Fogartach mac Néill
Encyclopedia
Fogartach mac Néill 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
(died 701) and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
(died 665).
at Birr
in 697.
The earliest report of him in the Irish annals
is his flight from the battlefield at the Battle of Claenath (Clane, Co.Kildare) in 704 following the defeat of a number of southern Uí Néill kings by Cellach Cualann
(died 715), King of Leinster.
In 714 Fogartach was deposed as king of Brega and exiled in Britain
. It has been suggested that it was the High King, Fergal mac Máele Dúin
(died 722), who deposed him, but it appears more likely that this was a dispute within the fractious Síl nÁedo Sláine, and that Fogartach was removed by his uncle Conall Grant
(died 718), assisted by Murchad Midi
(died 715) of Clann Cholmáin
. Conall killed Murchad the following year and Fogartach returned in 716.
He caused some manner of disturbance in 717 at the Oenach Tailtiu—an annual Uí Néill gathering held at Teltown—where "Ruba's son and Dub Sléibe's son" were killed, but the annalistic record lacks sufficient context to explain what happened there and why.
The following year Conall Grant won a battle against a coalition of southern Uí Néill kings at Kells
, but was killed by Fergal mac Máele Dúin later that year.
In the early 720s, Fogartach's lands were under attack by the kings of Leinster and Cathal mac Finguine
, king of Munster. Fergal mac Máele Dúin undertook campaigns against Leinster in revenge, but was killed by the Leinstermen on one of these, at the battle of Allen, on 11 December 722. His brother Áed Laigin was slain in this battle.
of the Uí Chonaing sept of North Brega. This was an old feud, Cináed's father had assassinated Fogartach's father in 701. The report of his death in the Annals of Ulster does not refer to him as High King.
His descendants representing the main line of the Uí Chernaig sept based at Lagore were in rivalry with his uncle Conall Grant's descendants, the Síl Conaill Graint based at Calatruim for the rule of southern Brega.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
king who is reckoned a 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...
. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine is the name of 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....
branch of the southern 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....
. He was King of Brega
Kings of Brega
-Overview:Brega took its name from Mag Breg, the plain of Brega, in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the Uí Néill kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara, the site...
and was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal was a king in southern 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...
(died 701) and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
Diarmait was a son of Áed Sláine. According to the Irish annals he was High King of Ireland.-Sons of Áed Sláine:Diarmait's father Áed Sláine was a son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill, the apical ancestor of the southern branches of the Uí Néill kindred which dominated Ireland from the late 6th century...
(died 665).
King of Brega
Fogartach may be identified with the "Focortoch" who signed as a guarantor of the Cáin AdomnáinCáin Adomnáin
The Cáin Adomnáin , also known as the Lex Innocentium was promulgated amongst a gathering of Irish, Dál Riatan and Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697. It is named after its initiator Adomnán of Iona, ninth Abbot of Iona after St...
at Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
in 697.
The earliest report of him 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...
is his flight from the battlefield at the Battle of Claenath (Clane, Co.Kildare) in 704 following the defeat of a number of southern Uí Néill kings by Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann
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.The name Uí Máil may mean "grandsons of the princes"...
(died 715), King of Leinster.
In 714 Fogartach was deposed as king of Brega and exiled in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. It has been suggested that it was the High King, 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...
(died 722), who deposed him, but it appears more likely that this was a dispute within the fractious Síl nÁedo Sláine, and that Fogartach was removed by his uncle Conall Grant
Conall Grant
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...
(died 718), assisted by Murchad Midi
Murchad Midi
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....
(died 715) of Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
. Conall killed Murchad the following year and Fogartach returned in 716.
He caused some manner of disturbance in 717 at the Oenach Tailtiu—an annual Uí Néill gathering held at Teltown—where "Ruba's son and Dub Sléibe's son" were killed, but the annalistic record lacks sufficient context to explain what happened there and why.
The following year Conall Grant won a battle against a coalition of southern Uí Néill kings at Kells
Kells
Kells may refer to the following people:* Machine Gun Kelly , Cleveland Rapper/poet #LTFU #EST the movement.* R. Kelly, an American R&B musician...
, but was killed by Fergal mac Máele Dúin later that year.
In the early 720s, Fogartach's lands were under attack by the kings of Leinster and 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...
, king of Munster. Fergal mac Máele Dúin undertook campaigns against Leinster in revenge, but was killed by the Leinstermen on one of these, at the battle of Allen, on 11 December 722. His brother Áed Laigin was slain in this battle.
High King
Fogartach replaced Fergal as High King, but himself fell victim to the war within the Síl nÁedo Sláine, being killed in the battle of Cenn Deilgden by his distant kinsman and successor Cináed mac ÍrgalaigCináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland.-Background:Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing , a previous King of Brega...
of the Uí Chonaing sept of North Brega. This was an old feud, Cináed's father had assassinated Fogartach's father in 701. The report of his death in the Annals of Ulster does not refer to him as High King.
Descendants
His sons included:- Flann Foirbthe (died 716) who died in his father's lifetime.
- -His son Cernach was slain at the Battle of Bolg Bóinne in 770.
- Cernach mac FogartaigCernach mac FogartaigCernach mac Fogartaig was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Fogartach mac Néill...
(died 738) killed by his criminal adherents. - Fergus mac FogartaigFergus mac FogartaigFergus mac Fogartaig was King of South Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Fogartach mac Néill . He ruled from 738 to 751....
(died 751) called King of South Brega at his death obit. - Finsnechta mac Fogartaig (died 761)
- Coirpre mac FogartaigCoirpre mac FogartaigCoirpre mac Fogartaig was a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Fogartach mac Néill ....
(died 771) called King of Brega in his death obit. - Fogartach mac CummascaigFogartach mac CummascaigFogartach mac Cummascaig was King of South Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the grandson of the high-king Fogartach mac Néill...
(died 786) king of South Brega - Cummuscach mac Fogartaig (flourished 778)
His descendants representing the main line of the Uí Chernaig sept based at Lagore were in rivalry with his uncle Conall Grant's descendants, the Síl Conaill Graint based at Calatruim for the rule of southern Brega.