Matudán mac Muiredaig
Encyclopedia
Matudán mac Muiredaig was a Dal Fiatach
king of Ulaid
, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Muiredach mac Eochada
(died 839), the previous king. He ruled from 839-857.
Vikings were on Lough Neagh in 839 and wintered there in 840-841 in the opening years raiding the various parts of the north including the Ulaid territories. In 852 the Norse fought a fierce naval battle with newcomers, the Danes, in Carlingford Lough but were heavily defeated. Matudán may have given land support to the Norse forces in this battle.
In 851 Matudán met with the high king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (died 863) of the southern Ui Neill
in Armagh. In a meeting presided over by the clerics of Armagh and Mide, Matudán formally acknowledged the authority of the high king. This led in 855 to an attack by Áed Findliath, King of Ailech, of the northern Ui Neill. However his foray failed and he left behind slain kin. Áed Findliath had as one of his wives the sister of Matudán- Gormlaith Rapach "the harsh".
The annals record a possible co-ruler (leth-rí
-"half king") Cathmal mac Tommaltaig of the Leth Cathail branch of the Dal Fiatach (in Lecale, modern County Down) who is not recorded in the king lists. Cathmal was slain by the Norse in 853.
Matudán died in 857 and according to the Fragmentary Annals he took clerical orders prior to his death. His descendants (if any) did not hold the throne of Ulaid which descended through the line of his uncle Áed.
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:...
king of Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Muiredach mac Eochada
Muiredach mac Eochada
Muiredach mac Eochada was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Eochaid mac Fiachnai , a previous king. He ruled from 825-839....
(died 839), the previous king. He ruled from 839-857.
Biography
His father had been killed by his own brother Áed. However, Matudán killed his uncle and was able to acquire the throne.Vikings were on Lough Neagh in 839 and wintered there in 840-841 in the opening years raiding the various parts of the north including the Ulaid territories. In 852 the Norse fought a fierce naval battle with newcomers, the Danes, in Carlingford Lough but were heavily defeated. Matudán may have given land support to the Norse forces in this battle.
In 851 Matudán met with the high king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (died 863) of the southern Ui Neill
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....
in Armagh. In a meeting presided over by the clerics of Armagh and Mide, Matudán formally acknowledged the authority of the high king. This led in 855 to an attack by Áed Findliath, King of Ailech, of the northern Ui Neill. However his foray failed and he left behind slain kin. Áed Findliath had as one of his wives the sister of Matudán- Gormlaith Rapach "the harsh".
The annals record a possible co-ruler (leth-rí
Rí
Rí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...
-"half king") Cathmal mac Tommaltaig of the Leth Cathail branch of the Dal Fiatach (in Lecale, modern County Down) who is not recorded in the king lists. Cathmal was slain by the Norse in 853.
Matudán died in 857 and according to the Fragmentary Annals he took clerical orders prior to his death. His descendants (if any) did not hold the throne of Ulaid which descended through the line of his uncle Áed.