Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso (or Muiredach Mag Aí) (died 702) was a King of
Connacht
Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...
from the Uí Briúin Aí branch of the
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were a royal dynasty of Connacht. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brión, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the U ...
. He was the grandson of
Rogallach mac Uatach (died 649), a previous king. His sobriquet Muillethan means "broad-crowned".
Overview
The annals report that his father
Fergus (Muirgius) had been killed in 654 by the
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne (also known as Hy Fiachrach) was a kingdom located in what is now the south of County Galway.
Legendary origins and geography
Originally known as Aidhne, it was said to have been settled by the mythical Fir Bolg. Dubhalta ...
. His uncle
Cathal mac Rogallaig is reported as dying in the year 680. The date of his accession to rule over the Uí Briúin is not known but must have been after the death of
Cenn Fáelad mac Colgan (died 682) of the Uí Briúin Seóla.
The king lists vary in their order of kings in this period. The ''Laud Synchronisms'' place his reign after Fergal while the ''Book of Leinster'' places his reign much later. The ''Annals of Tigernach'' report a reign of 696-702 for Muiredach as king of Connacht succeeding
Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile
Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile (died 696) was a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (died 663), the hero of many Irish sagas, and was the last member of this branch t ...
(died 696). Nothing is recorded of his reign however.
He was married to Cacht of the Corco Cullu (a minor tribe in Mag nAí), daughter of the slayer of his grandfather
Rogallach.
[Mac Niocaill pg.118] He was the ancestor of the
Síol Muireadaigh
The Síol Muireadaigh or Síol Muireadhaigh (Anglicized as Sil Murray or Silmurray), was a leading sept of the Connachta group of Gaelic dynasties in medieval Ireland. The name Síol Muireadaigh was also used to refer to the territory occupied by ...
of
Connacht
Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...
and his known sons were
Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 723) and
Cathal mac Muiredaig
Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 735) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso (died 702), a previous king and brother of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (di ...
Muillethan (died 735), both future kings of Connacht.
Family tree
Muiredach Muillethan
,
, ____________________________________________________________________________
, ,
, ,
Indrechtaig, died 723. Cathal
, ,
, ____________________________________________________________ , __________________________________
, , , , , , , , ,
, , , , , , , , ,
Áed Balb (died 742) Muiredach (died 732) Tadg Murgal Medb Dub Indrecht Artgal Dub Díbeirg Forgartach
= ? = Áed Oirdnide d. 768. d. 792. d. 787. fl. 789.
, ,
, ,
Tipraiti Niall Caille
, ,
, ,
Síol Muireadaigh
The Síol Muireadaigh or Síol Muireadhaigh (Anglicized as Sil Murray or Silmurray), was a leading sept of the Connachta group of Gaelic dynasties in medieval Ireland. The name Síol Muireadaigh was also used to refer to the territory occupied by ...
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 Olac ...
Notes
References
* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
a
University College Cork* ''Annals of Tigernach'' a
a
University College Cork* Byrne, Francis John (2001), ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Dublin: Four Courts Press,
* Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), ''Ireland before the Vikings'', Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
External links
a
University College Cork
702 deaths
Kings of Connacht
People from County Roscommon
8th-century Irish monarchs
7th-century Irish monarchs
Year of birth unknown
{{Ireland-royal-stub