eee 
AUT 
slain. He then entered into an alliance with the Welsh, 
made peace with the Hebridian Scots, and in 1099 returned — 
to his native dominions, where his presence was required to 
repel an invasion of the Swedes, over whom he gained a deci- 
sive victory. A treaty of peace was then concluded and rati- 
fied by his marriage with Margaret, daughter of Inge, the 
Swedish King. But other cares soon engrossed his thoughts. 
It became necessary for him to revisit his island conquests, 
and to aid the Welsh, who had requested him to hasten to their 
succour. He had it now in contemplation to make a nobler 
conquest than he had yet achieved, viz., the conquest of Ire- 
land. According to the Chronicle of Mann, he announced his 
intention to Murchart, the Irish monarch, by sending his shoes, 
with orders to carry them, in token of submission, through the 
midst of his palace on Christmas Day. An act of such inso- 
lence excited strong indignation in the royal household. It 
appears, however, that instead of waging war with Murchart, 
he formed with him an amicable treaty, which was cemented by 
a contract of marriage between Sigurd, the son of Magnus, 
and Biadmynia, daughter of the Irish monarch. For some 
years prior to these events a fierce war had been desolating the 
fair fields of Ireland, between Murchart O’ Brian of the South, 
and Donnel Mac Loughlan O'’Nial of the North, who was re- 
garded by many as legitimate heir to the crown. The royal 
residences of both potentates were demolished, and numerous 
battles fought without any decisive issue. In forming an al- 
liance with the Norse King, Murchart may have thought that 
he would be enabled to reduce his enemies to obedience, and 
annihilate all rival pretensions to the throne. In 1102 the Ost- 
‘men were in arms, ready to assert their independence ; and the 
two kings, Murchart and Magnus, marched with combined 
forces to besiege Dublin—munita et opulenta civitas. The 
siege was prosecuted with vigour, and the city was obliged to 
surrender. In the following year the adverse parties of the 
North and South carried on a desultory warfare, and Magnus 
VOL. V. 22 
