Áed Uaridnach
Encyclopedia
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
king who was 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...
. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name most commonly used for the 8th century king of the same name
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....
, this Áed's great-great-grandson.
Áed was the son of Domnall Ilchelgach
Domnall Ilchelgach
Domnall mac Muirchertaig , called Domnall Ilchelgach and Domnall mac Maic Ercae, was said to be a High King of Ireland....
(died 566) and brother of Eochaid mac Domnaill
Eochaid mac Domnaill
Eochaid mac Domnaill , also Eochaid Find , was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. He was the son of Domnall Ilchelgach and grandson of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig , also considered high kings. He was a member of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill...
(died 572), considered to have been High Kings by some sources.. He belonged to the northern 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...
kindred of the 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....
. He was King of Ailech
Ailech
Ailech was a medieval kingdom in Ireland, roughly centred on modern-day County Tyrone and the Inishowen peninsula in Ulster....
from 604 to 612
Áed, it was said, was preceded as High King by the joint rule of Áed Sláine
Áed Sláine
Áed mac Diarmato , called Áed Sláine , was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death...
and Colmán Rímid
Colmán Rímid
Colmán Rímid was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. Colmán was the son of Báetán mac Muirchertaig , also considered to be a high king, and belonged to the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill...
and ruled from 604 to 612. Áed is mentioned in the earliest Irish King list contained in the Baile Chuind (The Ecstasy of Conn), a late 7th century Irish poem. In 605 Áed won a victory over the King of Leinster, Brandub mac Echach
Brandub mac Echach
Brandub mac Echach was an Irish king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda descended from Fedelmid, son of Énnae Cennsalach...
(died 605) at the Battle of Slabra. Leinster was often a target of the Ui Neill for inaugural raids and the levy of a cattle-tribute. The Annals of Tigernach place the beginning of his reign after this event.
The cause of Áed's death is unknown, but his obituary presents it as a non-violent death. The Cenél Feradach, led by the descendants of Suibne Menn
Suibne Menn
Suibne Menn was an Irish king who is counted as a High King of Ireland.Suibne belonged to the junior branch of the Cenél nEógain kindred of the northern Uí Néill, the Cenél Feredaig, named for his grandfather Feredach, a great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
, overshadowed Áed's branch of the Cenél nEógain—the Cenél maic Ercae—and it was not until the time of his great-grandson 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...
that the Cenél maic Ercae again provided a High King of Ireland. Áed's son Máel Fithrich mac Áedo
Máel Fithrich mac Áedo
Máel Fithrich mac Áedo was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of the high king of Ireland Áed Uaridnach...
(died 630) was a king of Ailech.