Aengus Tuirmech Temrach
Encyclopedia
Óengus Tuirmech Temrach, son of Eochaid Ailtlethan, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland
. He came to power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Fergus Fortamail
. His sons included Énna Aignech
and Fiacha Fer Mara. Énna later became High King himself and was the ancestor of Conn of the Hundred Battles
and thus the Connachta
and Uí Néill
High Kings, while Fiacha was the ancestor of Ailill Érann and the Clanna Dedad. Óengus is said to have fathered Fíacha on his own daughter when drunk, and to have put him in a boat, wrapped in a purple robe with a golden fringe and accompanied by treasure, and set him out to sea – hence the epithet fer mara, "man of the sea". He was found and brought up by fishermen, and became the ancestor of several High Kings of Ireland and the later Dál Riata
monarchs of Scotland
. The Lebor Gabála Érenn
interprets his epithet as meaning "the reckoner of Tara", saying that "by him was 'reckoning' first made in Ireland". Geoffrey Keating
gives his epithet as Tuirbeach, "ashamed", because of the incestuous conception of Fíacha. He reigned for thirty or sixty years, and died at Tara
, succeeded by his nephew Conall Collamrach
. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy VI Philometor
in Egypt (180-145 BC). The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 262-232 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters
to 385-326 BC.
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
. He came to power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Fergus Fortamail
Fergus Fortamail
Fergus Fortamail , son of Bresal Brecc, son of Óengus Gailian, son of Ailill Bracan, son of Labraid Loingsech, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
. His sons included Énna Aignech
Enna Aignech
Énna Aignech , son of Óengus Tuirmech Temrach, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, Nia Segamain, and ruled for twenty or twenty-eight years, after which he was killed by Crimthann Coscrach in the...
and Fiacha Fer Mara. Énna later became High King himself and was the ancestor of Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn Cétchathach , son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated Ireland in the early middle ages, and...
and thus the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
and Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
High Kings, while Fiacha was the ancestor of Ailill Érann and the Clanna Dedad. Óengus is said to have fathered Fíacha on his own daughter when drunk, and to have put him in a boat, wrapped in a purple robe with a golden fringe and accompanied by treasure, and set him out to sea – hence the epithet fer mara, "man of the sea". He was found and brought up by fishermen, and became the ancestor of several High Kings of Ireland and the later Dál Riata
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
monarchs of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...
interprets his epithet as meaning "the reckoner of Tara", saying that "by him was 'reckoning' first made in Ireland". Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
gives his epithet as Tuirbeach, "ashamed", because of the incestuous conception of Fíacha. He reigned for thirty or sixty years, and died at Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
, succeeded by his nephew Conall Collamrach
Conall Collamrach
Conall Collamrach, son of Eterscél Temrach, son of Eochaid Ailtlethan, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his uncle Óengus Tuirmech Temrach, and ruled for five years, until he was killed by Nia Segamain...
. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy VI Philometor
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Ptolemy VI Philometor was a king of Egypt from the Ptolemaic period. He reigned from 180 to 145 BC....
in Egypt (180-145 BC). The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 262-232 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
to 385-326 BC.