House of Óengus
Encyclopedia
The House of Óengus can refer to a still theoretical dynasty of Pictland who may have ruled as Kings of the Picts, as well as overlords of the Kings of Dál Riata and possibly of all of northern Great Britain
, for approximately a century from the 730s to the 830s AD. Their first ruler of Pictland was the great Óengus I of the Picts
, who may be the figure carved into the St Andrews Sarcophagus
pictured on the right.
Another member of this family may have been Domnall mac Caustantín
, a possible king of Dál Riata.
of Munster
, as a descendant of Coirpre Cruithnechán or "Cairbre the little Pict", a legendary emanation or double of Coirpre Luachra mac Cuirc
, son of Conall Corc
, and ancestor of the Eóganacht Locha Léin
, rulers of the kingdom of Iarmuman
. An early cycle of tales have Conall Corc traveling to Pictland early in his career, and there taking the daughter of the Pictish king as his first wife, hence Coirpre's epithet. The branch of the kindred, called in the annals the Eoghanachta Magh Geirginn, from which he came were said to be located in an area known as Circinn, usually associated with modern Angus
and the Mearns
. The genealogy appears in the Rawlinson B 502 manuscript, ¶1083:
This states the king of Pictland with whom Conall Corc stayed to have been Feradach Find Fechtnach, and his daughter, Conall's first wife and Coirpre's mother, to have been Mongfind
. After discussing Corc's progeny in Munster, the future Eóganachta of history, the passage concludes with:
This states that from Coirpre Cruithnechán come a sept of the Eóganachta in Alba called the Eóganacht Maige Gerginn, to whom belongs Óengus I.
Notably lacking are over two centuries of generations in Scotland. Conall Corc is said to have flourished in the early 5th century. Óengus I belongs to the 8th.
puts this in the context of the (wider) Gaelicization
of Pictland in the 9th century, and notes how later Scottish dynasties such as the Lennoxes
and the House of Stuart
also found Corc to be a "usefully respectable" Gaelic ancestor.
In an exhaustive criticism of the legends, David Sproule finds that the Picts are probably a literary addition, and that the Pictish king Feredach is probably inspired by Fidach, father of Crimthann mac Fidaig
, who precedes Corc on the throne of Munster but is more widely known as "King of Ireland and Alba". As Mongfind
is the sister of Crimthann in most Irish legends, it follows that she would be Corc's wife. Sproule also notes that a journey to Alba is common in Irish legend, and further that Feradach Finnfechtnach
is the name of an earlier Irish King of Tara who has convenient associations with Alba of his own.
Feredach can also be found as the name of several figures belonging both to the Picts and Dál Riata
, for example the father of Ciniod I of the Picts.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, for approximately a century from the 730s to the 830s AD. Their first ruler of Pictland was the great Óengus I of the Picts
Óengus I of the Picts
Óengus son of Fergus , was king of the Picts from 732 until his death in 761. His reign can be reconstructed in some detail from a variety of sources.Óengus became the chief king in Pictland following a period of civil war in the late 720s...
, who may be the figure carved into the St Andrews Sarcophagus
St Andrews Sarcophagus
The Saint Andrews Sarcophagus is a Pictish monument dating from the second half of the 8th century. The sarcophagus was recovered beginning in 1833 during excavations by St Andrew's Cathedral, but it was not until 1922 that the surviving components were reunited...
pictured on the right.
- Óengus I of the PictsÓengus I of the PictsÓengus son of Fergus , was king of the Picts from 732 until his death in 761. His reign can be reconstructed in some detail from a variety of sources.Óengus became the chief king in Pictland following a period of civil war in the late 720s...
, d. 761 - Bridei V of the PictsBridei V of the PictsBridei V was king of Fortriu from 761 until 763. He was the brother of Óengus. His death is recorded by the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach.-See also:*House of Óengus...
- Talorgan II of the PictsTalorgan II of the PictsTalorgan was a king of the Picts. The Annals of Ulster report the death of Dub Tholargg king of the Picts on this side of the Mounth in 782. He is presumed to have been the son of Óengus mac Fergusa. He was succeeded by his son Drest.-External links:**...
, d. 782 - Drest VIII of the PictsDrest VIII of the PictsDrest son of Talorgan , was king of the Picts from 782 to 787, succeeding his father Talorgan.-See also:* House of Óengus-External links:*...
- Constantín mac Fergusa, d. 820
- Óengus II of the PictsÓengus II of the PictsÓengus mac Fergusa was king of the Picts , in modern Scotland, from about 820 until 834. Tradition associates him with the cult of Saint Andrew and the Flag of Scotland....
, d. 834 - Drest IX of the Picts, d. 836 or 837
- Eóganan mac Óengusa, d. 839
Another member of this family may have been Domnall mac Caustantín
Domnall mac Caustantín
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...
, a possible king of Dál Riata.
Origins and identity
Early (but not contemporary) Irish genealogies make Óengus a member of the EóganachtaEóganachta
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...
of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, as a descendant of Coirpre Cruithnechán or "Cairbre the little Pict", a legendary emanation or double of Coirpre Luachra mac Cuirc
Coirpre Luachra mac Cuirc
Coirpre Luachra mac Cuirc was the ancestor of the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster. This branch was also called the Ui Caipre Luachra, named after him and became the rulers of Iarmuman...
, son of Conall Corc
Conall Corc
Corc mac Luigthig, also called Conall Corc, Corc of Cashel, and Corc mac Láire, is the hero of Irish language tales which form part of the origin legend of the Eóganachta, a group of kindreds which traced their descent from Conall Corc and took their name from his ancestor Éogan Mór. The early...
, and ancestor of the Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Caipre Luachra were a branch of the ruling Eoganachta of Munster. Their territory was in Iarmuman or West Munster. Luachair is the old name of a large district on the borders of Co Cork, Kerry and Limerick...
, rulers of the kingdom of Iarmuman
Iarmuman
Iarmhumhain was a Kingdom in the early Christian period of Ireland in west Munster. Its ruling dynasty was related to the main ruling dynasty of Munster known as the Eóganachta. Its ruling branch was called the Eóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Chairpri Lúachra. Their center was around Killarney, County...
. An early cycle of tales have Conall Corc traveling to Pictland early in his career, and there taking the daughter of the Pictish king as his first wife, hence Coirpre's epithet. The branch of the kindred, called in the annals the Eoghanachta Magh Geirginn, from which he came were said to be located in an area known as Circinn, usually associated with modern Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
and the Mearns
Mearns
Mearns can refer to*Mearns Academy* Mearns, Alberta* Mearns Castle*Mearns Castle High School* Mearns FM* Mearns Primary School* Kincardineshire, the County of Kincardine, The Mearns in Scotland* Newton Mearnsin biology:...
. The genealogy appears in the Rawlinson B 502 manuscript, ¶1083:
This states the king of Pictland with whom Conall Corc stayed to have been Feradach Find Fechtnach, and his daughter, Conall's first wife and Coirpre's mother, to have been Mongfind
Mongfind
Queen Mongfind was the wife, of apparent Munster origins, of the legendary Irish High King Eochaid Mugmedón and mother of his eldest three sons, Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae, ancestors of the historical Connachta, through whom she is an ancestor of many Irish and European nobility today...
. After discussing Corc's progeny in Munster, the future Eóganachta of history, the passage concludes with:
This states that from Coirpre Cruithnechán come a sept of the Eóganachta in Alba called the Eóganacht Maige Gerginn, to whom belongs Óengus I.
Notably lacking are over two centuries of generations in Scotland. Conall Corc is said to have flourished in the early 5th century. Óengus I belongs to the 8th.
Criticism
This pedigree has been dismissed as inspired by the tales of Conall Corc. Francis John ByrneFrancis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
puts this in the context of the (wider) Gaelicization
Gaelicization
Gaelicization or Gaelicisation is the act or process of making something Gaelic, or gaining characteristics of the Gaels. The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group who are traditionally viewed as having spread from Ireland to Scotland and the Isle of Man."Gaelic" as a linguistic term, refers to the...
of Pictland in the 9th century, and notes how later Scottish dynasties such as the Lennoxes
Earl of Lennox
The Mormaer of Lennox or Earl of Lennox was the ruler of the long-lasting provincial Mormaerdom/Earldom of Lennox in the Medieval Kingdom of the Scots. The first Mormaer is usually regarded as Ailin I , but the genealogy of the Mormaers gives earlier names...
and the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
also found Corc to be a "usefully respectable" Gaelic ancestor.
In an exhaustive criticism of the legends, David Sproule finds that the Picts are probably a literary addition, and that the Pictish king Feredach is probably inspired by Fidach, father of Crimthann mac Fidaig
Crimthann mac Fidaig
Crimthann Mór, son of Fidach , also written Crimthand Mór, was a semi-mythological king of Munster and High King of Ireland of the 4th century. He gained territory in Britain and Gaul, but died poisoned by his sister Mongfind. It is possible that he was also recognized as king of Scotland or Alba...
, who precedes Corc on the throne of Munster but is more widely known as "King of Ireland and Alba". As Mongfind
Mongfind
Queen Mongfind was the wife, of apparent Munster origins, of the legendary Irish High King Eochaid Mugmedón and mother of his eldest three sons, Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae, ancestors of the historical Connachta, through whom she is an ancestor of many Irish and European nobility today...
is the sister of Crimthann in most Irish legends, it follows that she would be Corc's wife. Sproule also notes that a journey to Alba is common in Irish legend, and further that Feradach Finnfechtnach
Feradach Finnfechtnach
Feradach Finnfechtnach , son of Crimthann Nia Náir, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
is the name of an earlier Irish King of Tara who has convenient associations with Alba of his own.
Feredach can also be found as the name of several figures belonging both to the Picts and 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...
, for example the father of Ciniod I of the Picts.