Fergus mac Áedáin
Encyclopedia
Fergus mac Áedáin was king of Ulaid
from 674. He belonged to a branch of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Echach Cobo
in the west part of county Down. They were distinct from the main branch located in County Antrim who were known as Kings of the
Cruithne
in this period. He was the son of Áedán mac Mongain (died 616), a previous king of Cobo.
He was the first member of the Dal nAraide to hold the throne since death of Congal Cáech
at Mag Roth in 639. He was of the Ui Echach Coba branch of the Dal nAraide and was the son of Áedán mac Mongain (d. 616). No mention is made of why he became king but the previous holders, the Dal Fiatach
had been guilty of some kin slaying.
In 691, the annals record the despoiling of the Cruithne and the Ulaid by the men of Dál Riata
His son Bressal mac Fergusa (d. 685), called king of Cobo by the Annals of Tigernach, died of disease which was rampant at this time. He himself was slain by his own people in 692 according to the Annals of the Four Masters, whereas the Annals of Ulster simply state that he died.
He married Máel Teglaig, daughter of Máel Odar (died 639), king of the Airthir, a tribe of the Airgialla
in County Armagh. Their daughter, Ériu, married Ailill mac Cennfáelad (died 702), King of the Ciannachta Glenn Geimin (in what is modern day County Londonderry
.) Besides his son Bressal, he had a son named Máel Cothaig.
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
from 674. He belonged to a branch of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo were a branch of the Dál nAraidi in Ulster . They gave their name to the early medieval Kingdom of Coba located in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh in modern County Down...
in the west part of county Down. They were distinct from the main branch located in County Antrim who were known as Kings of the
Cruithne
Cruthin
The Cruthin were a people of early Ireland, who occupied parts of Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry in the early medieval period....
in this period. He was the son of Áedán mac Mongain (died 616), a previous king of Cobo.
He was the first member of the Dal nAraide to hold the throne since death of Congal Cáech
Congal Cáech
Congal Cáech was a king of the Cruithne of Dál nAraidi, in modern Ulster, from around 626 to 637. He was king of Ulster from 627-637 and, according to some sources, High King of Ireland.-Sources:...
at Mag Roth in 639. He was of the Ui Echach Coba branch of the Dal nAraide and was the son of Áedán mac Mongain (d. 616). No mention is made of why he became king but the previous holders, the Dal Fiatach
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:...
had been guilty of some kin slaying.
In 691, the annals record the despoiling of the Cruithne and the Ulaid by the men of Dál Riata
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
His son Bressal mac Fergusa (d. 685), called king of Cobo by the Annals of Tigernach, died of disease which was rampant at this time. He himself was slain by his own people in 692 according to the Annals of the Four Masters, whereas the Annals of Ulster simply state that he died.
He married Máel Teglaig, daughter of Máel Odar (died 639), king of the Airthir, a tribe of the Airgialla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
in County Armagh. Their daughter, Ériu, married Ailill mac Cennfáelad (died 702), King of the Ciannachta Glenn Geimin (in what is modern day County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
.) Besides his son Bressal, he had a son named Máel Cothaig.