Áed mac Colggen
Encyclopedia
Áed mac Colggen was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig
of Leinster
. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster
with Bran Becc mac Murchado
, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738 His father Colcú mac Bressail (died 722) was called king of Ard Ladrann (near Gorey, Co.Wexford) at his death obit in the annals in 722 which mention that he was killed. He was the great-great grandson of Crundmáel Erbuilc
(died 656),a King of Leinster, and was a member of the Sil Chormaic sept.
was slain at the Battle of Maistiu (Mullaghmast
in south County Kildare
) in 727 by the Leinster king Dúnchad mac Murchado
(died 728). The king lists in the Book of Leinster
, have him succeeded by Élothach mac Fáelchon
who ruled for seven years before being slain by Áed mac Colggen at the Battle of Oenbethi who then is listed as king.
In 722 Leinster faced an invasion by Fergal mac Máele Dúin
of the Cenél nEógain
, High King of Ireland
, seeking to impose his overlordship on Leinster. Their armies under the king Murchad mac Brain Mut
(d.727) met at the battle of Allen where Fergal was killed. The saga Cath Almaine preserves the story of this battle and mentions that Áed mac Colggen fought for Leinster where he is referred to as heir-apparent.
Áed appears as a rival to the Leinster throne during the reign of Fáelán mac Murchado
(died 738) at a time when Cathal mac Finguine
(died 742), King of Munster
, was attempting to assert his rights over Leinster during a time of Uí Neill weakness. In 732 Aed and the southern Laigin (Laigin Desgabair) repulsed the Munstermen.
Áed, along with many other kings, was killed in battle against Fergal's son Áed Allán
at Áth Senaig in 738. This fight known as the battle of the groans is described at length in the Irish annals
. Áed was slain in single combat with Áed Allán and his supposed co-ruler Bran Bec also died there. The Annals of Ulster
say:
dominated the kingship of Leinster for fully three centuries until Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó
became king of Leinster in 1042.
Aed was succeeded as king of Uí Chennselaig by his brother Sechnassach mac Colggen
(died 746/747). Áed's son Eterscél mac Áeda
(died 778) was later king of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
with Bran Becc mac Murchado
Bran Becc mac Murchado
Bran Becc mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , a previous king. He ruled briefly in 738....
, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738 His father Colcú mac Bressail (died 722) was called king of Ard Ladrann (near Gorey, Co.Wexford) at his death obit in the annals in 722 which mention that he was killed. He was the great-great grandson of Crundmáel Erbuilc
Crundmáel Erbuilc
Crundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin was a King of Leinster from the Uí Cheinnselaig branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Rónán mac Colmáin , a previous king of the Sil Chormaic sept....
(died 656),a King of Leinster, and was a member of the Sil Chormaic sept.
Biography
The date of his succession to the Uí Cheinnselaig throne cannot be dated with certainty. The annals record that the Ui Cheinnselaig king Laidcnén mac Con MellaLaidcnén mac Con Mella
Laidcnén mac Con Mella was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. He was of the Sil Máeluidir sept of this branch of the Laigin, who were found in the later baronies of Shelmalier on the lower reaches of the Slaney River in southern modern County Wexford.His last paternal ancestor to...
was slain at the Battle of Maistiu (Mullaghmast
Mullaghmast
Mullaghmast , is a hill in the south of County Kildare, Leinster, near the village of Ballitore. It was an important site in prehistory, in early history and again in more recent times...
in south County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
) in 727 by the Leinster king Dúnchad mac Murchado
Dúnchad mac Murchado
Dúnchad mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , the previous king. He ruled from 727 to 728....
(died 728). The king lists in the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
, have him succeeded by Élothach mac Fáelchon
Élothach mac Fáelchon
Élothach mac Fáelchon was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. he was the grandson of a previous king Fáelán mac Síláin and was a member of the Síl Fáelchán sept of this branch of the Laigin.- Overview :...
who ruled for seven years before being slain by Áed mac Colggen at the Battle of Oenbethi who then is listed as king.
In 722 Leinster faced an invasion by 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...
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...
, 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...
, seeking to impose his overlordship on Leinster. Their armies under the king Murchad mac Brain Mut
Murchad mac Brain Mut
Murchad mac Brain Mut was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill , a previous king. He ruled from 715 to 727.- His reign :...
(d.727) met at the battle of Allen where Fergal was killed. The saga Cath Almaine preserves the story of this battle and mentions that Áed mac Colggen fought for Leinster where he is referred to as heir-apparent.
Áed appears as a rival to the Leinster throne during the reign of Fáelán mac Murchado
Fáelán mac Murchado
Fáelán mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , a previous king...
(died 738) at a time when Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7th century to the 10th...
(died 742), King of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, was attempting to assert his rights over Leinster during a time of Uí Neill weakness. In 732 Aed and the southern Laigin (Laigin Desgabair) repulsed the Munstermen.
Áed, along with many other kings, was killed in battle against Fergal's son 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....
at Áth Senaig in 738. This fight known as the battle of the groans is described at length 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...
. Áed was slain in single combat with Áed Allán and his supposed co-ruler Bran Bec also died there. 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...
say:
And men say that so many fell in this great battle that we find no comparable slaughter in a single onslaught and fierce conflict throughout all preceding ages.After the crushing defeat at Áth Senaig, the Uí Dúnlainge
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
dominated the kingship of Leinster for fully three centuries until Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó
Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó was King of Leinster, and also High King of Ireland .He was one of the most important and significant Kings in Ireland in the pre-Norman era...
became king of Leinster in 1042.
Aed was succeeded as king of Uí Chennselaig by his brother Sechnassach mac Colggen
Sechnassach mac Colggen
Sechnassach mac Colggen was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster or Laigin Desgabair. He was of the Sil Chormaic sept of this branch of the Laigin. His father Colcú mac Bressail was called king of Ard Ladrann at his death obit in the annals in 722 which mention that he was killed...
(died 746/747). Áed's son Eterscél mac Áeda
Eterscél mac Áeda
Eterscél mac Áeda was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. He was of the Sil Chormaic sept and was the son of Áed mac Colggen , considered to be King of all Leinster. His uncle Sechnassach mac Colggen had also been a King of Uí Cheinnselaig. He ruled from 770 to 778.The Uí...
(died 778) was later king of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork includes: Gein Branduib (original & translation), Annals of Ulster, Annals of Tigernach, Annals of Innisfallen and others.