Brandub mac Echach
Encyclopedia
Brandub mac Echach was an Irish
king of the Uí Cheinnselaig
of Leinster
. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig
had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda descended from Fedelmid, son of Énnae Cennsalach
. His son Óengus, grandson Muiredach, and great-grandson Eochu were all kings of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
According to the Book of Leinster
, Brandub succeeded Áed Cerr mac Colmáin Már (died 595) of the Uí Dúnlainge
as king of Leinster
(actually Áed Dibchine
mac Senaig of the Uí Máil
)
of Dál Riata
was Brandub's twin brother, exchanged at birth for one of the twin daughters of Gabrán
, born the very same night, so that each family might have a son. Whether the tale is entirely fabricated, or whether it echoes a foster-relationship between Brandub and Áedán, can only be surmised. According to this story Brandub's father Echu had been expelled from the kingdom by Fáelán mac Síláin, his predecessor in the kingship of the Uí Chennselaig and had gone to live in Dál Riata at the court of Gabrán where Brandub and Aedán were fostered together. Later Echu returned to be king and brought his son with him. Afterwards, when Aedán and Brandub were both rulers, Aedán made a claim to the kingship of Ireland and invaded Leinster.
High King
Áed mac Ainmuirech
of the Cenél Conaill
at the Battle of Dún Bolg (Dunboyke, Wicklow Co.) and the high king was slain, stopping the southward expansion of the Uí Néill
. The Borúma Laigin (Cattle Tribute of Leinster) and the annals record that the war was caused by Brandub's killing of Áed's son Cummascach in 597 at Dún Buchat.
The Borúma Laigin gives much detail of this event. Brandub had the assistance of Saint Aedan of Ferns
(d. 632) who tried to obtain a truce for Brandub with the high-king. Aedan then devised a srategy of having the forces of Brandub hide in food baskets to sneak into the enemy camp. Aedan was granted Ferns after his battle for the assistance he had given Brandub. The saga also relates that the Ulaid
were allied to Leinster and that the king of Airgialla was slain fighting for the high king.
According to later poems in the Book of Leinster, which record his "seven blows against Brega
" (later ruled by the Síl nÁedo Sláine
), he may also have reconquered lands lost to the Uí Néill in the midlands of Ireland. This is also mentioned in the annals dated to 599. Later Uí Cheinnselaig kings, such as Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
and his grandson Diarmait mac Murchada, although descended from a different line, associated Brandub's successes with their branch of the clan.
In 605 Brandub suffered a defeat at the Battle of Slaebre by the Ui Neill under the high king Áed Uaridnach
of the Cenél nEógain
. He was then assassinated by his own kinsman and son-in-law Sarán Saebderc.
), subject to the Clann Cholmáin
in later times, traced their ancestry from Brandub, as did the Uí Felmeda (of modern County Carlow
).
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...
king of the Uí Cheinnselaig
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
of Leinster
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig
Echu mac Muiredaig
Echu mac Muiredaig was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. His father, Muiredach mac Óengusa and grandfather Óengus mac Feidlimid had been kings of the Ui Cheinnselaig as well...
had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda descended from Fedelmid, son of Énnae Cennsalach
Énnae Cennsalach
Énnae Cennsalach was a King of Leinster and founder of the Uí Cheinnselaig sept of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Bressal Bélach , a previous king.The chronology of Leinster kings in the 5th century is contradictory...
. His son Óengus, grandson Muiredach, and great-grandson Eochu were all kings of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
According to the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
, Brandub succeeded Áed Cerr mac Colmáin Már (died 595) of the Uí Dúnlainge
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
as king of Leinster
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
(actually Áed Dibchine
Áed Dibchine
Áed Dibchine mac Senaig was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He is the first king of this branch to hold the overlordship of Leinster....
mac Senaig of the Uí Máil
Uí Máil
Uí Máil were an Irish dynasty of Leinster. They were descended from Maine Mál, the brother of the legendary high king Cathair Mór. The Uí Máil were a dominant dynasty in Leinster competing for the kingship in the 7th century before being eventually ousted by the Uí Dunlainge and retreating east...
)
Birth saga
In the Rawlinson B 502 manuscript, dated to c. 1130, is the poem Gein Branduib maic Echach ocus Aedáin maic Gabráin (The Birth of Brandub son of Eochu and of Aedán son of Gabrán). This tells how Áedán mac GabráinÁedán mac Gabráin
Áedán mac Gabráin was a king of Dál Riata from circa 574 until his death, perhaps on 17 April 609. The kingdom of Dál Riata was situated in modern Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and parts of County Antrim, Ireland...
of Dál Riata
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
was Brandub's twin brother, exchanged at birth for one of the twin daughters of Gabrán
Gabrán mac Domangairt
Gabrán mac Domangairt was king of Dál Riata in the middle of the 6th century. He is the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nGabraín.The historical evidence for Gabrán is limited to the notice of his death in the Irish annals...
, born the very same night, so that each family might have a son. Whether the tale is entirely fabricated, or whether it echoes a foster-relationship between Brandub and Áedán, can only be surmised. According to this story Brandub's father Echu had been expelled from the kingdom by Fáelán mac Síláin, his predecessor in the kingship of the Uí Chennselaig and had gone to live in Dál Riata at the court of Gabrán where Brandub and Aedán were fostered together. Later Echu returned to be king and brought his son with him. Afterwards, when Aedán and Brandub were both rulers, Aedán made a claim to the kingship of Ireland and invaded Leinster.
Defence of Leinster
The first mention of Brandub in the annals is as victor in the Battle of Mag Ochtair (Cloncerry, N.Kildare) over the Ui Neill in 590. In 598 Brandub defeated the Uí NéillUí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
High King
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...
Áed mac Ainmuirech
Áed mac Ainmuirech
Áed mac Ainmuirech was high-king of the Northern Uí Néill. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill and was a distant cousin of Columba of Iona. He was the son of Ainmuire mac Sétnai , a previous possible high king....
of the Cenél Conaill
Cenél Conaill
The Cenél Conaill is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history. They were also known in Scotland as the Kindred of Saint Columba....
at the Battle of Dún Bolg (Dunboyke, Wicklow Co.) and the high king was slain, stopping the southward expansion of the 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....
. The Borúma Laigin (Cattle Tribute of Leinster) and the annals record that the war was caused by Brandub's killing of Áed's son Cummascach in 597 at Dún Buchat.
The Borúma Laigin gives much detail of this event. Brandub had the assistance of Saint Aedan of Ferns
Aedan of Ferns
Saint Máedóc , also known as Áedan, was a saint in Irish tradition, founder and first bishop of Ferns and a patron of other churches, such as Rossinver and Drumlane .-Background:...
(d. 632) who tried to obtain a truce for Brandub with the high-king. Aedan then devised a srategy of having the forces of Brandub hide in food baskets to sneak into the enemy camp. Aedan was granted Ferns after his battle for the assistance he had given Brandub. The saga also relates that the Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
were allied to Leinster and that the king of Airgialla was slain fighting for the high king.
According to later poems in the Book of Leinster, which record his "seven blows against 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...
" (later ruled by the Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine is the name of the descendants of Áed Sláine , 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 Cremthainne....
), he may also have reconquered lands lost to the Uí Néill in the midlands of Ireland. This is also mentioned in the annals dated to 599. Later Uí Cheinnselaig kings, such as Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó was King of Leinster, and also High King of Ireland .He was one of the most important and significant Kings in Ireland in the pre-Norman era...
and his grandson Diarmait mac Murchada, although descended from a different line, associated Brandub's successes with their branch of the clan.
In 605 Brandub suffered a defeat at the Battle of Slaebre by the Ui Neill under the high king Áed Uaridnach
Áed Uaridnach
Áed Uaridnach was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name most commonly used for the 8th century king of the same name, this Áed's great-great-grandson....
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...
. He was then assassinated by his own kinsman and son-in-law Sarán Saebderc.
Descendants
The kindred of the Fir Thulach (in modern County WestmeathCounty Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
), subject to 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...
in later times, traced their ancestry from Brandub, as did the Uí Felmeda (of modern County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
).
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork includes: Gein Branduib (original & translation), Annals of Ulster, Annals of Tigernach, Annals of Innisfallen and others.
- Boroma Laigin summary