Bressal mac Áedo Róin
Encyclopedia
Bressal mac Áedo Róin was a Dal Fiatach
king of Ulaid
, which is now Ulster
, Ireland. He reigned from 749 to 750. He was the son of Áed Róin
(died 735), a previous king. This family had their base in modern County Down.
His father had been slain in battle in 735 by the high king Áed Allán
(died 743) of the Cenél nEógain
and the kingship of Ulaid passed to the rival Dal nAraide of southern County Antrim. However in 749 the Dal nAraide king of Ulaid Cathussach mac Ailello
was killed at Ráith Beithech (Rathveagh, modern County Antrim) probably in the interest of the Dal Fiatach and Bressal became king. Bressal himself was killed in 750 but the Dal Fiatach retained the kingship.
The king list in the Book of Leinster places his reign immediately after his father's and state he ruled for one year. This is the chronology followed by the later and more synthetic Annals of the Four Masters which state that he was killed at Dun Celtchair (near Downpatrick). The historian Professor Byrne believes that it is probable there was an interregnum in Ulaid between the reigns of Áed Róin and Bressal's brother Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin
(died 789).
Dál Fiatach
The Dál Fiatach were a group of related dynasties located in eastern Ulster in the Early Christian and Early Medieval periods of the history of Ireland.-Description:...
king of Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
, which is now Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland. He reigned from 749 to 750. He was the son of Áed Róin
Áed Róin
Áed Róin mac Bécce Bairrche was the Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He reigned from 708 to 735. He was the son of Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic, , a previous king of Ulaid who had abdicated in 707 to become a pilgrim....
(died 735), a previous king. This family had their base in modern County Down.
His father had been slain in battle in 735 by the high king Áed Allán
Áed Allán
Áed Allán was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. Áed Allán was the son of Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill....
(died 743) of the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
and the kingship of Ulaid passed to the rival Dal nAraide of southern County Antrim. However in 749 the Dal nAraide king of Ulaid Cathussach mac Ailello
Cathussach mac Ailello
Cathussach mac Ailello was a Dal nAraide king of Ulaid . He was the son of Ailill mac Dúngaile Eilni , a previous King of Dál nAraidi and nephew of Cú Chuarán mac Dúngail Eilni , a previous king of Ulaid. He ruled from 735-749...
was killed at Ráith Beithech (Rathveagh, modern County Antrim) probably in the interest of the Dal Fiatach and Bressal became king. Bressal himself was killed in 750 but the Dal Fiatach retained the kingship.
The king list in the Book of Leinster places his reign immediately after his father's and state he ruled for one year. This is the chronology followed by the later and more synthetic Annals of the Four Masters which state that he was killed at Dun Celtchair (near Downpatrick). The historian Professor Byrne believes that it is probable there was an interregnum in Ulaid between the reigns of Áed Róin and Bressal's brother Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin
Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin
Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He reigned from 750 to 789. He was the son of Áed Róin and brother of Bressal mac Áedo Róin ,previous kings...
(died 789).