Fínsnechta Fledach
Encyclopedia
Fínsnechta Fledach mac Dúnchada (died 695) was High King of Ireland
. Fínsnechta belonged to the southern Síl nÁedo Sláine
sept of the Uí Néill
and was King of Brega, in modern County Meath
, Ireland
. He was a grandson of Áed Sláine
. His father Dúnchad had died in 659. His byname "Fledach" meant "the bountiful" or "the festive".
in battle at Aircheltra, a place which is not identified. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland relate how Finsnechta won support by his generosity. Among those he won over were the king of Fir Rois and Saint Adomnán. According to this annal, he had been granted a stewardship by Cenn Fáelad, but was unsatisfied with this and ecouraged by his friend of Fir Rois he challenged Cenn Faelad to batlle and won the kingship.
He appears to have faced resistance from the King of Leinster, a Battle of Loch Gabor(Lagore) was fought in 677.
There was mutual slaughter on both sides but Finsnechta emerged the victor. In 680 Finsnechta had the King of Leinster, Fiannamail mac Máele Tuile, assassinated.
Finsnechta was involved in the north as well. In 676 he destroyed Ailech, center of Cenél nEógain
power.
He fought Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic
(d. 718), King of Ulster, in 679 at the Battle of Tailtiu.
In June 685 Ecgfrith
, the King of Northumbria, sent an army under Berht to Ireland which laid waste to the plain of Brega, the heart of Fínsnechta's kingdom. The reasons for the sending of the army are unclear. The hostages taken in the raid were later returned through the offices of Adomnán in 687.
According to the saga Bóroma ("The Cattle Tribute"), it is mentioned that the Fínsnechta Fledach undertook an expedition against Leinster when the Laigin refused to pay the cattle tribute. The Leinster king Bran Mut mac Conaill
(died 693) assembled the Leinster forces and sent Saint Moling (d. 697), the abbot of Ferns, to negotiate with Fisnechta. Mo-Ling tricked Fisnechta into remitting the tribute. As a result Saint Adomnan grew angry with the high king and cursed saying that his descendants would have no fame. Finsnechta did penance to Adomnan and was forgiven for remitting the Boruma.
, but he left the clerical life and resumed the kingship in 689. This return to power may have been a result of the breakout of a civil war among the Síl nÁedo Sláine when Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
(died 701) of the Uí Chernaig sept of south Brega defeated Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
(died 696) of north Brega at the Battle of Imlech Pich in 688. Also, Áed mac Dlúthaig
(died 701) of the Síl nDlúthaig sept killed Diarmait Dian
mac Airmetaig Cáech, the King of Uisnech
of the Clann Cholmáin
in 689.
He was killed, along with his son Bresal, by his kinsmen Áed mac Dlúthaig and Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre at Grellaigh Dollaith. According to the Annals of Tigernach, this occurred in battle, but the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland state that Finsnechta was murdered in a tent by Congalach. Congalach succeeded Fínsnechta as King of Brega, and Loingsech mac Óengusso
, of the northern Cenél Conaill
branch of the Uí Néill, was the next High King.
Finsnechta's descendants the Clan Fínsnechtai played no important role after him. Fínsnechta was survived by a son named Ailill who was killed in 718.
The earliest surviving list of High Kings of Ireland, that in the Baile Chuind Chétchathaig was apparently compiled in Fínsnechta's reign.
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...
. Fínsnechta belonged to the southern 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....
sept of 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....
and was King of Brega, in modern County Meath
County Meath
County Meath 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 ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
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...
. He was a grandson of Áed Sláine
Áed Sláine
Áed mac Diarmato , called Áed Sláine , was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death...
. His father Dúnchad had died in 659. His byname "Fledach" meant "the bountiful" or "the festive".
High King
He became King of Brega and High King in 675, after killing his predecessor, and first cousin, Cenn FáeladCenn Fáelad
Cenn Fáelad mac Blathmaic followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine and his brother Sechnassach as High King of Ireland and king of Brega...
in battle at Aircheltra, a place which is not identified. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland relate how Finsnechta won support by his generosity. Among those he won over were the king of Fir Rois and Saint Adomnán. According to this annal, he had been granted a stewardship by Cenn Fáelad, but was unsatisfied with this and ecouraged by his friend of Fir Rois he challenged Cenn Faelad to batlle and won the kingship.
He appears to have faced resistance from the King of Leinster, a Battle of Loch Gabor(Lagore) was fought in 677.
There was mutual slaughter on both sides but Finsnechta emerged the victor. In 680 Finsnechta had the King of Leinster, Fiannamail mac Máele Tuile, assassinated.
Finsnechta was involved in the north as well. In 676 he destroyed Ailech, center of Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
power.
He fought Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic
Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic
Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic was king of Ulaid from 692 to 707 from the Dal Fiatach clan. He was the son of Blathmac mac Máel Cobha , a previous king. His byname Bairrche refers to the region of the Mourne Mountains in south County Down...
(d. 718), King of Ulster, in 679 at the Battle of Tailtiu.
In June 685 Ecgfrith
Ecgfrith of Northumbria
King Ecgfrith was the King of Northumbria from 670 until his death. He ruled over Northumbria when it was at the height of its power, but his reign ended with a disastrous defeat in which he lost his life.-Early life:...
, the King of Northumbria, sent an army under Berht to Ireland which laid waste to the plain of Brega, the heart of Fínsnechta's kingdom. The reasons for the sending of the army are unclear. The hostages taken in the raid were later returned through the offices of Adomnán in 687.
According to the saga Bóroma ("The Cattle Tribute"), it is mentioned that the Fínsnechta Fledach undertook an expedition against Leinster when the Laigin refused to pay the cattle tribute. The Leinster king Bran Mut mac Conaill
Bran Mut mac Conaill
Bran Mut mac Conaill was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Fáelán mac Colmáin , a previous king. He ruled from 680-693....
(died 693) assembled the Leinster forces and sent Saint Moling (d. 697), the abbot of Ferns, to negotiate with Fisnechta. Mo-Ling tricked Fisnechta into remitting the tribute. As a result Saint Adomnan grew angry with the high king and cursed saying that his descendants would have no fame. Finsnechta did penance to Adomnan and was forgiven for remitting the Boruma.
Temporary Abdication and Death
In 688 Fínsnechta abdicated to become a monkMonk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, but he left the clerical life and resumed the kingship in 689. This return to power may have been a result of the breakout of a civil war among the Síl nÁedo Sláine when 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) of the Uí Chernaig sept of south Brega defeated Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile , a previous king of Brega. The territory of Brega that he ruled was called Cnogba or North Brega which he ruled from...
(died 696) of north Brega at the Battle of Imlech Pich in 688. Also, Áed mac Dlúthaig
Áed mac Dlúthaig
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....
(died 701) of the Síl nDlúthaig sept killed Diarmait Dian
Diarmait Dian
Diarmait Dian mac Airmetaig was a 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...
mac Airmetaig Cáech, the King of Uisnech
Uisnech
The Hill of Uisneach, or Ushnagh, also Uisnech , formerly regarded as the centre of Ireland, is a historical site in County Westmeath . The 182 metre hill lies on the north side of the R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, beside the village of Loughanavally...
of the 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...
in 689.
He was killed, along with his son Bresal, by his kinsmen Áed mac Dlúthaig and Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre at Grellaigh Dollaith. According to the Annals of Tigernach, this occurred in battle, but the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland state that Finsnechta was murdered in a tent by Congalach. Congalach succeeded Fínsnechta as King of Brega, and Loingsech mac Óengusso
Loingsech mac Óengusso
Loingsech mac Óengusso was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. Loingsech was a member of the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill...
, of the northern Cenél Conaill
Cenél Conaill
The Cenél Conaill is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history. They were also known in Scotland as the Kindred of Saint Columba....
branch of the Uí Néill, was the next High King.
Finsnechta's descendants the Clan Fínsnechtai played no important role after him. Fínsnechta was survived by a son named Ailill who was killed in 718.
The earliest surviving list of High Kings of Ireland, that in the Baile Chuind Chétchathaig was apparently compiled in Fínsnechta's reign.