Cathalán mac Indrechtaig (died 871) was a
Dál Fiatach
Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland during the Middle Ages. It was part of the over-kingdom of Ulaid, and they were its main ruling dynasty for most of Ulaid's ...
king of
Ulaid
Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...
, which is now
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. He belonged to a branch of the Dal Fiatach called the Leth Cathail centered in the Lecale barony of modern County Down. He ruled from 857-871 as leth-
rí
Rí, or commonly ríg (genitive), is an ancient Gaelic word meaning 'king'. It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings, and those of similar rank. While the Modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish ...
(half-king or co-ruler) of Ulaid.
His grandfather Tommaltach mac Cathail (died 789) had made a bid for the crown but was defeated and slain in battle by
Eochaid mac Fiachnai
Eochaid mac Fiachnai (died 810) was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin (died 789), a previous king. He ruled from 790 to 810.
Eochaid first appears in the annals in 776. In that ye ...
(died 810) of the main Dal Fiatach branch. His father, Indrechtach mac Tommaltaig, is only mentioned in the ''Annals of Innisfallen'' which state that he was a co-ruler of Ulaid. This is not confirmed by other annals or king lists however.
Cathalán succeeded to the throne of Ulaid in 857 as co-ruler with
Lethlobar mac Loingsig
Lethlobar mac Loingsig (died 873) was a Dál nAraidi king of Ulaid, in medieval Ireland. He was the grandson of Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig, a previous king of Ulaid. He belonged to the main ruling dynasty of the Dál nAraidi known as the Uí Chóel ...
(died 873) of the
Dál nAraidi
Dál nAraidi (; "Araide's part") or Dál Araide, sometimes Latinised as Dalaradia or Anglicised as Dalaray,Boyd, Hugh AlexanderIrish Dalriada ''The Glynns: Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Society''. Volume 76 (1978). was a Cruthin kin ...
sept of modern County Antrim. Though not listed in the king lists, the annals award him the title of co-ruler at his death notice. He was killed treacherously at the instigation of the high king
Áed Findliath
Áed mac Néill (died 879), called Áed Findliath ("fair-grey Áed"; Modern Irish: ''Aodh Fionnadhliath'') to distinguish him from his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide, was king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. He was also called Áed Olach ...
(died 879) of the northern
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the ...
.
[AU 871.1]
He had a son named Cummascach. His brother
Máel Mocheirge mac Indrechtaig (died 896) was also a leth-rí of Ulaid.
Notes
References
* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
a
University College Cork* ''Annals of Innisfallen'' a
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,
External links
a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathalan Mac Indrechtaig
Kings of Ulster
9th-century Irish monarchs
871 deaths
Year of birth unknown