Áed mac Néill (; died 819), commonly called Áed Oirdnide ("the

anointed Anointing is the ritual act of pouring aromatic oil over a person's head or entire body. By extension, the term is also applied to related acts of sprinkling, dousing, or smearing a person or object with any perfumed oil, milk, butter, or oth ...

"), was

King of Ailech The Kings of Ailech were the over-kings of the Medieval Ireland, medieval Irish Provinces of Ireland, province of Ailech in north-western Ireland. It encompassed the territories of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill. After the battle of Cloí ...

. A member of the

Cenél nEógain Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

dynasty 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 ...

, he was the son of

Niall Frossach Niall Frossach (or Niall mac Fergaile) (718–778) was an 8th-century Irish king of Ailech, sometimes considered to have been High King of Ireland. Brother of high king Áed Allán (died 743), Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin ...

. Like his father, Áed was reckoned

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...

. He was King of Ailech from 788 onwards and High King of Ireland from 797.

King of Ailech

The conflict between Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill for the leading role in the north appears to have turned on control over the lands of the minor Cenél nEndai branch of the Uí Néill which lay around

Raphoe Raphoe ( ; ) is a historical village in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the fertile district of East Donegal known as the Laggan, as well as giving its name to the Barony of Raphoe, which was later divided into the baronies of R ...

. Communications between the northern and southern branches of Cenél Conaill, respectively based on the north-west coast of Donergal and in the south around

Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...

town, ran through these. While Cenél nEndai were clients or allies of Cenél Conaill, as they had been before Áed Allán defeated

Flaithbertach mac Loingsig Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765) was a High King of Ireland. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703), a previous high king. He ruled from 728 to 734. He ...

in the 730s, Cenél Conaill had the upper hand, and provided kings of Tara and kings of the North. By the death of Niall Frossach, if not earlier, Cenél nEndai were again under the sway of Cenél Conaill. The region was still disputed in 787 when Máel Dúin defeated Domnall and appears to have gained some recognition as king of the North as he is so styled at his death the following year. Áed succeeded Máel Dúin as king of Ailech, but was challenged by Domnall whom he defeated at the battle of Clóitech (modern

Clady, County Tyrone Clady () is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies about 4 miles from Strabane on the River Finn and borders with the Republic of Ireland. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 538 people. This article co ...

) in 789. This appears to have been the final attempt by kings of Cenél Conaill to regain control of the lands around Raphoe which had been seized by Cenél nEógain. The annals record a battle in 791 at

Tailtiu Tailtiu or Tailltiu (; modern spelling: Tailte) (also known as Talti) is the name of a presumed goddess from Irish mythology. The goddess's name is linked to Teltown (< OI ''Óenach Tailten'') in Co. Meath, site of the

< ...

, site of a major Uí Néill oenach, the ''oenach Tailten''. The summoning of this gathering was one of the prerogatives of the High King at which he would demonstrate his power and standing. Whether Áed brought an army south to disturb the oenach, or whether the conflict was provoked by Donnchad, is unknown. The outcome was that Áed fled from Tailtiu and was pursued perhaps as far as

Slane Slane () is a village in County Meath, in Ireland. The village stands on a steep hillside on the left bank of the River Boyne at the intersection of the N2 (Dublin to Monaghan road) and the N51 (Drogheda to Navan road). As of the 2016 census ...

. Several of Áed's allies are said to have been killed, including the kings of two branches of Uí Chremthainn, an Airgíalla dynasty whose lands lay around

Clogher Clogher () is a village and civil parish in the border area of south County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Blackwater, 5.8 miles from the border crossing to County Monaghan. It stands on the townlands of Clogher Demesne and C ...

and

Clones Clone or Clones or Cloning or Cloned or The Clone may refer to: Places * Clones, County Fermanagh * Clones, County Monaghan, a town in Ireland Biology * Clone (B-cell), a lymphocyte clone, the massive presence of which may indicate a pathologi ...

. It is on this occasion that the ''

Chronicle of Ireland The Chronicle of Ireland ( ga, Croinic na hÉireann) is the modern name for a hypothesized collection of ecclesiastical annals recording events in Ireland from 432 to 911 AD. Several surviving annals share events in the same sequence and wordin ...

'' calls Áed Áed Ingor, Áed the Unfilial or Áed the Undutiful, the only

byname An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

used in early sources. It is generally supposed that this refers to his conflict with his father-in-law

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 western ...

, although the term ''mac ingor'', a term from

early Irish law Early Irish law, historically referred to as (English: Freeman-ism) or (English: Law of Freemen), also called Brehon law, comprised the statutes which governed everyday life in Early Medieval Ireland. They were partially eclipsed by the Norma ...

, usually refers to the undutiful son who does not support his biological father. Whatever the origin of the name may have been, it is plainly not flattering. In 794 Áed is recorded as campaigning against the Mugdorna Maigen at a time when Donnchad was involved in war with

Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...

. The lands of Mugdorna Maigen lay around the upper reaches of the

river Fane The River Fane ( ga, Abhainn Átha Féan) is a river flowing from County Monaghan to Dundalk Bay in County Louth, Ireland. Course Originating in Lough Ross on the border of County Monaghan and County Armagh, and so of the Republic of Ireland ...

, with the chief church at Donaghmoyne,

County Monaghan County Monaghan ( ; ga, Contae Mhuineacháin) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Ulster and is part of Border strategic planning area of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Cou ...

. Although reckoned one of the nine tribes of the Airgíalla, the Mugdorna were clients of the southern

Síl nÁedo Sláine Síl nÁedo Sláine () are the descendants of Áed Sláine (Áed mac Diarmato), 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 ...

branch of the Uí Néill rather than of Áed's Cenél nEógain dynasty like most of the Airgíalla.

King of Tara

Although Donnchad's authority waned in the last decade of his life, he remained the dominant figure until his death on 6 February 797. Following Donnchad's death, Áed moved to ensure that he would be recognised as king of Tara. He defeated two of Donnchad's brothers, Diarmait and Fínsnechta, along with another Fínsnechta, a son of

Fallomon mac Con Congalt Follaman mac Con Congalt (died 766), also written Fallomon mac Con Congelt, was King of Mide, a kingdom of the Uí Néill in central Ireland in modern County Westmeath and County Meath. Background Follaman belonged to the Clann Cholmáin Bic ...

Clann Cholmáin Bicc A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meanin ...

, at Druim Ríg (modern

Drumree Drumree () is a settled area in south County Meath, Ireland, south of Dunsany and approximately from Dublin city centre. The next nearest settlement was the hamlet at Dunsany Cross Roads. Lord Dunsany lived at Dunsany Castle to the north for m ...

) in south Brega. A poem in the ''Annals of Ulster'' portrays this as vengeance for the death of Áed's uncle Áed Allán at the hands of Donnchad's father

Domnall Midi Domhnall Mac Murchada (born c. 700, died 20 November 763), called Domnall Midi (Donald of Meath), was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill. Clann Cholmáin's pre-eminence among the southern Uí Néill, ...

at the battle of Seredmag in 743. Some time later in 797 Áed devastated Mide and the ''Annals of Ulster'' take this to mark the beginning of his reign. In 802 Muiredach, king of Mide, died. He was the last of Donnchad Midi's known brothers. Áed led an army south to Mide where he divided the lands of Clann Cholmáin between two of Donnchad's sons, Ailill and

Conchobar ( is an old and famous Irish male name meaning "lover of canines". It is the source of the Irish names Conor, Connor, Connors, Conner, O'Connor, etc. It is a name borne by several figures from Irish history and legend, including: * Conchobar ...

. If this was intended to reduce the power of potential rivals, it proved ineffective. Ailill and Conchobar met in battle in 803 at Rath Conaill (near modern

Mullingar Mullingar ( ; ) is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. It is the third most populous town in the Midland Region, with a population of 20,928 in the 2016 census. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act 1543 proclaimed Westmeat ...

). Ailill was killed leaving Conchobar as sole king of Mide. In 804 Áed turned his attention towards

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

and devastated the area twice in one month. That same year

Fínsnechta Cethardec Finsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig (died 808) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Cellach mac Dúnchada (died 776), a previous king. He ruled from 795 to 808. His byname Ceth ...

(died 808), King of Leinster, submitted to him. However Áed was not satisfied with this and in 805 he made a hosting to Dún Cuair and installed

Muiredach mac Ruadrach Muiredach mac Ruadrach (died 829) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son of Ruaidr� ...

(died 829) and

Muiredach mac Brain Muiredach mac Brain (died 885) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Líamhain (Lyons Hill, on the Dublin-Kildare border). He was the son of Bran mac Fáelá ...

(died 818) as joint kings of Leinster. Finsnechta took refuge with

Muirgius mac Tommaltaig Muirgius mac Tommaltaig (died 815) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 723), a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail ( ...

(died 815), the King of Connacht, who then aided him in recovering his throne in 806. In 808 Conchobar of Meath made a bid for the high kingship and was joined by King Muirgius of Connacht. They advanced as far as the assembly grounds of Tailtiu but on the appearance of Aed's army the allies dispersed. Áed pursued them and burned the borders of Mide. In 808 or 809 Áed again attacked Leinster but was defeated on the banks of the Liffey. In 809 Áed campaigned against the

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 ...

and defeated them ravaging from the Bann to Strangford Lough. The motive for this conflict was apparently the killing of Dúnchú, superior of the monastery of Tulach Léis (now Tullylisk near

Banbridge Banbridge ( , ) is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road (Northern Ireland), A1 road and is named after a bridge built over the River Bann in 1712. It is situated in the Civil parishes in Ireland, c ...

County Down County Down () is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It covers an area of and has a population of 531,665. It borders County Antrim to the ...

), by the Ulaid. In 815 one of Áed's brothers, Colmán mac Néill, was killed by the Cenél Conaill, and Áed led an expedition against them in revenge. In 818 Áed again assembled his forces at Dún Cuair and attacked Leinster, dividing Leinster between his two candidates, who were nevertheless unable to retain their positions. That same year the vice abbot of Cell Mór Enir (modern

Kilmore, County Armagh Kilmore or Killmore (from the ga, Cill Mhór) is a small village, townland and civil parish in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Richhill and within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Counci ...

) was killed by the Laigin. As a result, Áed led another expedition versus Leinster and laid waste the land of Cualu as far as Glenn dá Locha (

Glendalough Glendalough (; ) is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead mine. ...

). In 819 Áed died near Áth dá Ferta in the territory of

Conaille Muirtheimne Conaille Muirthemne was a Cruithin kingdom located in County Louth, Ireland, from before 688 to after 1107 approximately. Overview The Ulaid according to historian Francis John Byrne 'possibly still ruled directly in Louth as far as the Boyne in ...

in modern

County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...

Church relations

In 804 a meeting of the synods of the Uí Néill in Dún Cuair was presided over by Condmach mac Duib dá Leithe (died 807), abbot of Ard Macha (

Armagh Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...

), at which the clergy were freed from military obligations by Áed. It is possible that this was the assembly at which Áed was ordained as king. In 806 Áed had the law of

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

promulgated. In 811 the fair of Tailtiu was prevented from being held by Áed due to a boycott by the clergy who were protesting an offence made against the community of Tallaght during Áed's campaign against Leinster in 809. Áed made amends to the community. The campaigns of Áed versus Ulaid in 809 and Leinster in 819 were part of Áed's desire to pose as champion of the church. Áed had some difficulty with the Columban church as well when Mael Dúin son of Cenn Faelad, superior of Ráith Both (Raphoe) was killed in 817. The Columban church went to Tara to excommunicate Áed that year. This event probably had something to do with his campaign versus the Cenél Conaill in 815. Also in 818 Cuanu, abbot of Lugmad Louth, went into exile into the lands of Munster with the shrine of Saint Mochtae, fleeing before Áed.

Family

Áed had married Euginis ingen Donnchada (died 802), daughter of Donnchad Midi. His son

Niall Caille Niall mac Áeda (died 846), called Niall Caille (Niall of the Callan) to distinguish him from his grandson Niall mac Áeda (died 917), was High King of Ireland. Background Niall belonged to Cenél nEógain, a northern branch of the Uí Néill, ...

(died 846) was later king of Ailech and High king of Ireland. Another son Máel Dúin mac Áeda was also a King of Ailech.Byrne, ''Irish Kings'', p. 284, table 5; Ó Corrain, ''Ireland before the Normans'', p. 180.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Aed Oirdnide 8th-century births 819 deaths High Kings of Ireland Kings of Ailech 8th-century Irish monarchs 9th-century Irish monarchs People from County Donegal