Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (died 795) was a

King of Leinster The kings of Leinster ( ga, Rí Laighín), ruled from the establishment of Leinster during the Irish Iron Age, until the 17th century Early Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the ''Book of Invasio ...

of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the

Uí Dúnlainge The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons (or descendants) of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancest ...

branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Muiredach mac Murchado (died 760), a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He ruled from 785-795. Bran was a rival of

Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Fáelán mac Murchado (died 738), a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the east ...

(died 785) of the Uí Fáeláin sept for the throne. In 780 the high king

Donnchad Midi Donnchad mac Domnaill (733 – 6 February 797), called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and weste ...

(died 797) campaigned against Leinster and defeated Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin, devastating the territory of his adherents. That same year a congress of the synods of Uí Néill and Laigin was held at Tara and peace was restored. Donnchad may have been campaigning in the interests of Bran and he may have been installed as king at this congress. In 782 Bran was defeated and captured at the battle of Curragh (near Kildare) by Ruaidrí. Brans's allies Mugrón mac Flainn, king of Uí Failgi, and Dub dá Crích son of Laidcnén of the Uí Cheinnselaig were slain. Bran succeeded to the throne in 785. Bran had married Eithne ingen Domnaill (died 795), the sister of

, the high king of the

Clann Cholmáin Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már mac Diarmato, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his ...

. This relationship ensured good relations with the high king during his reign. In 794 Donnchad led a hosting into Munster to protect the Laigin. On 6 May 795 Bran and Eithne were assassinated in a church at Cell Cúile Duma (near Stradbally, Co. Leix) by his successor Fínsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig (died 808) of the Uí Dúnchada sept. This was a ruthless political gesture directed at the high king Donnchad.AU 795.1; Charles-Edwards, pg.578; Byrne, pg.158 His sons included Muiredach mac Brain (died 818) and

Cellach mac Brain Cellach mac Brain (died 834) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He was the son of Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig ( ...

(died 834), both kings of Leinster.

Notes

References

* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, * Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, * Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (2005), ''A New History of Ireland'', Volume One, Oxford: Oxford University Press

External links

a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bran Ardchenn Mac Muiredaig Kings of Leinster Kings of Uí Dúnlainge 795 deaths 8th-century Irish monarchs People from County Kildare Year of birth unknown