Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Encyclopedia
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765) was a High King of Ireland
. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill
, a branch of the northern Uí Néill
. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso
(died 703), a previous high king. He ruled from 728 to 734.
He is considered to have been High King of Ireland
following his victory over the previous High King, Cináed mac Írgalaig
of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
, at the battle of Druim Corcain in 728 where Cináed was killed.
For much of Flaithbertach's reign his kingship was contested by his northern Uí Néill rival, Áed Allán
of the Cenél nEógain
. Áed's goal was the conquest of Mag nÍtha, a plain in the valley of the River Finn
connecting northern and southern portions of Cenél Conaill territory. Prior to becoming high king he fought the Battle of Druim Fornocht with his rival in 727. In 732 Flaithbertach was defeated by Áed in battle in which Flaithbertach's cousin Flann Gohan mac Congaile was slain. Another encounter occurred in 733 in a battle fought in Mag nÍtha in which another cousin of Flaithbertach, Conaing mac Congaile was slain. This was followed by a further encounter in 734 in Mag nÍtha.
These defeats led Flaithbertach to call in the naval help of the men of Dál Riata
but their fleet was destroyed at the mouth of the Bann in 734. The less reliable Annals of the Four Masters state that the Scots did arrive to help Flaithbertach's army cut off the enemy and that the Ulaid and the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin were allies of Áed in this battle.
After these series of battles Flaithbertach was deposed, or abdicated, and entered the monastery at Armagh
where he died in 765.
Flaithbertach was the last member of the Cenél Conaill to be generally counted as High King of Ireland, although Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
(d. 950) is considered such by a minority of sources. Flaithbertach's sons included: Áed Muinderg
(died 747) called King of the North; Loingsech mac Flaithbertaig
(died 754) and Murchad mac Flaithbertaig
(died 767) called chiefs of the Cenél Conaill. His daughter Dunlaith ingen Flaithbertaig (died 798) married the high king Niall Frossach
(died 778).
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...
. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill
Cenél Conaill
The Cenél Conaill is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history. They were also known in Scotland as the Kindred of Saint Columba....
, a branch 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....
. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso
Loingsech mac Óengusso
Loingsech mac Óengusso was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. Loingsech was a member of the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill...
(died 703), a previous high king. He ruled from 728 to 734.
He is considered to have been 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...
following his victory over the previous High King, Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland.-Background:Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing , a previous King of Brega...
of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine is the name of the descendants of Áed Sláine , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne....
, at the battle of Druim Corcain in 728 where Cináed was killed.
For much of Flaithbertach's reign his kingship was contested by his northern Uí Néill rival, Áed Allán
Áed Allán
Áed Allán was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. Áed Allán was the son of Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill....
of the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
. Áed's goal was the conquest of Mag nÍtha, a plain in the valley of the River Finn
River Finn
The River Finn is a river that flows through County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It rises in Lough Finn in County Donegal and flows east through a deep mountain valley to Ballybofey and Stranorlar and on to the confluence with the River Mourne at Lifford...
connecting northern and southern portions of Cenél Conaill territory. Prior to becoming high king he fought the Battle of Druim Fornocht with his rival in 727. In 732 Flaithbertach was defeated by Áed in battle in which Flaithbertach's cousin Flann Gohan mac Congaile was slain. Another encounter occurred in 733 in a battle fought in Mag nÍtha in which another cousin of Flaithbertach, Conaing mac Congaile was slain. This was followed by a further encounter in 734 in Mag nÍtha.
These defeats led Flaithbertach to call in the naval help of 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...
but their fleet was destroyed at the mouth of the Bann in 734. The less reliable Annals of the Four Masters state that the Scots did arrive to help Flaithbertach's army cut off the enemy and that the Ulaid and the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin were allies of Áed in this battle.
After these series of battles Flaithbertach was deposed, or abdicated, and entered the monastery at 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...
where he died in 765.
Flaithbertach was the last member of the Cenél Conaill to be generally counted as High King of Ireland, although Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin was king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources, High King of Ireland.The Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill had been excluded from the alternating succession to the High Kingship which had been largely dominated by the northern Cenél nEógain kings...
(d. 950) is considered such by a minority of sources. Flaithbertach's sons included: Áed Muinderg
Áed Muinderg
Áed mac Flaithbertaig , called Áed Muinderg, was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig . His byname Muinderg means "red-necked"....
(died 747) called King of the North; Loingsech mac Flaithbertaig
Loingsech mac Flaithbertaig
Loingsech mac Flaithbertaig was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig who abdicated in 734 and retired to the monastery at Armagh....
(died 754) and Murchad mac Flaithbertaig
Murchad mac Flaithbertaig
Murchad mac Flaithbertaig was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig who abdicated in 734 and retired to the monastery at Armagh.....
(died 767) called chiefs of the Cenél Conaill. His daughter Dunlaith ingen Flaithbertaig (died 798) married the high king Niall Frossach
Niall Frossach
Niall Frossach was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech, sometimes considered to have been High King of Ireland. Brother of high king Áed Allán , Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill...
(died 778).
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork. The Corpus of Electronic Texts includes the Annals of Ulster and the Four Masters, the Chronicon Scotorum and the Book of Leinster as well as Genealogies, and various Saints' Lives. Most are translated into English, or translations are in progress