Ainbcellach mac Ferchair
Encyclopedia
Ainbcellach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata
, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland
.
He was a son of Ferchar Fota
. He is given the epithet the Good in the Duan Albanach
, a praise poem from the 11th century.
It is unclear how long he remained in exile. There are reports of fighting in Dál Riata in the early 8th century which might be a conflict between Ainbcellach and his brother, Selbach mac Ferchair
, or between the Cenél Loairn and the Cenél nGabráin for control of Dál Riata. Ainbcellach had certainly returned by September 719, when he was killed fighting against Selbach in "Finnglen" (perhaps near Loch Fyne
).
Ainbcellach's son Muiredach
was later king of the Cenél Loairn. The later Mormaers of Moray
traced their descent to Ainbcellach and the Cenél Loairn through Ainbcellach's son Ruadrí.
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
He was a son of Ferchar Fota
Ferchar Fota
Ferchar Fota was probably king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata. His father is named as Feredach mac Fergusa and he was said to be a descendant in the 6th generation of Loarn mac Eirc....
. He is given the epithet the Good in the Duan Albanach
Duan Albanach
The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material ....
, a praise poem from the 11th century.
It is unclear how long he remained in exile. There are reports of fighting in Dál Riata in the early 8th century which might be a conflict between Ainbcellach and his brother, Selbach mac Ferchair
Selbach mac Ferchair
Selbach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn and of Dál Riata. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals.-Life:Selbach mac Ferchair was a son of Ferchar Fota...
, or between the Cenél Loairn and the Cenél nGabráin for control of Dál Riata. Ainbcellach had certainly returned by September 719, when he was killed fighting against Selbach in "Finnglen" (perhaps near Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs...
).
Ainbcellach's son Muiredach
Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig
Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig was king of the Cenél Loairn, and of Dál Riata , from about 733 until 736.He was the son of Ainbcellach mac Ferchair. His coming to power is reported in 733, and is not obviously associated with the death of Eochaid mac Echdach, king of Dál Riata, in the Irish annals...
was later king of the Cenél Loairn. The later Mormaers of Moray
Mormaer of Moray
The Mormaerdom or Kingdom of Moray was a lordship in High Medieval Scotland that was destroyed by King David I of Scotland in 1130. It did not have the same territory as the modern local government council area of Moray, which is a much smaller area, around Elgin...
traced their descent to Ainbcellach and the Cenél Loairn through Ainbcellach's son Ruadrí.
External links
- Annals of Ulster at CELT (translated)
- Annals of Tigernach at CELT
- Duan Albanach at CELT (translated)