Muiredach mac Domnaill Midi
Encyclopedia
Muiredach mac Domnaill Midi (died 802) was a King of Uisnech
in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin
. He was the son of the High King of Ireland
, Domnall Midi
(died 763) and brother of the high king Donnchad Midi (died 797). He ruled in as King of Mide from 799 to 802.
The period between the death of Donnchad Midi and the accession of his son Conchobar mac Donnchado in 803 was a time of civil strife and confusion amongst the Clann Cholmáin. Apparently Donnchad was succeeded by his son Domnall mac Donnchada Midi
in 797. That same year the high king Áed Oirdnide of the Cenél nEógain
invaded Meath and defeated Clann Cholmáin at the Battle of Druim Ríg. In this battle were slain two of Muiredach's brothers, Fínnechta and Diarmait Odar. Áed went on to devastate Meath which submitted to him and the beginning of his high kingship is considered to have occurred from that point on.
In 799 Domnall mac Donnchada Midi was asssinated by his own kinsmen and Muiredach became King of Mide. Muiredach first appears in 799 as leading the forces of Mide in a victory over the Cenél Cairpri of Tethba at the Battle of Finnabair in Tethba in which the king of the Cenél Cairpri was slain. He may have been acting in the interest of his nephew Domnall as the Annals of Ulster place this event before Domnall's assassination. However, the Annals of the Four Masters place this even after Domnall's assassination and so Muiredach may have been imposing his own authority.
At his death notice in the annals in 802 he is definitively named as King of Mide.
Uisnech
The Hill of Uisneach, or Ushnagh, also Uisnech , formerly regarded as the centre of Ireland, is a historical site in County Westmeath . The 182 metre hill lies on the north side of the R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, beside the village of Loughanavally...
in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
. He was the son of the 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...
, Domnall Midi
Domnall Midi
Domhnall Mac Murchada , called Domnall Midi , was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill...
(died 763) and brother of the high king Donnchad Midi (died 797). He ruled in as King of Mide from 799 to 802.
The period between the death of Donnchad Midi and the accession of his son Conchobar mac Donnchado in 803 was a time of civil strife and confusion amongst the Clann Cholmáin. Apparently Donnchad was succeeded by his son Domnall mac Donnchada Midi
Domnall mac Donnchada Midi
Domnall mac Donnchada Midi was a King of Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of the High King of Ireland, Donnchad Midi . He ruled in as King of Mide from 797 to 799...
in 797. That same year the high king Áed Oirdnide 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...
invaded Meath and defeated Clann Cholmáin at the Battle of Druim Ríg. In this battle were slain two of Muiredach's brothers, Fínnechta and Diarmait Odar. Áed went on to devastate Meath which submitted to him and the beginning of his high kingship is considered to have occurred from that point on.
In 799 Domnall mac Donnchada Midi was asssinated by his own kinsmen and Muiredach became King of Mide. Muiredach first appears in 799 as leading the forces of Mide in a victory over the Cenél Cairpri of Tethba at the Battle of Finnabair in Tethba in which the king of the Cenél Cairpri was slain. He may have been acting in the interest of his nephew Domnall as the Annals of Ulster place this event before Domnall's assassination. However, the Annals of the Four Masters place this even after Domnall's assassination and so Muiredach may have been imposing his own authority.
At his death notice in the annals in 802 he is definitively named as King of Mide.