Dargart mac Finguine
Encyclopedia
Dargart mac Finguine was a member of the Cenél Comgaill kindred, after which Cowal
in Scotland
is named. The only event directly connected with him in the Irish annals
, based on a chronicle then being kept on Iona
, is his death.
Dargart is believed to have been the father of two kings of the Picts, Bridei mac Der-Ilei and Nechtan mac Der-Ilei.
, is most unusual. Excepting those descendants of Comgall mac Domangairt
who are included in traditional lists of Kings of Dál Riata, only Dargart, and his father Finguine Fota are mentioned by the chroniclers, in both cases on the occasion of their deaths.
Dargart's father's ancestry is recorded in one surviving genealogy
, the Genelaig Albanensium, appended to a version of the Senchus fer n-Alban
. This makes him a great-grandson of Comgall, although a generation may have been omitted, and records another son of his, Ferchar by name.
The report of Dargart's death—by violence, the Latin
word iugulatio is used—appears in the Annals of Tigernach
and the Annals of Ulster
in the year of the battle of Nechtansmere, that is 685, and has later been duplicated by the Annals of Ulster under the year 692.
, perhaps a daughter, or less probably a sister, of King Bridei son of Beli
. They had at least two sons, the Pictish kings Bridei, who died c
. 706, and Nechtan, who died in 732. Congal mac Dargarto, who died in 712, was very likely this Dargart's son, although whether with Der-Ilei is less certain. It is also uncertain whether Ciniod, or Cináed, mac Der-Ilei, killed in 713 was Dargart's son.
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
in 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...
is named. The only event directly connected with him in the Irish annals
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
, based on a chronicle then being kept on Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, is his death.
Dargart is believed to have been the father of two kings of the Picts, Bridei mac Der-Ilei and Nechtan mac Der-Ilei.
Background
Dargart is a very uncommon name, and it is presumed that the few references to someone of that name in the record all refer to the same person. That a member of the Cenél Comgaill should be noticed at all by the Iona chronicle, which focussed its attention on the Cenél nGabráin of KintyreKintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
, is most unusual. Excepting those descendants of Comgall mac Domangairt
Comgall mac Domangairt
Comgall mac Domangairt was king of Dál Riata in the early 6th century. He was the son of Domangart Réti and grandson of Fergus Mór. The Annals of Ulster report his death in 538, 542 and 545, the Annals of Tigernach in 537.-Comgall:...
who are included in traditional lists of Kings of Dál Riata, only Dargart, and his father Finguine Fota are mentioned by the chroniclers, in both cases on the occasion of their deaths.
Dargart's father's ancestry is recorded in one surviving genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
, the Genelaig Albanensium, appended to a version of the Senchus fer n-Alban
Senchus fer n-Alban
The Senchus Fer n-Alban is an Old Irish medieval text, believed to have been compiled in the 10th century. It may have been derived from earlier documents of the 7th century which are presumed to have been written in Latin...
. This makes him a great-grandson of Comgall, although a generation may have been omitted, and records another son of his, Ferchar by name.
The report of Dargart's death—by violence, the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word iugulatio is used—appears in the Annals of Tigernach
Annals of Tigernach
The Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish....
and the Annals of Ulster
Annals 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...
in the year of the battle of Nechtansmere, that is 685, and has later been duplicated by the Annals of Ulster under the year 692.
Descendants
Dargart appears to have married a woman named Der-IleiDer-Ilei
Der-Ilei is believed to have been a daughter, or less probably a sister, of Bridei map Beli, king of the Picts...
, perhaps a daughter, or less probably a sister, of King Bridei son of Beli
Bridei III of the Picts
King Bridei III was king of Fortriu and overking of the Picts between 671 and his death in 693....
. They had at least two sons, the Pictish kings Bridei, who died c
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
. 706, and Nechtan, who died in 732. Congal mac Dargarto, who died in 712, was very likely this Dargart's son, although whether with Der-Ilei is less certain. It is also uncertain whether Ciniod, or Cináed, mac Der-Ilei, killed in 713 was Dargart's son.