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BRIEN BOIRUMHE in three divisions, and was joined by Malachie, King of Meath. He encamped, as he had done the year before, near Kilmainham. And, after both armies viewing each other for some time, it was agreed on to determine the fate of Ireland by a general battle on the plains of Clontarf. Early on the 23rd of April, being Good-Friday, the Danes ap- peared formed in three separate bodies for battle, and by their dispositions Brien regulated his own. The auxiliaries from Sweden and Denmark, consisting of 12,000 men, among whom 2000 were heavy armed, commanded by Brodar and Airgiodal, formed the right division. The left, of nearly an equal number, commanded by Sitric, com- posed of the Danes of Ireland and their associates, and the centre composed of the flower of Leinster, under the direction of Maol-Mordba, who acted as general in chief, formed the enemy's disposition of battle. It was judged that, by placing the troops in this manner, under their own leaders, it would raise a spirit of generous emulation among them, and that they would vie with each other in feats of bravery. The right wing of the imperial army was composed of the household troops, filled up by the prime nobility of Munster. The invincible tribe of Dalgais, with all the princes of Brien's blood, were also of this division, and Malachie with the forces of Meath. This was to be commanded by Morrogh, and Sitric, Prince of Ulster. In the left wing, commanded by the King of Connaught, all the Conacian troops were placed; but, as it did not form so extended a line as the enemy's, several detachments were added to it. The troops of South Munster, under their different chiefs, with those of the Deasies, formed the central division. Brien rode through the ranks with his crucifix in one hand, and his drawn sword in the other. He exhorted them as they passed along to "do their duty as christians and soldiers in the cause of religion and their country. He reminded them of all the distresses their ancestors were reduced to by the perfidious and sanguinary Danes, strangers to religion and humanity. That these