477 



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 1 102 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. 2 z 



