Battle of Belach Lechta

Battle of Belach Lechta
Date 978 Location uncertain Result Dál gCais victory
Belligerents
Irish of South Munster, possible Norse allies	Dál gCais, Irish allies
Commanders and leaders
Máel Muad mac Brain †	Brian Bóruma
Strength
?	?
Casualties and losses
?	?

The Battle of Belach Lechta or Bealach Leachta was an important battle fought in 978 in Munster between Máel Muad mac Brain, King of Munster, and Brian Bóruma, younger brother of Mathgamain mac Cennétig and future High King of Ireland. Almost no contemporary details of the battle have survived, but Máel Muad was slain, thus making Brian de facto king of Munster.

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AI978.2: The battle of Belach Lechta, in which Mael Muad son of Bran, king of Caisel, and many others fell. Brian, son of Cennétig, was victor.

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References

• Annals of Inisfallen, ed. & tr. Seán Mac Airt (1944). The Annals of Inisfallen (MS. Rawlinson B. 503). Dublin: DIAS.  Edition and translation available from CELT.
• 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.