Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (Mac Ercae)

Last updated

Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (died c. 534), called Mac Ercae, Muirchertach Macc Ercae and Muirchertach mac Ercae, was said to be High King of Ireland in the 6th century. The Irish annals contain little reliable information on his life, and the surviving record shows signs of retrospective modification. The Aided Muirchertaig Meic Erca takes as its theme Muirchertach's supernatural death.

Contents

History

According to the genealogies, Muirchertach belonged to the Uí Néill and was the son of Muiredach, son of Eógan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages; hence Muirchertach mac Muiredaig. His mother, "obviously legendary" according to Thomas Charles-Edwards, was said to be Erca, daughter of "Lodarn, king of Alba". From the matronym comes his alternative name, Muirechertach Macc Ercae. However, Mac Ercae was a common enough male first name. [1] The annalistic entries for Muirchertach span 50 years, from 482 to his death in 534, using various names, including Mac Ercae, so that it is more than likely that two or more people have been confused in the annals.

The first mentions of Muirchertach in the Annals of Ulster , in 482 and 483, associate him, under the name Muirchertach Macc Ercae, with the defeat and killing of Ailill Molt at the battle of Ochae, somewhere in the Irish midlands. [2] One entry names Lugaid mac Lóegairi as his ally there, the other names Fergus Crook-mouth, father of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. [3] In 485, the annals mention the battle of Grainert, perhaps near Castledermot, [2] where Coirpre mac Néill, "or Mac Ercae… as other state", defeated the Leinster king Finnchad mac Garrchon. [4] In 490 or 491, Óengus mac Nad Froích is said to have been killed at the battle of Cell Losnaid, and the second entry reports that "Mac Ercae was the victor". [5] Muirchertach Mac Ercae is said to have won the battle of Inne Mór against the Leinstermen in 498. [6] Many of the entries from the 480s and 490s appear to have been modified, to give Muirchertach the credit for victories won by Coirpre mac Néill and perhaps by Coirpre's son Eochu. [7]

The obituary of Lugaid mac Lóegairi appears in 512, and in the following year the annalist reports the beginning of the reign of Muirchertach Mac Ercae. The next report is in 520, duplicated in 523, stating that Muirchertach was among the victors at the battle of Dethna. Another battle follow in 528, again repeated some years later, in 533, with more detail. [8] Muirchertach's death is reported in 534, with obvious supernatural overtones: "The drowning of Muirchertach Mac Erca i.e. Muirchertach son of Muiredach son of Eógan son of Niall Naígiallach in a vat full of wine on the hilltop of Cleitech above Bóinn." [9] Muirchertach was said to be followed as High King by Túathal Máelgarb.

Báetán mac Muirchertaig (died 572),[1] called also Baetán Bríge, was a son of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig, ruled in Ailech from 566 to 572 and was included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. Domnall Ilchelgach (Domnall of the Many Deceits) (died c. 566), called Domnall mac Muirchertaig, and Domnall mac Mac Maic Ercae, said to be a High King of Ireland, was probably also a son of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig. Muirchertach's descendants in time took the name Cenél maic Ercae and were the dominant branch of the Cenél nEógan by the middle of the 8th century.

The 12th-century Middle Irish tale Aided Muirchertaig Meic Erca is an account of Muirchertach's supernatural death. Here Muirchertach dies in the House of Clettach, drowned in a vat of wine, burned by fire, and crushed by a falling roof beam, near Brú na Bóinne, beguiled by the illusions of the otherworldly maiden Sín into believing that he is being attacked by Túathal Máelgarb. [10] The manner of his demise is an example of the "Threefold death," a feature of Indo-European mythology and Celtic literature.

Notes

  1. ↑ Charles-Edwards, "Muirchertach mac Muiredaig".
  2. 1 2 Onomasticon Goedelicum.
  3. ↑ Annals of Ulster, s.a. 482 & 483.
  4. ↑ Annals of Ulster, s.a. 485; the duplicate entry s.a. 486 has "the first battle of Graineret in which Muirchertach Mac Ercae was victor".
  5. ↑ Annals of Ulster, s.a. 490 & 491.
  6. ↑ Annals of Ulster, s.a. 498, s.a. 499 has "A battle in which Mac Ercae was victor". The entries for 501 and 502 have another doublet, one naming Mac Ercae, one naming Muirchertach Mac Ercae, for the battle of Segais fought against Connacht.
  7. ↑ Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, pp. 447 ff.
  8. ↑ Annals of Ulster, s.a. 512, 513, 520, 523, 528, & 533.
  9. ↑ Annals of Ulster s.a. 534; for supernatural aspects see, for example, Charles-Edwards, "Muirchertach mac Muiredaig" and Byrne, p. 103.
  10. ↑ Byrne, pp. 100–105; Wiley. Compare the death of Diarmait mac Cerbaill; Byrne, pp. 97–99.

Related Research Articles

Lugaid mac Lóegairi was a High King of Ireland. He was a grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diarmait mac Cerbaill</span> 6th century High King of Ireland

Diarmait mac Cerbaill was King of Tara or High King of Ireland. According to traditions, he was the last High King to follow the pagan rituals of inauguration, the ban-feis or marriage to goddess of the land. The last High King to observe the ancient pagan Feis Temrach or Assembly of Tara which took place on Samhain every three years to pass or renew laws, approve annals and records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings of Ailech</span> Over-kings of the medieval Irish province of Ailech

The Kings of Ailech were the over-kings of the medieval Irish province of Ailech in north-western Ireland. It encompassed the territories of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill. After the battle of Cloítech in 789 its kings were exclusively from the Cenél nEógain. The royal fort for Ailech was the Grianan of Aileach, a hillfort on top of Greenan Mountain in modern-day County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domnall Ua Lochlainn</span>

Domhnall Ua Lochlainn, also known as Domhnall Mac Lochlainn, was king of the Cenél Eogain, over-king of Ailech, and alleged High King of Ireland.

Túathal mac Cormaic, called Túathal Máelgarb, was said to be a grandson of Coirpre mac Néill. He was High King of Ireland. In the earliest accounts he appears to have been regarded as the man who completed the conquest of what would later be Brega for the descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

Áed mac Ainmuirech was High King of the Northern Uí Néill. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill and was a distant cousin of Columba of Iona. He was the son of Ainmuire mac Sétnai, a previous possible high king. His mother was Bríg, daughter of Chobtaig, son of Ailill, son of Nath Í, son of Crimthann mac Énnai son of Énnae Cennsalach of the Uí Ceinnselaig dynasty from Leinster. He was born in 530 according to the Annals of Tigernach (596.2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coirpre mac Néill</span> Irish king

Coirpre mac Néill, also Cairbre or Cairpre, was said to be a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Coirpre was perhaps the leader of the conquests that established the southern Uí Néill in the midlands of Ireland. The record of the Irish annals suggests that Coirpre's successes were reattributed to Muirchertach Macc Ercae. Coirpre is portrayed as an enemy of Saint Patrick in Bishop Tirechán's hagiography and his descendants are said to have been cursed by Patrick so that none would be High King of Ireland. Coirpre is excluded from most lists of High Kings, but included in the earliest.

Ainmuire mac Sétnai or Ainmire or Ainmere was a High King of Ireland from the Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. He was the great-grandson of Conall Gulban, founder of this branch. He ruled from 566 to 569. He was the first high king from the Cenél Conaill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Áed Uaridnach</span> Irish king

Áed Uaridnach was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name most commonly used for the 8th-century king of the same name, this Áed's great-great-grandson.

Eógan Bél mac Cellaig was a king of Connacht from the Uí Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of the high king Ailill Molt. His reign began sometime after 500. His byname bél means "mouth" or "lip," supposedly because he received praise from all who encountered him as a child. Other sources claim he had a cleft lip.

Ailill Inbanda mac Eógain was a king of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was the son and successor of Eógan Bél, who was slain by the northern Ui Neill in 542. His nickname Inbanda means "womanish" or effeminate or it could mean "the vigorous" which is more likely.

Forggus mac Muirchertaig, also called Forrgus mac Maic Ercae, is included in most lists of High Kings of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murchad Midi</span> Irish king (died 715)

Murchad mac Diarmato, called Murchad Midi, was an Irish king. One of four or more sons of Diarmait Dian, he succeeded his father as King of Uisnech at the latter's death in 689.

Muiredach mac Murchada 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 from 738 to 760.

Domnall mac Muirchertaig, called Domnall Ilchelgach and Domnall mac Maic Ercae, was said to be a High King of Ireland.

Báetán mac Muirchertaig, also Baetán Bríge, was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. He was the son of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig, also considered a high king. He was a member of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He ruled in Ailech from 566 to 572.

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. He ruled in Ailech from 565 to 571.

Colcu mac Domnaill was a member of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Domnall Ilchelgach and grandson of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig and brother of Eochaid mac Domnaill, considered high kings of Ireland. He ruled as King of Ailech from 572 to 580.

Muiredach mac Eógain was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the Northern Uí Néill. He was the son of the founder of this dynasty Eógan mac Néill.

Duinseach ingen Duach, Queen of Tara, fl. 500.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.