Sláine Ingen Ní Briain

Slaine, the daughter of Brian Boru, was married for sake of alliance; to Sitric I ,King of Dublin.

Sláine speaks twice in the Cogadh with words designed to irritate her husband, Sitric, king of Dublin, as he watches Brian Boru’s men defeat his forces at the Battle of Clontarf from atop the battlements of his city. The first instance occurs after Sitric makes a remark about the prowess of his allies on the field of battle. Sláine replied: “it will be at the end of the day that will be seen."

The second time Sláine goaded her husband so greatly that he struck her: “It appears to me,’ said she, ‘that the foreigners have gained their inheritance.’ ‘What meanest thou, O woman?’ said Amlaibh’s son. ‘The foreigners are going into the sea, their natural inheritance,’ said she; ‘I wonder is it heat that is upon them; but they tarry not to milked, if it is.’ The son of Amlaibh became angered, and he gave her a blow.”

This behaviour, unlike our modern conceptions, espouses loyalty to natal kin instead of ones husband. However, this is somewhat expected in context.

Ref. Battle of Clontarf; Slaine, daughter of Brian, < http://dh.tcd.ie/clontarf/Sl%C3%A1ine,%20Daughter%20of%20Brian%3A%20''It%20appears%20to%20me,%E2%80%99%20said%20she,%20%E2%80%98that%20the%20foreigners%20have%20gained%20their%20inheritance''%20 >