Domnall mac Caustantín
Encyclopedia
Domnall mac Caustantín is thought to have been king of Dál Riata
in the early ninth century.
Domnall's existence is uncertain, and is based on attempts to reconcile eleventh century works such as the poem Duan Albanach
and the Synchronisms of Flann Mainistrech
with the evidence of the Irish annals
.
The Duan says that Domnall reigned for twenty-four years and places him between "Aodh", Áed Find
, and the two Conalls, Conall mac Taidg
and Conall mac Áedáin
. Flann gives Domnall's father's name as "Constantine". The only person of that relatively uncommon name known is Caustantín mac Fergusa
, king of the Picts from 792 to 820. Since Áed Find died in 778, and his brother Fergus mac Echdach
was king of Dál Riata at his death in 781, it is thought unlikely that Caustantín's son could have been king as early as 781. Additionally, a king named Donncoirce
is reported to have died in 792, and Conall mac Taidg died in 807, making it very difficult to accommodate a twenty-four year reign at this time.
Since no kings of Dál Riata are known for the period from 811, when the four-year reign of Conall mac Áedáin is presumed to have ended, and the four-year reign of Áed mac Boanta
who died in 839, Domnall mac Caustantín may have been king from around 811 to around 835.
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
in the early ninth century.
Domnall's existence is uncertain, and is based on attempts to reconcile eleventh century works such as the poem Duan Albanach
Duan Albanach
The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material ....
and the Synchronisms of Flann Mainistrech
Flann Mainistrech
Flann Mainistrech was an Irish poet and historian.Flann was the son Echthigern mac Óengusso, who had been lector at the monastery of Monasterboice , in Irish Mainistir Buite, whence Flann's byname, meaning "of Monasterboice"...
with the evidence of the Irish annals
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
.
The Duan says that Domnall reigned for twenty-four years and places him between "Aodh", Áed Find
Áed Find
Áed Find or Áed mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata . Áed was the son of Eochaid mac Echdach, a descendant of Domnall Brecc in the main line of Cenél nGabráin kings....
, and the two Conalls, Conall mac Taidg
Conall mac Taidg
Conall mac Taidg was a king in Scotland. Very little is recorded of Conall and that unclear. He is mentioned twice by the Irish annals, the most reliable source for the history of northern Britain in the years around 800. He also appears in later king lists.-Annals:The Chronicle of Ireland...
and Conall mac Áedáin
Conall mac Áedáin
Conall mac Áedáin was a king in Scotland in the years around 800. It is thought that he was a king, or sub-king, in Dál Riata.He is mentioned once in the Annals of Ulster, for 807, when he defeated and killed Conall mac Taidg in Kintyre....
. Flann gives Domnall's father's name as "Constantine". The only person of that relatively uncommon name known is Caustantín mac Fergusa
Caustantín of the Picts
Causantín or Constantín mac Fergusa was king of the Picts , in modern Scotland, from 789 until 820. He was until the Victorian era sometimes counted as Constantine I of Scotland; the title is now generally given to Causantín mac Cináeda...
, king of the Picts from 792 to 820. Since Áed Find died in 778, and his brother Fergus mac Echdach
Fergus mac Echdach
Fergus mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata from about 778 until 781.He succeeded Áed Find. He is stated to have been a son of Eochaid mac Echdach, and thus a brother of Áed. Some much later sources make him a son of Áed, but this is not credited by modern studies...
was king of Dál Riata at his death in 781, it is thought unlikely that Caustantín's son could have been king as early as 781. Additionally, a king named Donncoirce
Donncoirce
Donncoirce was probably king of Dál Riata until his death in 792.Donncoirce's death, the only report of his existence, appears in the Annals of Ulster for the year 791, corresponding with 792 AD. In it he is called "Donncoirce, king of Dál Riata...
is reported to have died in 792, and Conall mac Taidg died in 807, making it very difficult to accommodate a twenty-four year reign at this time.
Since no kings of Dál Riata are known for the period from 811, when the four-year reign of Conall mac Áedáin is presumed to have ended, and the four-year reign of Áed mac Boanta
Áed mac Boanta
Áed mac Boanta is believed to have been a king of Dál Riata.The only reference to Áed in the Irish annals is found in the Annals of Ulster, where it is recorded that "Eóganán mac Óengusa, Bran mac Óengusa, Áed mac Boanta, and others almost innumerable" in a battle fought by the men of Fortriu...
who died in 839, Domnall mac Caustantín may have been king from around 811 to around 835.
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork includes the Annals of Ulster, Tigernach, the Four Masters and Innisfallen, the Chronicon Scotorum, the Lebor Bretnach (which includes the Duan Albanach), Genealogies, and various Saints' Lives. Most are translated into English, or translations are in progress.