Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig
Encyclopedia
Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig was king of the Cenél Loairn, and of Dál Riata
(modern western Scotland
), from about 733 until 736.
He was the son of Ainbcellach mac Ferchair
. His coming to power is reported in 733, and is not obviously associated with the death of Eochaid mac Echdach
, king of Dál Riata, in the Irish annals
. It is not certain who preceded Muiredach as king of the Cenél Loairn, but it may have been his cousin Dúngal mac Selbaig
. Muiredach is one of the kings named in the 11th century praise poem Duan Albanach
.
It is likely that his reign ended as a result of his defeat at the hands of the Picts
of Fortriu
, led by Talorgan mac Fergusa, brother of Óengus
, at "Cnoc Cairpri in Calathros at Etarlinde". The battle is recorded by the Annals of Ulster
, but Muiredach's death is not.
The independent existence of the kingdom of the Cenél Loairn, and that of Dál Riata, probably ended in 736, after which time it formed part of the kingdom of the Picts
, ruled by Óengus mac Fergusa
. The next king of Dál Riata reported by the Irish annals is Áed Find
, of the Cenél nGabráin, named in 768. Some Scottish sources, including the Chronicle of Melrose
, have Muiredach's son Eógan
as his successor.
An entry in the Annals of the Four Masters
under the year 771 (corresponding with about 776 AD, but perhaps as late as 778 AD since the death of Áed Find appears in the same year) reports Muiredach's death.
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
(modern western Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
), from about 733 until 736.
He was the son of Ainbcellach mac Ferchair
Ainbcellach mac Ferchair
Ainbcellach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland....
. His coming to power is reported in 733, and is not obviously associated with the death of Eochaid mac Echdach
Eochaid mac Echdach
Eochaid mac Eochaid was king of Dál Riata from 726 until 733. He was a son of Eochaid mac Domangairt.Eochaid came to power as king of Dál Riata in 726, presumably deposing Dúngal mac Selbaig. Selbach may have tried to restore his son to power, and fought against Eochaid's supporters at Irros...
, king of Dál Riata, 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...
. It is not certain who preceded Muiredach as king of the Cenél Loairn, but it may have been his cousin Dúngal mac Selbaig
Dúngal mac Selbaig
Dúngal mac Selbaig was king of Dál Riata. His reign can best be placed in the years 723 to 726, beginning with the abdication of his father, Selbach mac Ferchair, who entered a monastery, and ending with rise of Eochaid mac Echdach of the Cenél nGabráin...
. Muiredach is one of the kings named in the 11th century praise poem Duan Albanach
Duan Albanach
The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material ....
.
It is likely that his reign ended as a result of his defeat at the hands of the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
of Fortriu
Fortriu
Fortriu or the Kingdom of Fortriu is the name given by historians for an ancient Pictish kingdom, and often used synonymously with Pictland in general...
, led by Talorgan mac Fergusa, brother of Óengus
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...
, at "Cnoc Cairpri in Calathros at Etarlinde". The battle is recorded by the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
, but Muiredach's death is not.
The independent existence of the kingdom of the Cenél Loairn, and that of Dál Riata, probably ended in 736, after which time it formed part of the kingdom of the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
, ruled by Óengus mac Fergusa
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...
. The next king of Dál Riata reported by the Irish annals is Áed Find
Áed Find
Áed Find or Áed mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata . Áed was the son of Eochaid mac Echdach, a descendant of Domnall Brecc in the main line of Cenél nGabráin kings....
, of the Cenél nGabráin, named in 768. Some Scottish sources, including the Chronicle of Melrose
Chronicle of Melrose
The Chronicle of Melrose is a medieval chronicle from the Cottonian Manuscript, Faustina B. ix within the British Museum. It was written by unknown authors, though evidence in the writing shows that it most likely was written by the monks at Melrose Abbey. The chronicle begins on the year 735 and...
, have Muiredach's son Eógan
Eógan mac Muiredaig
Eógan mac Muiredaig is named in some Scots sources as a king of Dál Riata, probably in the 730s.Presumed to be the son of Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig, and thus a king of the Cenél Loairn, Eógan is not named in any surviving Irish annals, nor does he appear in the Duan Albanach, which passes from...
as his successor.
An entry 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...
under the year 771 (corresponding with about 776 AD, but perhaps as late as 778 AD since the death of Áed Find appears in the same year) reports Muiredach's death.
External links
- Annals of Ulster at CELT (translated)
- Annals of Tigernach at CELT
- Duan Albanach at CELT (translated)