Fiachnae mac Báetáin
Encyclopedia
Fiachnae mac Báetáin also called Fiachnae Lurgan or Fiachnae Find, was king of the Dál nAraidi
and high-king of the Ulaid
in the early 7th century. He was a son of Báetán mac Echdach and brother of Fiachra Cáech (died c. 608), grandson of the Ulaid king Eochaid mac Condlai
(died 552)., and father of Mongán.
The Dál nAraidi kingdom was, in fact, a number of competing cruithne tribes at this time, so that succession to the kingship was achieved through force of arms and prestige, rather than by any regular means. Fiachnae's predecessor according to the genealogies was his great-uncle Áed Dub mac Suibni
, who died c. 588, and Fiachnae will have become king some time after Áed Dub's death. The kingship of the Ulaid was contested by Dál nAraidi and Dál Fiatach
kings, so that Fiachnae will again not have succeeded directly to the kingship, but have required some time to impose himself as high-king after the death of his predecessor, again Áed Dub.
Specifically there is a reference in the Annals of the Four Masters
dated 597 describing the Battle of Cuil Cael where he defeats the Dal Fiatach leader Fiachnae mac Demmáin
and from this could date his true overlordship of Ulaid.
While no historical sources for Fiachnae's life now remain, excepting a few bald entries in the Irish annals
, a number of later traditions and a lost poem called Sluagad Fiachnae meic Báetáin co Dún nGuaire i Saxanaib (The hosting of Fiachnae mac Báetáin to Dún Guaire (Bamburgh
?) in the kingdom of the Saxons) suggest that he was a significant figure in his time, campaigning against Edwin of Deira, and perhaps against Edwin's predecessor Æthelfrith of Bernicia. He may have captured Bamburgh - or only besieged it - circa 623.
Literary sources claim that Fiachnae's mother, who is said to have come from the Dál Fiatach, conceived him as a means of revenge against her husband. Báetán did not like the child, and once set a ferocious dog on him, which Fiachnae killed by spearing it through the heart with a meat-spit.
The 8th century saga Compert Mongáin, which recounts the deeds of a half legendary son Mongán mac Fiachnai, fathered on Fiachnnae's wife by the sea-god Manannán mac Lir
, while Fiachnae campaigned alongside Áedán mac Gabráin
of Dál Riata
. Mongán was killed in c. 625, in battle against the Britons of the kingdom of Strathclyde
. It may be that Fiachnae was, in fact, High-king of Ireland for some time, if he is to be identified with the Féachno who followed Diermait (presumed to be Diarmait mac Cerbaill
) in the Baile Chuind list.
The Middle Irish language
tale Fiachna mac Báetáin 7 Ríge Alban (Fiachnae mac Báetáin and the Kingship of Scotland) recounts how Fiachnae obtained the kingship of Scotland. The tale includes supernatural features and common literary tropes
.
Fiachnae was killed at the battle of Leithet Midind, defeated by Fiachnae mac Demmáin of the Dál Fiatach
in 626. His son Mongán had predeceased him, and a second son, Scandal Sciathlethan, father of Congal Cáech
, may have done so, but a third son, Eochaid Iarlaithe
, died around 666.
Dál nAraidi
Dál nAraidi was a kingdom of the Cruthin in the north-east of Ireland in the first millennium. The lands of the Dál nAraidi appear to correspond with the Robogdii of Ptolemy's Geographia, a region shared with Dál Riata...
and high-king of the Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
in the early 7th century. He was a son of Báetán mac Echdach and brother of Fiachra Cáech (died c. 608), grandson of the Ulaid king Eochaid mac Condlai
Eochaid mac Condlai
Eochaid mac Condlai was a king of Ulaid from the Dal nAraide. He was the son of Condlae mac Cóelbad, also a king of Dal nAraide and grandson of the high king and King of Ulster Cáelbad mac Crond Ba Druí...
(died 552)., and father of Mongán.
The Dál nAraidi kingdom was, in fact, a number of competing cruithne tribes at this time, so that succession to the kingship was achieved through force of arms and prestige, rather than by any regular means. Fiachnae's predecessor according to the genealogies was his great-uncle Áed Dub mac Suibni
Áed Dub mac Suibni
Áed Dub mac Suibni was an Irish king of the Cruthin of Dál nAraidi . He may have been king of the Ulaid.Áed Dub — Black Áed — killed the last pagan High King of Ireland, Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Tradition has Diarmaid die a mythic threefold death, and some version make Áed Diarmaid's...
, who died c. 588, and Fiachnae will have become king some time after Áed Dub's death. The kingship of the Ulaid was contested by Dál nAraidi and Dál 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:...
kings, so that Fiachnae will again not have succeeded directly to the kingship, but have required some time to impose himself as high-king after the death of his predecessor, again Áed Dub.
Specifically there is a reference in the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
dated 597 describing the Battle of Cuil Cael where he defeats the Dal Fiatach leader Fiachnae mac Demmáin
Fiachnae mac Demmáin
Fiachnae mac Demmáin was King of Ulaid from 626 to 627. Sometimes called Fiachnae Dubtuinne. He was a member of the Dal Fiatach and nephew of Baetan mac Cairill of Ulaid. He was the son of Demmán mac Cairell...
and from this could date his true overlordship of Ulaid.
While no historical sources for Fiachnae's life now remain, excepting a few bald entries in 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...
, a number of later traditions and a lost poem called Sluagad Fiachnae meic Báetáin co Dún nGuaire i Saxanaib (The hosting of Fiachnae mac Báetáin to Dún Guaire (Bamburgh
Bamburgh
Bamburgh is a large village and civil parish on the coast of Northumberland, England. It has a population of 454.It is notable for two reasons: the imposing Bamburgh Castle, overlooking the beach, seat of the former Kings of Northumbria, and at present owned by the Armstrong family ; and its...
?) in the kingdom of the Saxons) suggest that he was a significant figure in his time, campaigning against Edwin of Deira, and perhaps against Edwin's predecessor Æthelfrith of Bernicia. He may have captured Bamburgh - or only besieged it - circa 623.
Literary sources claim that Fiachnae's mother, who is said to have come from the Dál Fiatach, conceived him as a means of revenge against her husband. Báetán did not like the child, and once set a ferocious dog on him, which Fiachnae killed by spearing it through the heart with a meat-spit.
The 8th century saga Compert Mongáin, which recounts the deeds of a half legendary son Mongán mac Fiachnai, fathered on Fiachnnae's wife by the sea-god Manannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir is a sea deity in Irish mythology. He is the son of the obscure Lir . He is often seen as a psychopomp, and has strong affiliations with the Otherworld, the weather and the mists between the worlds...
, while Fiachnae campaigned alongside Áedán mac Gabráin
Áedán mac Gabráin
Áedán mac Gabráin was a king of Dál Riata from circa 574 until his death, perhaps on 17 April 609. The kingdom of Dál Riata was situated in modern Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and parts of County Antrim, Ireland...
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...
. Mongán was killed in c. 625, in battle against the Britons of the kingdom of Strathclyde
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period...
. It may be that Fiachnae was, in fact, High-king of Ireland for some time, if he is to be identified with the Féachno who followed Diermait (presumed to be Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill was King of Tara or High King of Ireland. According to traditions, he was the last High King to follow the pagan rituals of inauguration, the ban-feis or marriage to goddess of the land....
) in the Baile Chuind list.
The Middle Irish language
Middle Irish language
Middle Irish is the name given by historical philologists to the Goidelic language spoken in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man from the 10th to 12th centuries; it is therefore a contemporary of late Old English and early Middle English...
tale Fiachna mac Báetáin 7 Ríge Alban (Fiachnae mac Báetáin and the Kingship of Scotland) recounts how Fiachnae obtained the kingship of Scotland. The tale includes supernatural features and common literary tropes
Trope (literature)
A literary trope is the usage of figurative language in literature, or a figure of speech in which words are used in a sense different from their literal meaning...
.
Fiachnae was killed at the battle of Leithet Midind, defeated by Fiachnae mac Demmáin of the Dál 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:...
in 626. His son Mongán had predeceased him, and a second son, Scandal Sciathlethan, father 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:...
, may have done so, but a third son, Eochaid Iarlaithe
Eochaid Iarlaithe
Eochaid Iarlaithe mac Lurgain was a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne in Ulaid . He was the son of Fiachnae mac Báetáin a king of all Ulaid and possible high king...
, died around 666.
External links
- Dan Wiley's commentary on Fiachna mac Báetáin 7 Ríge Alban