Crimthann mac Énnai
Encyclopedia
Crimthann mac Énnai was a King of Leinster from the Uí Cheinnselaig
sept of the Laigin. He was the son of Énnae Cennsalach
, the ancestor of this dynasty.
It is not known when he acquired the throne but, in the annals record of the Battle of Áth Dara, on the River Barrow
in Mag Ailbe (South County Kildare
), in 458, both the Annals of Ulster
and the Chronicum Scotorum name Crimthann as the leader of the Laigin forces. The Laigin defeated the high king Lóegaire mac Néill
(died 462) and captured him. They released him after he promised not to levy the cattle-tribute from Leinster
again.
Crimthann was baptized by Saint Patrick
at Ráith Bilech (Rathvilly
, Co.Carlow)
The Annals of the Four Masters
claim he was present at the Battle of Ocha of 482 when the high king Ailill Molt
was slain but this is not confirmed by the other annals.
The annals record that he was slain (mortally wounded) in 483 and the Chronicum Scotorum specifies that Eochaid Guinech of the Uí Bairrche
and the men of Arad Cliach were responsible. The Annals of the Four Masters state that Eochaid Guinech was the son of his daughter. The Uí Bairrche probably held an earlier predominant position in the south part of Leinster prior to the rise of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
According to Keating, his wife's name was Congain. They had a daughter named Eithne Uatahach (d.490), who was fostered by the Deisi
and was married to Óengus mac Nad Froích
(d.490), the first Christian king of Munster. She was killed along with her husband at the Battle of Cenn Losnada in Mag Fea (near Leighlin, County Carlow
) in 490 by the Uí Dúnlainge sept and the same Eochaid Guinech of the Uí Bairrche who had slain her father.
His known son was named Nath Í mac Crimthainn, a King of the Uí Cheinnselaig. Nath Í's sons, Éogan Cáech (a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig) founded the Síl Fáelchán, Sil Máeluidir, Síl nÉladaig, and Síl Mella septs, and Cormacc founded the Sil Chormaic sept.
In the Kinsella (Chennselaigh) and other genealogies, Crimthann mac Ennai's first wife, and the mother of Nath I, was Mel - also referred to in The Expulsion of the Déisi
(Dessi, Deissi). According to the Expulsion, (which is off by dates), Crimthann married two of Mel's sisters in turn. The second sister was mother to Ingren (sp) who was mother to Crimthann's murdering grandson Eochaid Guinech of the Uí Bairrche. Yet another sister was the mother of Eithne Uatahach, who bore only that one daughter.
From the Expulsion: "The three daughters of Ernbrand, Mell and Belc and Cinniu were all three married to Crimthann, one after another. Fromn Mell are the SiT Mella., from Belc the Hui Beilce. Cinniu bore Ethne only to him." The Sil Mella and Ui Meala septs refer to descendents of Mell.
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...
sept of the Laigin. He was the son of Énnae Cennsalach
Énnae Cennsalach
Énnae Cennsalach was a King of Leinster and founder of the Uí Cheinnselaig sept of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Bressal Bélach , a previous king.The chronology of Leinster kings in the 5th century is contradictory...
, the ancestor of this dynasty.
It is not known when he acquired the throne but, in the annals record of the Battle of Áth Dara, on the River Barrow
River Barrow
The Barrow is a river in Ireland. It is one of The Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. The Barrow is the longest and most prominent of the three rivers...
in Mag Ailbe (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 458, both 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...
and the Chronicum Scotorum name Crimthann as the leader of the Laigin forces. The Laigin defeated the high king 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...
(died 462) and captured him. They released him after he promised not to levy the cattle-tribute from 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...
again.
Crimthann was baptized by 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....
at Ráith Bilech (Rathvilly
Rathvilly
Rathvilly is a village in County Carlow, Ireland. The area has the family seat of Baron Rathdonnell. Rathvilly has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition on three separate occasions, 1961, 1963, and 1968.-History:...
, Co.Carlow)
The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
claim he was present at the Battle of Ocha of 482 when the high king Ailill Molt
Ailill Molt
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....
was slain but this is not confirmed by the other annals.
The annals record that he was slain (mortally wounded) in 483 and the Chronicum Scotorum specifies that Eochaid Guinech of the Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche was an Irish kin-based group that originally held lands in the south of the ancient province of Leinster . Another south Leinster kin group associated with the Uí Bairrche were groups of the Fothairt. The south of Leinster was dominated by the Uí Chennselaig in the 8th century...
and the men of Arad Cliach were responsible. The Annals of the Four Masters state that Eochaid Guinech was the son of his daughter. The Uí Bairrche probably held an earlier predominant position in the south part of Leinster prior to the rise of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
According to Keating, his wife's name was Congain. They had a daughter named Eithne Uatahach (d.490), who was fostered by the Deisi
Déisi
The Déisi were a class of peoples in ancient and medieval Ireland. The term is Old Irish, and derives from the word déis, meaning "vassal" or "subject"; in its original sense, it designated groups who were vassals or rent-payers to a landowner. Later, it became a proper name for certain septs and...
and was married to Óengus mac Nad Froích
Óengus mac Nad Froích
Óengus mac Nad Froích was an Eoganachta and the first Christian king of Munster. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady...
(d.490), the first Christian king of Munster. She was killed along with her husband at the Battle of Cenn Losnada in Mag Fea (near Leighlin, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
) in 490 by the Uí Dúnlainge sept and the same Eochaid Guinech of the Uí Bairrche who had slain her father.
His known son was named Nath Í mac Crimthainn, a King of the Uí Cheinnselaig. Nath Í's sons, Éogan Cáech (a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig) founded the Síl Fáelchán, Sil Máeluidir, Síl nÉladaig, and Síl Mella septs, and Cormacc founded the Sil Chormaic sept.
In the Kinsella (Chennselaigh) and other genealogies, Crimthann mac Ennai's first wife, and the mother of Nath I, was Mel - also referred to in The Expulsion of the Déisi
The Expulsion of the Déisi
The Expulsion of the Déisi is a medieval Irish narrative of the Cycles of the Kings. It dates approximately to the 8th century, but survives only in manuscripts of a much later date. It describes the fictional history of the Déisi, a group that had gained political power in parts of Ireland during...
(Dessi, Deissi). According to the Expulsion, (which is off by dates), Crimthann married two of Mel's sisters in turn. The second sister was mother to Ingren (sp) who was mother to Crimthann's murdering grandson Eochaid Guinech of the Uí Bairrche. Yet another sister was the mother of Eithne Uatahach, who bore only that one daughter.
From the Expulsion: "The three daughters of Ernbrand, Mell and Belc and Cinniu were all three married to Crimthann, one after another. Fromn Mell are the SiT Mella., from Belc the Hui Beilce. Cinniu bore Ethne only to him." The Sil Mella and Ui Meala septs refer to descendents of Mell.