Murchad mac Diarmato (died 715), called Murchad Midi (Murchad of Meath), 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. [1] [2]
Murchad mac Diarmato (died 715), called Murchad Midi (Murchad of Meath), 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. [1] [2]
The Kings of Uisnech ruled a kingdom centred in modern County Westmeath, named for Uisnech (also Ushnagh), the Hill of Uisneach, reputed to be the centre of Ireland. They belonged to Clann Cholmáin, a kin group descended from Colmán Már, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill, and were counted among the southern branches of the Uí Néill. In the 7th century, the dominant kin group among the southern Uí Néill, who shared the title of High King of Ireland or King of Tara with the northern Cenél Conaill kindred, were the rival Síl nÁedo Sláine, whose lands lay in modern County Dublin and County Meath, to the east of Uisnech. [3]
Murchad was among the guarantors of the Cáin Adomnáin (Law of Innocents) proclaimed at the Synod of Birr in 697. [4] There are few reports of Murchad in the Irish annals. His brother Bodbchad was killed in the Battle of Claenath in 704, near Clane in modern County Kildare, fighting alongside Fogartach mac Néill against the King of Leinster, Cellach Cualann. [5]
In 714 the annals record the Battle of Bile Tened between Clann Cholmáin, led by Murchad, and the Síl nÁedo Sláine near Moynalty. Murchad's brothers Áed and Colgu were killed in the first encounter. The opposition's Flann mac Áedo was killed in the second. [6] Clann Cholmáin had an old feud with the Síl nDlúthaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, and Flann's father Áed mac Dlúthaig killed Murchad's father Diarmait in 689. [7] On the same day of Battle of Bile Tened, the men of Meath won a battle over the Uí Fhailgi of Offaly and their king Forbassach Ua Congaile was slain. [8]
Shortly afterwards the chief of Síl nÁedo Sláine, Fogartach mac Néill, was "expelled from the kingship and went to Britain". [9] Some later sources say he was expelled by the High King Fergal mac Máele Dúin, and others say that he himself been High King. Fogartach was probably expelled from the kingship of the southern Uí Néill, and Murchad drove him from power. [10]
Murchad was killed in 715 by Fogartach's uncle, the warlike Conall Grant. The Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach call him "king of the Uí Néill". [11] This title is not common in the annals. It probably corresponds with the title "king of the North" (Rí in Tuaiscert) found attached to some northern Uí Néill who were not reckoned high kings and means that Murchad had acted as High King Fergal's deputy among the southern Uí Néill. [12]
Murchad left at least two sons, Domnall Midi, who was later high king, and Coirpre, who died in 749. Bressal mac Murchado, killed in 764, may have been Murchad's son. (Bressal may have been Domnall Midi's grandson, through Domnall's son Murchad.) Domnall became king of Uisnech, but Fogartach returned from Britain in 716 and was clearly the chief king among the southern Uí Néill. [13]
Donnchad mac Domnaill, called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and western County Meath, Ireland. The reigns of Domnall and his successor, Niall Frossach of the Cenél nEógain, had been relatively peaceful, but Donnchad's rule saw a return to a more expansionist policy directed against Leinster, traditional target of the Uí Néill, and also, for the first time, the great southern kingdom of Munster.
Domhnall Mac Murchada, called Domnall Midi, was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill. Clann Cholmáin's pre-eminence among the southern Uí Néill, which would last until the rise of Brian Bóruma and the end of the Uí Néill dominance in Ireland, dates from his lifetime.
Síl nÁedo Sláine are the descendants of Áed Sláine, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.
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. He belonged to the Cenél maic Ercae branch of the Cenél nEógain and was King of Ailech from 700 to 722.
Fogartach Mac'Artain, sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Brega and was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine.
Óengus mac Colmáin Bec was an Irish king. He was the King of Uisnech in Mide from 618 to 621. He belonged to the southern Uí Néill. According to the genealogies, he was a son of Colmán Bec, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. The later Caílle Follamain traced their descent through Óengus.
Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi was the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of Cualu which lay around Glendalough.
Diarmait was a son of Áed Sláine. According to the Irish annals, he was High King of Ireland.
Blathmac was a son of Áed Sláine. According to the Irish annals, he was High King of Ireland.
Conall mac Suibni, called Conall Guthbinn, Prince of Meath, was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of Suibne mac Colmáin, a previous king. He ruled from 621 to 635. His byname Guthbinn meant "sweet voiced".
Máel Dóid mac Suibni was a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son Suibne mac Colmáin and brother of Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni, previous kings. He ruled from 635 to 653.
Diarmait Dian mac Airmetaig, also Diarmait Guthbinn, was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the grandson of Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni, a previous king. His father Airmetach Cáech was slain at the Battle of Mag Rath in 637. Diarmait ruled from 653 to 689.
Áed mac Dlúthaig was a King of Fir Cúl in Brega of the Síl nDlúthaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine of Brega. He was the grandson of Ailill Cruitire mac Áedo Sláine, a king of Brega.
Amalgaid mac Congalaig was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre. He ruled in north Brega from 702 to 718.
Maine mac Néill was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine.
Flann mac Áedo was a King of Fir Cúl in Brega of the Síl nDlúthaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine of Brega. He was the son of Áed mac Dlúthaig, King of Fir Cúl and great-grandson of Ailill Cruitire mac Áedo Sláine, a king of Brega.
Conall Grant mac Cernaig was a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine. His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague years in 664. His byname Grant meant "Grey-haired"
Cathal mac Áeda was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the son of Áed Laigin mac Néill and great-great grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine. His father was slain at the Battle of Allen in the great defeat of the Ui Neill by the men of Leinster. He was chief of the Uí Chernaig from 729 to 737.
Follaman mac Con Congalt, also written Fallomon mac Con Congelt, was King of Mide, a kingdom of the Uí Néill in central Ireland in modern County Westmeath and County Meath.
Events from the 8th century in Ireland.