Cathussach mac Eterscélai
Encyclopedia
Cathussach mac Eterscélai (died circa 769) was a king of Munster
from the Eóganacht Áine
branch of the Eóganachta
. He was the son of Eterscél mac Máele Umai
(died 721), a previous king. His branch of the Eóganachta was situated in the south east of modern County Limerick
at Cnoc Áine (Knockainy) near the monastery of Emly
in County Tipperary
.
In the seventh and eight centuries, the kingship of Munster rotated among the inner circle of the Eóganachta dynasties. His death obit and reign are not mentioned in the Irish annals. According to the Laud Synchronisms, he succeeded Cathal mac Finguine
(died 742) of the Eóganacht Glendamnach
branch in 742 and reigned for 27 years. This would give a reign date of 742-769.
Cathussach is not mentioned in relation to events that would have taken place in his reign in Munster. In the region of Cliú (eastern Co. Limerick and parts of Co. Tipperary), the Uí Fidgenti
of Limerick fought a battle in 744, in which their king Conchobar was slain. Cathussach's branch of the family bordered on Cliú, but it is not known if the battle was fought by him or by the minor tribes of this region resisting Uí Fidgenti subjugation. In the region of Thomond
in County Clare
, the Déisi
destroyed the Corco Mruad in 744 and the Uí Fidgenti fought a battle with the Corco Mruad and the Corcu Baiscinn in 763 Local power politics here were caused by the vacuum left by the decline of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne
of Connacht
.
In 747 the Battle of Carn Ailche (possibly Carnelly, County Clare) is recorded as having occurred amongst the men of Munster, in other words, a civil war. In this battle a member of the Eóganacht Locha Léin
, Coirpre, son of Cú Dínaisc, was slain. This branch of the Eóganachta ruled in west Munster (Iarmumu) and were semi-independent of the Kings at Cashel
. Another civil battle occurred in 757, the Battle of Cenn Fabrat (near Seefin Mountain, Co. Limerick) where Bobdgal, the superior of Mungairit (an abbey near Limerick), was slain. The victors are not named making it difficult to determine the power struggles at this time. However it is known that the rotation among the inner circle of the Eóganachta was broken in the next reign.
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. 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 purposes...
from the Eóganacht Áine
Eóganacht Áine
Eóganacht Áine or Eóganacht Áine Cliach was a princely house of the Eóganachta, dynasty of Munster during the 5th–12th centuries. They took their name from the Hill of Aine near the present day village of Knockainy, County Limerick. This region of Cliú is centred around the barony of Small...
branch of the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
. He was the son of Eterscél mac Máele Umai
Eterscél mac Máele Umai
Eterscél mac Máele Umai was a king of Munster from the Eóganacht Áine branch of the Eóganachta. He was the grandson of Cúán mac Amalgado , a previous king....
(died 721), a previous king. His branch of the Eóganachta was situated in the south east of modern County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
at Cnoc Áine (Knockainy) near the monastery of Emly
Emly
Emly or Emlybeg is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly....
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
.
In the seventh and eight centuries, the kingship of Munster rotated among the inner circle of the Eóganachta dynasties. His death obit and reign are not mentioned in the Irish annals. According to the Laud Synchronisms, he succeeded Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7th century to the 10th...
(died 742) of the Eóganacht Glendamnach
Eóganacht Glendamnach
Eóganacht Glendamnach were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Glendamnach . They were descended from Óengus mac Nad Froích , the first Christian King of Munster through his son Eochaid mac Óengusa and grandson...
branch in 742 and reigned for 27 years. This would give a reign date of 742-769.
Cathussach is not mentioned in relation to events that would have taken place in his reign in Munster. In the region of Cliú (eastern Co. Limerick and parts of Co. Tipperary), the Uí Fidgenti
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
of Limerick fought a battle in 744, in which their king Conchobar was slain. Cathussach's branch of the family bordered on Cliú, but it is not known if the battle was fought by him or by the minor tribes of this region resisting Uí Fidgenti subjugation. In the region of Thomond
Thomond
Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...
in County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, the Déisi
Déisi
The Déisi were a class of peoples in ancient and medieval Ireland. The term is Old Irish, and derives from the word déis, meaning "vassal" or "subject"; in its original sense, it designated groups who were vassals or rent-payers to a landowner. Later, it became a proper name for certain septs and...
destroyed the Corco Mruad in 744 and the Uí Fidgenti fought a battle with the Corco Mruad and the Corcu Baiscinn in 763 Local power politics here were caused by the vacuum left by the decline of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne was a kingdom located in what is now the south of Co. Galway.-Legendary origins and geography:...
of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. 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...
.
In 747 the Battle of Carn Ailche (possibly Carnelly, County Clare) is recorded as having occurred amongst the men of Munster, in other words, a civil war. In this battle a member of the Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Caipre Luachra were a branch of the ruling Eoganachta of Munster. Their territory was in Iarmuman or West Munster. Luachair is the old name of a large district on the borders of Co Cork, Kerry and Limerick...
, Coirpre, son of Cú Dínaisc, was slain. This branch of the Eóganachta ruled in west Munster (Iarmumu) and were semi-independent of the Kings at Cashel
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
. Another civil battle occurred in 757, the Battle of Cenn Fabrat (near Seefin Mountain, Co. Limerick) where Bobdgal, the superior of Mungairit (an abbey near Limerick), was slain. The victors are not named making it difficult to determine the power struggles at this time. However it is known that the rotation among the inner circle of the Eóganachta was broken in the next reign.