Ailill Molt
Encyclopedia
Ailill mac Nath Í called Ailill Molt, is included in most lists of the High Kings of Ireland and is also called King of Connacht. His cognomen
, molt, means "ram" but its origin is unknown.
Ailill was said to be the son of Nath Í
and Ethne ingen Chonrach Cais. His paternal grandfather Fiachrae
is called a brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages
. Ailill thus belonged to the Connachta
, a kindred united by supposed descent from Conn of the Hundred Battles
, which included the Uí Néill
, the Uí Briúin
and, named for Ailill's grandfather, the Uí Fiachrach
.
The broad agreement of generally pro-Uí Néill sources that Ailill was High King is offered as proof that this was the case. Although the chronology of fifth century High Kings has been the subject of manipulation, it is seen as unlikely that later historians and genealogists would have added a non-Uí Néill king had the belief that Ailill was king not been widespread. Ailill is said to have become High King following the supernatural death of Lóegaire mac Néill
, supposedly circa 463. The Irish annals
contain many references to him, but most of these are taken to be late additions, or come from the now lost Book of Cuanu
, extracts of which are preserved in the Annals of Ulster
. Tradition has him killed in battle at Faughan Hill
, fighting against the sons of Niall. The king lists say that he was succeeded by Lugaid mac Lóegairi.
Opposing the view that Ailill was included as a High King from the earliest times, Thomas Charles-Edwards
suggests that the inclusion of Nath Í and Ailill Molt was a means to reinforce links between the Uí Néill and the other branches of the Connachta in the late seventh or eight centuries, when he presumes the king lists and the annals related to Saint Patrick
to have been collected and edited. This without giving undue support to any contemporary claims by the other Connachta kindreds, the Uí Ailello and, in particular, the powerful Uí Briúin, to the High Kingship.
Although Ailill's descendants are not reckoned High Kings of Ireland, his grandson Eógan Bél
and great-grandson Ailill Inbanda
are counted as Kings of Connacht. Ailill's son Mac Ercae may have been an important historical figure, but the record conflates Mac Ercae mac Ailello Muilt and the Uí Néill king Muirchertach mac Muiredaig
, called Muirchertach Mac Ercae, probably confusing events beyond recovery.
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
, molt, means "ram" but its origin is unknown.
Ailill was said to be the son of Nath Í
Nath Í
Nath Í, an early Irish personal name for males, may refer to:*Nath Í mac Fiachrach, 5th-century legendary king of Connacht*Nath Í of Cúl Fothirbe, saint of the Dál Messin Corb of Leinster...
and Ethne ingen Chonrach Cais. His paternal grandfather Fiachrae
Fiachrae
Fiachrae was an Irish prince, the son of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón by his wife Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig. He was ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach dynasties of Connacht. He lived in the late 4th century....
is called a brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
. Ailill thus belonged to the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
, a kindred united by supposed descent from Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn Cétchathach , son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated Ireland in the early middle ages, and...
, which included 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....
, the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
and, named for Ailill's grandfather, the Uí Fiachrach
Uí Fiachrach
The Uí Fiachrach were a dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the coicead or fifth of Connacht at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent from Fiachrae, an older half-brother of Niall Noigiallach or Niall of the Nine Hostages...
.
The broad agreement of generally pro-Uí Néill sources that Ailill was High King is offered as proof that this was the case. Although the chronology of fifth century High Kings has been the subject of manipulation, it is seen as unlikely that later historians and genealogists would have added a non-Uí Néill king had the belief that Ailill was king not been widespread. Ailill is said to have become High King following the supernatural death of Lóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire , also Lóeguire, is said to have been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Irish annals and king lists include him as a King of Tara or High King of Ireland. He appears as an adversary of Saint Patrick in several hagiographies...
, supposedly circa 463. 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...
contain many references to him, but most of these are taken to be late additions, or come from the now lost Book of Cuanu
Book of Cuanu
The Book of Cuanu is a lost Irish Annal, which referred to events from the fifth to seventh centuries. It is referred to on over a dozen occasions in the Annals of Ulster, its entries been terse accounts of battles or notable deaths....
, extracts of which are preserved in 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...
. Tradition has him killed in battle at Faughan Hill
Faughan Hill
Faughan Hill is a low hill approximately five miles to the northwest of Navan, County Meath, Ireland. It is owned by the McCabes, Dunnes, and the Englishs, and the highest point by Moriarty's and is not a public park....
, fighting against the sons of Niall. The king lists say that he was succeeded by Lugaid mac Lóegairi.
Opposing the view that Ailill was included as a High King from the earliest times, Thomas Charles-Edwards
Thomas Charles-Edwards
Thomas Mowbray Charles-Edwards FRHistS FLSW FBA is an academic at Oxford University. He holds the post of Jesus Professor of Celtic and is a Professorial Fellow at Jesus College....
suggests that the inclusion of Nath Í and Ailill Molt was a means to reinforce links between the Uí Néill and the other branches of the Connachta in the late seventh or eight centuries, when he presumes the king lists and the annals related to 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....
to have been collected and edited. This without giving undue support to any contemporary claims by the other Connachta kindreds, the Uí Ailello and, in particular, the powerful Uí Briúin, to the High Kingship.
Although Ailill's descendants are not reckoned High Kings of Ireland, his grandson Eógan Bél
Eógan Bél
Eógan Bél mac Cellaig was a king of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of the high king Ailill Molt. His reign began sometime after 500....
and great-grandson Ailill Inbanda
Ailill Inbanda
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 .His...
are counted as Kings of Connacht. Ailill's son Mac Ercae may have been an important historical figure, but the record conflates Mac Ercae mac Ailello Muilt and the Uí Néill king Muirchertach mac Muiredaig
Muirchertach mac Muiredaig
Muirchertach mac Muiredaig , called Mac Ercae, Muirchertach Macc Ercae and Muirchertach mac Ercae, was said to be High King of Ireland. The Irish annals contain little reliable information on his life, and the surviving record shows signs of retrospective modification...
, called Muirchertach Mac Ercae, probably confusing events beyond recovery.