Muiredach mac Eochada
Encyclopedia
Muiredach mac Eochada was a Dal Fiatach
king of Ulaid
, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Eochaid mac Fiachnai
(died 810), a previous king. He ruled from 825-839.
His father had been defeated in battle by his own brother Cairell mac Fiachnai
(died 819) in 809 and died the next year. Cairell at that point became King of Ulaid. In 819 Muiredach obtained revenge for his father by defeating and slaying Cairell in a skirmish. This gave him the kingship of the Dal Fiatach but he did not acquire the kingship of Ulaid which went to Máel Bressail mac Ailillo
(died 825) of the Uí Echach Cobo
. He then became king of all Ulaid in 825.
Viking raids had begun in Ireland and Ulster was one of the victims. The monastery of Bangor was attacked in 823 and 824 and in 825 the Norse plundered the Dal Fiatach royal monastery at Dún Lethglaise (Downpatrick) and they burned Mag nBili (Moville) another monastery in county Down. However the Ulaid were able to inflict a route on the Norse in Mag Inis (Lecale) that same year. Viking raids included an attack on Loch Bricrenn (Loughbrickland, modern County Down) in the territory of the Uí Echach Cobo in 833.
In 827 a conflict within the important church at Armagh led to war. Cummascach mac Cathail of the Uí Cremthainn, king of the Airgíalla
, expelled the King of Ailech's confessor Éogan Mainistrech from Armagh, installing his own half-brother, Artrí mac Conchobair as abbot of Armagh. The King of Ailech
Niall Caille (died 846) of the northern Ui Neill
raised an army and marched on Armagh. Muiredach gave his support to Cummascah and brought his forces to aid the Airgialla. This resulted in the Battle at Leth Cam, near modern Kilmore, County Armagh. It was a decisive victory for Niall and northern Uí Néill. Cummascach and his brother Congalach were killed while Muiredach survived the battle. The defeat broke the power of the Airgíalla who were thereafter subject to the northern Uí Néill kings. Artrí was deposed from the see of Armagh and Niall installed Éogan Mainistrech. Hostility to the Ui Neill resulted in the killing of the son of Niall Caille, Cináed, by the Ulaid in 835.
The Annals of Innisfallen note the death of Indrechtach mac Tommaltaig of the Leth Cathail (Lecale) branch of the Dal Fiatach as co-ruler of Ulaid in 835. This is not confirmed by the other annals however. In 839 Muiredach was killed by his own kinsmen (named as Áed and Óengus, his brothers). In this notice he is called King of Conchobar's Province, another name for Ulster. His son Matudán mac Muiredaig
(died 857) succeeded him. His daughter Gormalaith Rapach ("the harsh") married Áed Findliath (died 879) high king of Ireland.
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Muiredach mac Eochada Áed Óengus
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Matudán mac Muiredaig Gormalaith Rapach, died 840.
= Áed Findliath
Dál Fiatach
The Dál Fiatach were a group of related dynasties located in eastern Ulster in the Early Christian and Early Medieval periods of the history of Ireland.-Description:...
king of Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Eochaid mac Fiachnai
Eochaid mac Fiachnai
Eochaid mac Fiachnai was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin , a previous king. He ruled from 790 to 810....
(died 810), a previous king. He ruled from 825-839.
His father had been defeated in battle by his own brother Cairell mac Fiachnai
Cairell mac Fiachnai
Cairell mac Fiachnai was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin , a previous king. He ruled from 810 to 819....
(died 819) in 809 and died the next year. Cairell at that point became King of Ulaid. In 819 Muiredach obtained revenge for his father by defeating and slaying Cairell in a skirmish. This gave him the kingship of the Dal Fiatach but he did not acquire the kingship of Ulaid which went to Máel Bressail mac Ailillo
Máel Bressail mac Ailillo
Máel Bressail mac Ailello was a king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He belonged to a branch of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Echach Cobo in the west part of county Down. He ruled as King of Ulaid from 819-825....
(died 825) of the Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo were a branch of the Dál nAraidi in Ulster . They gave their name to the early medieval Kingdom of Coba located in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh in modern County Down...
. He then became king of all Ulaid in 825.
Viking raids had begun in Ireland and Ulster was one of the victims. The monastery of Bangor was attacked in 823 and 824 and in 825 the Norse plundered the Dal Fiatach royal monastery at Dún Lethglaise (Downpatrick) and they burned Mag nBili (Moville) another monastery in county Down. However the Ulaid were able to inflict a route on the Norse in Mag Inis (Lecale) that same year. Viking raids included an attack on Loch Bricrenn (Loughbrickland, modern County Down) in the territory of the Uí Echach Cobo in 833.
In 827 a conflict within the important church at Armagh led to war. Cummascach mac Cathail of the Uí Cremthainn, king of the Airgíalla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
, expelled the King of Ailech's confessor Éogan Mainistrech from Armagh, installing his own half-brother, Artrí mac Conchobair as abbot of Armagh. The King of Ailech
Ailech
Ailech was a medieval kingdom in Ireland, roughly centred on modern-day County Tyrone and the Inishowen peninsula in Ulster....
Niall Caille (died 846) of the northern Ui Neill
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....
raised an army and marched on Armagh. Muiredach gave his support to Cummascah and brought his forces to aid the Airgialla. This resulted in the Battle at Leth Cam, near modern Kilmore, County Armagh. It was a decisive victory for Niall and northern Uí Néill. Cummascach and his brother Congalach were killed while Muiredach survived the battle. The defeat broke the power of the Airgíalla who were thereafter subject to the northern Uí Néill kings. Artrí was deposed from the see of Armagh and Niall installed Éogan Mainistrech. Hostility to the Ui Neill resulted in the killing of the son of Niall Caille, Cináed, by the Ulaid in 835.
The Annals of Innisfallen note the death of Indrechtach mac Tommaltaig of the Leth Cathail (Lecale) branch of the Dal Fiatach as co-ruler of Ulaid in 835. This is not confirmed by the other annals however. In 839 Muiredach was killed by his own kinsmen (named as Áed and Óengus, his brothers). In this notice he is called King of Conchobar's Province, another name for Ulster. His son Matudán mac Muiredaig
Matudán mac Muiredaig
Matudán mac Muiredaig was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Muiredach mac Eochada , the previous king. He ruled from 839-857.-Biography:His father had been killed by his own brother Áed...
(died 857) succeeded him. His daughter Gormalaith Rapach ("the harsh") married Áed Findliath (died 879) high king of Ireland.
Family tree
Eochaid mac Fiachnai, died 810.|
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Muiredach mac Eochada Áed Óengus
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|_______________________________
| |
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Matudán mac Muiredaig Gormalaith Rapach, died 840.
= Áed Findliath