in 1002. Connaught was his next objective. Here and also in Ulster he was successful, everywhere he received hostages and tribute, and he was generally recognized as the ardri, or chief king of Ireland. In 1013 Brian was again at war with the Danes of Dublin, and on April 23, 1014, his forces gained a great victory over them at Clontarf. After this battle, however, the old king was slain in his tent, and was buried at Armagh. One of his charters is still preserved in Trinity college, Dublin.