Aed Finliath
Encyclopedia
Áed mac Neíll called Áed Findliath (Áed the Fair Warrior) to distinguish him from his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide, was king of Ailech and High King of Ireland
. A member of the northern Uí Néill
kindred of the Cenél nEógain
, Áed was the son of Niall Caille.
in 743 until the overthrow of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
by Brian Boru
in 1002, the succession to the High Kingship of Ireland century alternated between northern and southern branches of the Uí Néill with the north represented by members of the Cenél nÉogain, Áed's paternal kindred, and the south by the Clann Cholmáin
, his mother's kin. Francis John Byrne
describes this as "a fragile convention, marked by watchful jealousy rather than friendly accord."
During the reign of Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid
, who succeeded Áed's father as High King, the balance of power between north and south which had ensured the alternating succession appeared to be tipping in favour of the southern Clann Cholmáin kindred. The weakness of the Kings of Munster
following the death of the powerful Feidlimid mac Crimthainn in 847 led to repeated attacks on Munster by Máel Sechnaill in the 850s and a submission by the kings of Munster in 858. In 859, Osraige was made subject to the Uí Néill, and this led to open warfare between Máel Sechnaill and Áed.
. His maternal grandfather was Donnchad Midi, his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide. His father, his mother's brother, Conchobar mac Donnchada
, and both of his grandfathers had been counted as High Kings of Ireland.
The names of three of Áed's wives are recorded, although the order of his marriages is perhaps uncertain. His first wife may have been Gormlaith Rapach, "the harsh", daughter of Muiredach mac Eochada
, king of Ulster. The Banshenchas say that Domnall mac Áeda was her son, and Eithne
, who married Flann Sinna
, may have been her daughter.
Áed's second wife, Lann ingen mac Dúnlainge (sister of Cerball mac Dúnlainge
, king of Osraige) was the widow of his predecessor as High King, Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid, a grandson of Donnchad Midi.
His third known wife was Máel Muire, probably the daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, the king of the Picts in Britain
. She was the mother of Niall Glúndub
. On Áed's death she married his successor Flann Sinna
.
Other children of Áed included Domnall Dabaill (ancestor of Domnall Ua Lochlainn); a son named Máel Dub, reputed a saint; and Máel Dúin, who ruled Ailech
as Áed's deputy until his early death in 867.
records that he
Presumably Flaithbertach was his own brother, and this foray was made to secure Áed's position as king of Ailech.
Áed came into power at a critical period in the history of Ireland. Raids by Norse
Vikings had taken place for half a century, and the Norse settlements now seemed to have become permanent establishments more than just bases for raids. They also now had an effective leadership under Amlaíb Conung
and Ímar. At this time, both the contemporary annalists as well as modern historians refer to them not just as Vikings, foreigners or pagans, but also Norse-Irish or Norse-Gaels
.
Áed Findliath has been described as one of the Irish high-kings who most effectively fought the Norse expansion in Ireland. He did indeed win some crucial battles against the Norse-gaels; the first recorded victory is in 856, at the battle of Glenn Foichle, six years prior to him becoming high-king. The reigning High-King at the time, Mael Sechnaill, seemed more concerned with the internal Irish power struggle, particularly in Munster
, than with engaging the Norse. There is however one reference in 856 to him fighting against "pagans" (Vikings) with the support of the Norse-Gaels. This could probably be interpreted as an alliance between the Norse settlers and the established Irish society against marauders.
In 858, Máel Sechnaill finally managed to establish control over Munster, and in 859 he also made a peace settlement with Cerball mac Dúnlainge
king of Osraige (forced upon him by Cerball, who had allied himself with Amlaíb and Ímar and ravaged Míde). Máel Sechnaill now turned his attention to the north, where the growing power of Áed Findliath had become a threat against him as head of Uí Néill. In 860 he brought an army consisting of forces from all of the southern part of Ireland to Armagh
. While they were camped there, Áed Findliath attacked. The outcome of the battle seem to have been some sort of draw.
By now it was Áed Findliath who sought an alliance with the Norse Dublin. In 861 as well as 862 he plundered Míde in cooperation with Norse forces, in 862 he also had the support of Flann mac Conaing, king of Brega
.
on was not held in six of those 17 years, which is a strong indication of strife and unrest.
The Norse Dublin had, by the beginning of Áed's reign, become an important, if not very trustworthy, ally in the struggle for power in Míde. Máel Sechnaill's successor as head of Clann Cholmain
and king of Míde, Lorcán mac Cathail
, allied himself with Amlaib, Ímar and Auisle against Flann of Brega. Flann was a former ally of Dublin, and still Áed's most important ally in the central part of Ireland. Lorcán and his Norse allies plundered Brega in 863, and in 864 Conchobar mac Donnchada, king of Lagore (southern Brega) and presumably an ally of Flann against Lorcán, was captured and drowned near Clonard
on Amlaibhs order. Áed led an host to Míde, captured Lorcán and blinded him.
Áed now had some notable victories against the Norse, but the main reason for his success was probably neither that he was a military genius or a particularly gifted politician. He defeated the Vikings at Lough Foyle
in 866 and uprooted their settlements. In 866 Amlaíb and Auslie left Ireland with the larger part of the Norse forces, and in cooperation with the Norse-gaels from present day Scotland
they attacked the pict
s. Áed seized this opportunity, plundering and burning all the Norse bases (longphort
s) in the northern part of Ireland.
In 868 Áed again was confronted by a coalition of his Irish rivals and the Norse-Gaels. According to the Annals of Ulster he defeated "the Uí Neíll of Brega, and the Laigin, and a large force of the foreigners" in a battle at a place called Cell Ua nDaigri. Flann of Brega was killed in this battle. This battle has later been presented as a decisive victory over the Norse. Amlaibh and Ímar was, however, very active in Ireland during the following years and did not in any way seem to be seriously weakened, neither in ambition nor in strength. It is probably more accurately to regard this battle as a victory over the southern Uí Neíll and Leinster. In 870 Áed followed up his victory from 868 by invading Leinster with the support of his new ally Cerball of Osraige. He again invaded Leinster in 874.
Áed Findliath died on 20 November 879, at Druim Inasclainn in the territory of Conaille. On that occasion he was described as "king of Tara" (rex Temorie), even if he in a poem referred by the annalist also is called "over-king of the Irish" (airdri Gaidhel) He was buried at Armagh
.
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
. A member of the northern Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
kindred of the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
, Áed was the son of Niall Caille.
Background
From the death of Áed AllánÁed Allán
Áed Allán was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. Áed Allán was the son of Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill....
in 743 until the overthrow of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill , also called Máel Sechnaill Mór, Máel Sechnaill II, anglicized Malachy II, was King of Mide and High King of Ireland...
by Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
in 1002, the succession to the High Kingship of Ireland century alternated between northern and southern branches of the Uí Néill with the north represented by members of the Cenél nÉogain, Áed's paternal kindred, and the south by the Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
, his mother's kin. Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
describes this as "a fragile convention, marked by watchful jealousy rather than friendly accord."
During the reign of Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid
Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid was High King of Ireland. The Annals of Ulster use the Old Irish title rí hÉrenn uile, that is "king of all Ireland", when reporting his death, distinguishing Máel Sechnaill from the usual Kings of Tara who are only called High Kings of Ireland in late sources such...
, who succeeded Áed's father as High King, the balance of power between north and south which had ensured the alternating succession appeared to be tipping in favour of the southern Clann Cholmáin kindred. The weakness of the Kings of Munster
Kings of Munster
The name Munster is derived from the Gaelic God, Muman. The province of Munster was once divided into six regions: Tuadh Mhuman , Des Mhuman , Aur/Ur Mumhan , Iar mumhan or Iarmuman , Ernaibh Muman , and Deisi Muman...
following the death of the powerful Feidlimid mac Crimthainn in 847 led to repeated attacks on Munster by Máel Sechnaill in the 850s and a submission by the kings of Munster in 858. In 859, Osraige was made subject to the Uí Néill, and this led to open warfare between Máel Sechnaill and Áed.
Origins and family
Áed was the son of Niall Caille and Gormlaith. His mother, Gormflaith ingen Donncadha, is called "Gormlaith of the dazzling white complexion" by the BanshenchasBanshenchas
An Banshenchas is a medieval text which collects brief descriptions of prominent women in Irish legend into a poetic narrative....
. His maternal grandfather was Donnchad Midi, his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide. His father, his mother's brother, Conchobar mac Donnchada
Conchobar mac Donnchada
Conchobar mac Donnchada was High-King of Ireland with opposition between 819 and 833. Conchobar was the son of Donnchad Midi, high-king of Ireland ; his mother was Fuirseach, a noblewoman of the Dál nAraidi. Conchobar married Land, daughter of the former High-King Áed Oirdnide...
, and both of his grandfathers had been counted as High Kings of Ireland.
The names of three of Áed's wives are recorded, although the order of his marriages is perhaps uncertain. His first wife may have been Gormlaith Rapach, "the harsh", daughter of Muiredach mac Eochada
Muiredach mac Eochada
Muiredach mac Eochada was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Eochaid mac Fiachnai , a previous king. He ruled from 825-839....
, king of Ulster. The Banshenchas say that Domnall mac Áeda was her son, and Eithne
Eithne
Eithne is a popular Irish female name meaning 'little fire' and is borne by a variety of historical and legendary figures, including:-Medieval:...
, who married Flann Sinna
Flann Sinna
Flann Sinna was the son of Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid of Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Mide from 877 onwards and is counted as a High King of Ireland...
, may have been her daughter.
Áed's second wife, Lann ingen mac Dúnlainge (sister of Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
, king of Osraige) was the widow of his predecessor as High King, Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid, a grandson of Donnchad Midi.
His third known wife was Máel Muire, probably the daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, the king of the Picts in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. She was the mother of Niall Glúndub
Niall Glúndub
Niall Glúndub mac Áedo was a 10th century Irish king of the Cenél nEógain and High King of Ireland. While many Irish kin groups were members of the Uí Néill, tracing their descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages , the O'Neill dynasty took their name from Niall Glúndub rather than the earlier Niall...
. On Áed's death she married his successor Flann Sinna
Flann Sinna
Flann Sinna was the son of Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid of Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Mide from 877 onwards and is counted as a High King of Ireland...
.
Other children of Áed included Domnall Dabaill (ancestor of Domnall Ua Lochlainn); a son named Máel Dub, reputed a saint; and Máel Dúin, who ruled Ailech
Ailech
Ailech was a medieval kingdom in Ireland, roughly centred on modern-day County Tyrone and the Inishowen peninsula in Ulster....
as Áed's deputy until his early death in 867.
Early years
Following the death of Neill Caille in 845, Áed's uncle Máel Dúin mac Áeda assumed the kingship of Ailech. When Áed succeeded him is not recorded, but it might have been in 855. Áed is mentioned for the first time in the annals this year, as the Annals of UlsterAnnals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
records that he
made a foray against the Ulaid, and he left behind dead Coinnecán son of Colmán and Flaithbertach son of Niall, and a large number besides
Presumably Flaithbertach was his own brother, and this foray was made to secure Áed's position as king of Ailech.
Áed came into power at a critical period in the history of Ireland. Raids by Norse
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
Vikings had taken place for half a century, and the Norse settlements now seemed to have become permanent establishments more than just bases for raids. They also now had an effective leadership under Amlaíb Conung
Amlaíb Conung
Amlaíb Conung was a Norse or Norse-Gael leader in Ireland and Scotland in the years after 850. Together with his brothers Ímar and Auisle he appears frequently in the Irish annals....
and Ímar. At this time, both the contemporary annalists as well as modern historians refer to them not just as Vikings, foreigners or pagans, but also Norse-Irish or Norse-Gaels
Norse-Gaels
The Norse–Gaels were a people who dominated much of the Irish Sea region, including the Isle of Man, and western Scotland for a part of the Middle Ages; they were of Gaelic and Scandinavian origin and as a whole exhibited a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism...
.
Áed Findliath has been described as one of the Irish high-kings who most effectively fought the Norse expansion in Ireland. He did indeed win some crucial battles against the Norse-gaels; the first recorded victory is in 856, at the battle of Glenn Foichle, six years prior to him becoming high-king. The reigning High-King at the time, Mael Sechnaill, seemed more concerned with the internal Irish power struggle, particularly in Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, than with engaging the Norse. There is however one reference in 856 to him fighting against "pagans" (Vikings) with the support of the Norse-Gaels. This could probably be interpreted as an alliance between the Norse settlers and the established Irish society against marauders.
In 858, Máel Sechnaill finally managed to establish control over Munster, and in 859 he also made a peace settlement with Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
king of Osraige (forced upon him by Cerball, who had allied himself with Amlaíb and Ímar and ravaged Míde). Máel Sechnaill now turned his attention to the north, where the growing power of Áed Findliath had become a threat against him as head of Uí Néill. In 860 he brought an army consisting of forces from all of the southern part of Ireland to Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
. While they were camped there, Áed Findliath attacked. The outcome of the battle seem to have been some sort of draw.
By now it was Áed Findliath who sought an alliance with the Norse Dublin. In 861 as well as 862 he plundered Míde in cooperation with Norse forces, in 862 he also had the support of Flann mac Conaing, king of Brega
Kings of Brega
-Overview:Brega took its name from Mag Breg, the plain of Brega, in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the Uí Néill kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara, the site...
.
King of Tara
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid died 20 November 862, and he was on that occasion described in the Annals of Ulster as ri h-Erenn uile, king of all Ireland. That was a title that would never be used about Áed Findliath, even though he assumed the kingship of Tara following Máel Sechnaill's death, and has also been counted in the lists of High Kings of Ireland. His kingship was disputed throughout his 17 year long reign, and he did not even have support from the southern clans of Uí Néill. The annals show that the Taillten FairTaillten Fair
The Taillten Fair was an annual event held in medieval times at Telltown, County Meath, Ireland. The fair was a survival or revival of the Áenach Tailteann, the assembly and funeral games for the goddess Tailtiu, and was held on Lughnasadh, aka Lammas Eve, .For a period of time in the twentieth...
on was not held in six of those 17 years, which is a strong indication of strife and unrest.
The Norse Dublin had, by the beginning of Áed's reign, become an important, if not very trustworthy, ally in the struggle for power in Míde. Máel Sechnaill's successor as head of Clann Cholmain
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
and king of Míde, Lorcán mac Cathail
Lorcán mac Cathail
Lorcán mac Cathail was a King of Uisnech and Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. Lorcán ruled in as King of Mide from 862-864.His exact dynastic affiliations are unknown. The death of a certain Cathal mac Conchobair is mentioned in the annals in 843. If this was his father he may have been the grandson...
, allied himself with Amlaib, Ímar and Auisle against Flann of Brega. Flann was a former ally of Dublin, and still Áed's most important ally in the central part of Ireland. Lorcán and his Norse allies plundered Brega in 863, and in 864 Conchobar mac Donnchada, king of Lagore (southern Brega) and presumably an ally of Flann against Lorcán, was captured and drowned near Clonard
Clonard, County Meath
Clonard is a small village in County Meath, Ireland. It lies on the R148 regional road between the towns of Kinnegad and Enfield. This road was the main road between Dublin and Galway until the construction of the M4 motorway - it is still used by traffic avoiding the toll on the M4.It is notable...
on Amlaibhs order. Áed led an host to Míde, captured Lorcán and blinded him.
Áed now had some notable victories against the Norse, but the main reason for his success was probably neither that he was a military genius or a particularly gifted politician. He defeated the Vikings at Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle , is the estuary of the River Foyle in Ulster. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.-Transport:...
in 866 and uprooted their settlements. In 866 Amlaíb and Auslie left Ireland with the larger part of the Norse forces, and in cooperation with the Norse-gaels from present day Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
they attacked the pict
PICT
PICT is a graphics file format introduced on the original Apple Macintosh computer as its standard metafile format. It allows the interchange of graphics , and some limited text support, between Mac applications, and was the native graphics format of QuickDraw.The original version, PICT 1, was...
s. Áed seized this opportunity, plundering and burning all the Norse bases (longphort
Longphort
A longphort is a term used in Ireland for a Viking ship enclosure or shore fortress. Longphorts were originally built to serve as camps for the raiding parties in...
s) in the northern part of Ireland.
In 868 Áed again was confronted by a coalition of his Irish rivals and the Norse-Gaels. According to the Annals of Ulster he defeated "the Uí Neíll of Brega, and the Laigin, and a large force of the foreigners" in a battle at a place called Cell Ua nDaigri. Flann of Brega was killed in this battle. This battle has later been presented as a decisive victory over the Norse. Amlaibh and Ímar was, however, very active in Ireland during the following years and did not in any way seem to be seriously weakened, neither in ambition nor in strength. It is probably more accurately to regard this battle as a victory over the southern Uí Neíll and Leinster. In 870 Áed followed up his victory from 868 by invading Leinster with the support of his new ally Cerball of Osraige. He again invaded Leinster in 874.
Áed Findliath died on 20 November 879, at Druim Inasclainn in the territory of Conaille. On that occasion he was described as "king of Tara" (rex Temorie), even if he in a poem referred by the annalist also is called "over-king of the Irish" (airdri Gaidhel) He was buried at Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
.