Diarmait mac Tommaltaig
Encyclopedia
Diarmait mac Tommaltaig was a king of Connacht
from the Uí Briúin
branch of the Connachta
. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig
Muillethan(d.723), a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail (died 774) is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. He succeeded his brother Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
(died 815). He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept
of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 815 to 833.
His brother had been a successful king who built up the local power of Connacht. Diarmait was confronted with opposition upon his succession. In 816 he defeated the Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe
(a rival dynasty of County Mayo who had last held the kingship in 773) and sacked Foibrén in the territory of Grecraige (a subject people of the Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe). The annals point out that many common people were killed in this attack.
Then in 818 he imposed his authority over the Uí Maine (the third major grouping of Connacht in Counties Galway and southern Roscommon) with a victory at the Battle of Forath in the territory of the Delba Nuadat (a subject people of Uí Maine in southern Roscommon). Their king Cathal mac Murchada was slain. Máel Cothaid mac Fogartaig
of the Síl Cathail sept of the Ui Briun is listed with Diarmait as victors in this battle and they are called Kings of the Uí Briúin, implying Diarmait may have shared his rule at first.
In 822 Diarmait defeated his rivals among the Uí Briúin at the Battle of Tarbga. Dúnchad son of Maenach, and Gormgal son of Dúnchad were slain. In this battle the Uí Maine fought alongside Diarmait. The annals record another battle among the Connachta in 824 in which many fell. No more opposition is recorded to the rule of Diarmait in the annals after this.
In 818 the Bishop of Armagh
, Artrí son of Conchobor, came to Connacht with the shrine of Saint Patrick
. He returned in 825 to impose the law of Patrick upon the three Connachta. These actions would help to establish the legitimacy of Diarmait's rule.
In 829 the high king Conchobar mac Donnchada
(died 833), with the men of Mide (Meath), attacked Connacht and defeated the Connachta in battle. In 830, the King of Munster, Feidlimid mac Crimthainn (died 847), invaded and crushed the southern Uí Briúin Seola. These actions occurred during a short-lived alliance of these two kings who were soon engaged in hostility with one another.
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...
from the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
branch of the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig
Indrechtach mac Muiredaig
Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso , a previous king. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin....
Muillethan(d.723), a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail (died 774) is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. He succeeded his brother Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan , a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. Muirgius...
(died 815). He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept
Sept
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 815 to 833.
His brother had been a successful king who built up the local power of Connacht. Diarmait was confronted with opposition upon his succession. In 816 he defeated the Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe
Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe
Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe were a branch of the Ui Fiachrach dynasty of the Connachta. They were centered in the Moy River valley of Co. Mayo. The Uí Fiachrach Muaide territory at its widest reach included the baronies of Erris and Tirawley in Co. Mayo, and the barony of Tireragh in Co. Sligo...
(a rival dynasty of County Mayo who had last held the kingship in 773) and sacked Foibrén in the territory of Grecraige (a subject people of the Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe). The annals point out that many common people were killed in this attack.
Then in 818 he imposed his authority over the Uí Maine (the third major grouping of Connacht in Counties Galway and southern Roscommon) with a victory at the Battle of Forath in the territory of the Delba Nuadat (a subject people of Uí Maine in southern Roscommon). Their king Cathal mac Murchada was slain. Máel Cothaid mac Fogartaig
Máel Cothaid mac Fogartaig
Máel Cothaid mac Fogartaig was a possible King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan, a previous king and nephew of Dub-Indrecht mac Cathail and Artgal mac Cathail. He was of the Síl Cathail sept of the Ui Briun...
of the Síl Cathail sept of the Ui Briun is listed with Diarmait as victors in this battle and they are called Kings of the Uí Briúin, implying Diarmait may have shared his rule at first.
In 822 Diarmait defeated his rivals among the Uí Briúin at the Battle of Tarbga. Dúnchad son of Maenach, and Gormgal son of Dúnchad were slain. In this battle the Uí Maine fought alongside Diarmait. The annals record another battle among the Connachta in 824 in which many fell. No more opposition is recorded to the rule of Diarmait in the annals after this.
In 818 the Bishop of Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Artrí son of Conchobor, came to Connacht with the shrine of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
. He returned in 825 to impose the law of Patrick upon the three Connachta. These actions would help to establish the legitimacy of Diarmait's rule.
In 829 the high king Conchobar mac Donnchada
Conchobar mac Donnchada
Conchobar mac Donnchada was High-King of Ireland with opposition between 819 and 833. Conchobar was the son of Donnchad Midi, high-king of Ireland ; his mother was Fuirseach, a noblewoman of the Dál nAraidi. Conchobar married Land, daughter of the former High-King Áed Oirdnide...
(died 833), with the men of Mide (Meath), attacked Connacht and defeated the Connachta in battle. In 830, the King of Munster, Feidlimid mac Crimthainn (died 847), invaded and crushed the southern Uí Briúin Seola. These actions occurred during a short-lived alliance of these two kings who were soon engaged in hostility with one another.