Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
Encyclopedia
Fedelmid mac Crimthainn was the King of Munster
between 820 and 846. He was numbered as a member of the Céli Dé
, an abbot of Cork Abbey
and Clonfert Abbey
, and possibly a bishop. After his death, he was later considered a saint in some martyrologies
.
branch of the Eóganachta
, and he is noted as having assumed the sovereignty of Munster in 820. In 823, in co-operation with Bishop Artrí mac Conchobar of Armagh
, he had the "Law of St. Patrick" established in Munster", and sacked the monastery, that of Gailline of the Britons, in modern County Offaly. The Dealbhna Breatha was burnt by Fedelmid in 825. In 827, there is the first of a number of royal meetings between Fedelmid and Conchobar mac Donnchada
, the Southern Uí Néill
, King of Tara or High King of Ireland
.
In 830, Fedelmid was back burning monasteries this time it was probably that of Fore Abbey
in modern County Westmeath
, while in Southern Galway, he destroyed the Uí Briúin
, and in the same year, the Munstermen were recorded as killing Folloman, son of Donnchad, brother of Conchobhar, the High King of Ireland. In 831 and 832, he is recorded as taking an army of Leinster and Munster into East Meath, plundering as far north as Slane
, while also raiding the Dealbhna Beatha of southern Offaly three times, and burning Clonmacnoise
. In 833, he is back in Clonmacnoise burning it and the Clann Cholmáin
monastery of Durrow
to the door of their churches. In 835, the Munstermen are recorded as having slain Fergus, son of Bodbchad, the King of Carraic-Brachaidhe, from the very north-west of country, Inishowen
.
, the King of the Northern Uí Néill
, as a result of which the Annals of Inisfallen
, presumably acting on Munster tradition, that Fedelmid became full king of Ireland that day and occupied the abbot’s chair of Clonfert.
The year 840 was probably the high point of Fedelmid’s rule, when he ravaged the east midland kingdoms of Mide and Brega and is recorded as having rested in Temhar (Tara), and the annals have a short poem on this:
, a presumably meet with surprise, as the following verse suggest:
, the patron saint of Clonmacnoise, as revenge for Fedelmid’s plunderings of the site. The Annals of Clonmacnoise
offers the following description:
Kings of Munster
The name Munster is derived from the Gaelic God, Muman. The province of Munster was once divided into six regions: Tuadh Mhuman , Des Mhuman , Aur/Ur Mumhan , Iar mumhan or Iarmuman , Ernaibh Muman , and Deisi Muman...
between 820 and 846. He was numbered as a member of the Céli Dé
Culdee
Céli Dé or Culdees were originally members of ascetic Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland, Scotland and England in the Middle Ages. The term is used of St. John the Apostle, of a missioner from abroad recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters at the year 806, and of Óengus...
, an abbot of Cork Abbey
Cork Abbey
The Red Abbey in Cork, Ireland was a 14th century Augustinian abbey which took its name from the reddish sandstone used in construction. Today all that remains of the structure is the central bell tower of the abbey church, which is one of the last remaining visible structures dating to the...
and Clonfert Abbey
Clonfert
Clonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
, and possibly a bishop. After his death, he was later considered a saint in some martyrologies
Martyrology
A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs , arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by names borrowed from neighbouring churches...
.
Early Kingship
Fedelmid was of the Cenél Fíngin sept of the Eóganacht ChaisilEóganacht Chaisil
Eóganacht Chaisil were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel which was the capital of the early Christian kingdom of Munster...
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...
, and he is noted as having assumed the sovereignty of Munster in 820. In 823, in co-operation with Bishop Artrí mac Conchobar 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...
, he had the "Law of St. Patrick" established in Munster", and sacked the monastery, that of Gailline of the Britons, in modern County Offaly. The Dealbhna Breatha was burnt by Fedelmid in 825. In 827, there is the first of a number of royal meetings between Fedelmid and 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...
, the Southern Uí Néill
Southern Uí Néill
The Southern Uí Néill or Uí Néill Deisceart were that branch of the Uí Néill dynasty that invaded and settled in the Kingdom of Mide and its associated kingdoms....
, King of Tara or High King of Ireland
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...
.
In 830, Fedelmid was back burning monasteries this time it was probably that of Fore Abbey
Fore Abbey
Fore Abbey is the old Benedictine Abbey ruin, situated to the north of Lough Lene in County Westmeath, Ireland.Fore village, is situated within a valley between two hills: the Hill of Ben, the Hill of Houndslow, and the Anchorland rise area...
in modern County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, while in Southern Galway, he destroyed 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...
, and in the same year, the Munstermen were recorded as killing Folloman, son of Donnchad, brother of Conchobhar, the High King of Ireland. In 831 and 832, he is recorded as taking an army of Leinster and Munster into East Meath, plundering as far north as Slane
Slane
Slane is a village in County Meath, in Ireland. The village stands on a steep hillside on the left bank of the River Boyne at the intersection of the N2 and the N51 . In 2006 Slane's population was 1,099, having grown from 823 in 2002. The population of the village and the surrounding rural area...
, while also raiding the Dealbhna Beatha of southern Offaly three times, and burning Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
. In 833, he is back in Clonmacnoise burning it and the Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
monastery of Durrow
Durrow
Durrow is a small rural village in County Offaly, Ireland. Durrow is located on the N52 off the N6 road between Kilbeggan and Tullamore .Famous for being the Ancestral home of the Champion ploughman Luke Bracken. and Dean McDermott, Offaly Bord na Scol runner up,...
to the door of their churches. In 835, the Munstermen are recorded as having slain Fergus, son of Bodbchad, the King of Carraic-Brachaidhe, from the very north-west of country, Inishowen
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
.
High point of his rule
In 836, Fedelmid took the oratory in Kildare, against Forindam, the abbot of Armagh, and had him and the congregation of Patrick congregation imprisoned. In 837, Fedelmid is recording as taking the abbacy of Cork, and also he plundered the Cenél Cairpri Cruim. In 838, there was a great royal meeting in Cluain-Conaire-Tommain (north modern Kildare) between Fedelmid and Niall Caille mac ÁedaNiall Caille mac Áeda
Niall mac Áeda , called Niall Caille to distinguish him from his grandson Niall mac Áeda , was High King of Ireland.-Background:...
, the King of the Northern 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....
, as a result of which the Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
, presumably acting on Munster tradition, that Fedelmid became full king of Ireland that day and occupied the abbot’s chair of Clonfert.
The year 840 was probably the high point of Fedelmid’s rule, when he ravaged the east midland kingdoms of Mide and Brega and is recorded as having rested in Temhar (Tara), and the annals have a short poem on this:
"Feidhlimid is the King,
To whom it was but one day’s work
[To obtain] the pledges of Connaught without battle,
And to devastate Midhe."
Downfall
However, this was short lived and in 841, he was defeated in battle by Niall Caille at Magh-Ochtar in KildareKildare
-External links:*******...
, a presumably meet with surprise, as the following verse suggest:
The crozier of the devout Feidlimid,
Was abandoned in the blackthorns,
Niall, mighty in combat, took it,
By right of victory in battle with swords.
Death
Fedelmid does not appear to have recovered from this defeat and died in 847. Although the cause of his death is not noted in the Annals of Ulster, the majority of the other sources, place the cause of his death on St. KieranCiarán
Ciarán , Ciaran in Scottish Gaelic, Ceiran, Kieran, Keeran, Kyran, Kiaran, Keiran, Kieren, Kieron, Keiron or Kiernan , is a personal name meaning "small dark one". Ciarán comes from the Irish word "Ciar" which means black or dark. Ciar can be linked back to Ciar, son of Fergus, King of Ulster...
, the patron saint of Clonmacnoise, as revenge for Fedelmid’s plunderings of the site. The Annals of Clonmacnoise
Annals of Clonmacnoise
The Annals of Clonmacnoise are an early 17th-century Early Modern English translation of a lost Irish chronicle, which covered events in Ireland from pre-history to A.D. 1408...
offers the following description:
After his returne to Munster ye next year, he was overtaken by a great disease of the flux of the belly, which happened in this wide. As King felym (soone after his return to Mounster) was taking his rest inn his bed, St. Wueran appeared to him with his habit and bachall.. & there gave him a push of his Bachall in his belly whereof he tooke his disease and occasiontion of Death, and notwithstanding his great irregularity and great desire of spoyle he was of sum numbered among the scribes and anchorites of Ireland.