Page "Battle of Clontarf" Paragraph 13

In the center things were going more the Vikings ' way.

Both Sigurd's and Máel Mórda's forces were hammering into the Munster forces.

However Sigurd, according to legend, carried a " magical " standard into battle which drew the Irish warriors to it, eventually forcing their way in and killing the bearer.

Although the standard was supposed to guarantee a victory for the bearer's forces, it also guaranteed the bearer's death.

No one would pick it up due to its reputation, so Sigurd did and was quickly killed.