Niall Frossach
Encyclopedia
Niall Frossach (718–778) was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech, sometimes considered to have been High King of Ireland
. Brother of high king Áed Allán
(died 743), Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin
(died 722) and a member of the Cenél nEógain
, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill
. The epithet
Frossach (showery) is said to come from showers of silver, honey and wheat which fell on his home at Fahan in Inishowen
at his birth.
Upon the death of his brother he became King of Ailech. He ruled as King of Ailech from 743 to 770. However the new high king Domnall Midi
(died 763) of the Clann Cholmáin
branch of the southern Ui Neill appointed Áed Muinderg
(died 747) of the rival Cenél Conaill
as his representative in the north (Rí
in Tuaiscert). In 756 conflict with Domnall broke out and Domnall led a force of Laigin with him as far as Mag Muirtheimne in modern County Louth. This region had been recently brought under overlordship by Niall's brother Áed Allán in 735.
Niall followed Domnall Midi
as High King in 763. His reign was considered notably peaceful. The law of Saint Patrick
was again proclaimed in force in 767. (The Clann Cholmáin high kings had supported the Law of Columba
of Iona
. Domnall Midi's son Donnchad Midi (died 797) began to claim the throne of Tara in 770 when he campaigned against Leinster. In 771 Donnchad led a hosting to the north in 771 and 772. It is presumed that Niall abdicated sometime between 772 and 777 though possibly as early as 770. He died on Iona
in 778.
He was followed as King of Ailech by his nephew, Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin
(died 788) son of Áed Allán. The Kingship of Tara and supposed High Kingship passed back to Clann Cholmáin
in the person of Donnchad Midi. Niall married Dunlaith ingen Flaithbertaich (died 798) of the Cenél Conaill, daughter of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
(died 765) and their son Áed Oirdnide (died 819) was a high king.
His judgements are referenced in a poem by Tuileagna Ó Maoil Chonaire
, Labhram ar iongnaibh Éireann, written some eight hundred years later.
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...
. Brother of high king 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....
(died 743), Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin
Fergal mac Máele Dúin
Fergal mac Máele Dúin was High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich , a King of Ailech, and great grandson of the high king Áed Uaridnach...
(died 722) and a member 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...
, 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....
. The epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
Frossach (showery) is said to come from showers of silver, honey and wheat which fell on his home at Fahan in Inishowen
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
at his birth.
Upon the death of his brother he became King of Ailech. He ruled as King of Ailech from 743 to 770. However the new high king 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) 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...
branch of the southern Ui Neill appointed 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) of the rival 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....
as his representative in the north (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...
in Tuaiscert). In 756 conflict with Domnall broke out and Domnall led a force of Laigin with him as far as Mag Muirtheimne in modern County Louth. This region had been recently brought under overlordship by Niall's brother Áed Allán in 735.
Niall followed 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...
as High King in 763. His reign was considered notably peaceful. The law of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
was again proclaimed in force in 767. (The Clann Cholmáin high kings had supported the Law of Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
of Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
. Domnall Midi's son Donnchad Midi (died 797) began to claim the throne of Tara in 770 when he campaigned against Leinster. In 771 Donnchad led a hosting to the north in 771 and 772. It is presumed that Niall abdicated sometime between 772 and 777 though possibly as early as 770. He died on Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
in 778.
He was followed as King of Ailech by his nephew, Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Áed Allán , a high king of Ireland. He ruled from 770 to 788....
(died 788) son of Áed Allán. The Kingship of Tara and supposed High Kingship passed back to 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...
in the person of Donnchad Midi. Niall married Dunlaith ingen Flaithbertaich (died 798) of the Cenél Conaill, daughter of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig 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 , a previous high king...
(died 765) and their son Áed Oirdnide (died 819) was a high king.
His judgements are referenced in a poem by Tuileagna Ó Maoil Chonaire
Tuileagna Ó Maoil Chonaire
Tuileagna Ó Maoil Chonaire was an Irish poet.A member of the Ó Maolconaire bardic family of Connacht, Tuileagna is known from a number of extant works, including Labhram ar iongnaibh Éireann, addressed to Sir Nicholas Walsh, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Speaker of the third parliament...
, Labhram ar iongnaibh Éireann, written some eight hundred years later.
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork The Corpus of Electronic Texts includes the Annals of Ulster, Tigernach and the Four Masters as well as Genealogies, and various Saints' Lives. Most are translated into English, or translations are in progress
- Fergal's Prophecy by Dan M. Wiley