Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718) was a King of
Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (
Knowth) of the
Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern
Ui Neill. He was the son of
Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696). He ruled in north Brega from 702 to 718.
Amalgaid's reign was dominated by the feuds among the septs of the Síl nÁedo Sláine and the beginnings of the return to power of the
Clann Cholmáin of
Uisnech. The kingship of Brega at this time was in rivalry between the septs of Uí Chonaing and the southern sept of the Uí Chernaig sept of
Lagore in south Brega. Two contemporary members of the rival sept,
Fogartach mac Néill (died 724) and
Conall Grant mac Cernaig Sotal (died 718) were also counted as kings of Brega during this time. The Uí Chonaing were allied with the Síl nDlúthaig of Fir Cúl Breg.
The feud among the southern and northern septs had been intensified by the murder of
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701) by Amalgaid's uncle
Irgalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 702).
This was intensified when Amalgaid's ally
Flann mac Áedo (died 714) of Síl nDlúthaig defeated and slew
Maine mac Néill of Uí Chernaig in battle in 712.
The high king
Fergal mac Máele Dúin (died 722) of the
Cenél nEógain seems to have favored Clann Cholmáin in Meath and intervened in the affairs of the midlands. In 711, the Battle of Sliab Fúait (in the Fews, Co. Armagh) is recorded where Fergal was victorious and Cú Raí mac Áedo of Síl nDlúthaig was slain along with the king of Uí Méith. In 714, Fergal's southern deputy
Murchad Midi (died 715) of Uisnech fought the Battle of Bile Tened (Billywood, Co. Meath) where Amalgaid's ally Flann was slain. The battle was not decisive however. The attention of Fergal then went on the Uí Chernaig.
In 718, the Battle of Cenannas (near Kells) was fought between the rival septs and Conall Grant of the Uí Chernaig was victorious. Amalgaid and his brother Fergal were slain along with their allies, Gormgal mac Áedo of Síl nDlúthaig and Tuathal Ua Fáelchon of Clann Cholmáin Bicc.
[''Annals of Ulster'' AU 718.3]
His sons
Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742) and
Dúngal mac Amalgado (died 759) were also Kings of Brega.
Notes
See also
*
Kings of Brega
References
* ''Annals of Tigernach'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Textsa
University College Cork* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
a
University College Cork* Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
* ''Book of Leinster'',
Flann Mainistrech: ''Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Textsa
University College CorkOnomasticon Goedelicum
External links
a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amalgaid mac Congalaig
Kings of Brega
718 deaths
8th-century Irish monarchs
Year of birth unknown