Donnchad Midi mac Domnaill - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Donnchad mac Domnaill called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland

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...

. His father, Domnall Midi

Domnall Midi

Domhnall Mac Murchada , called Domnall Midi , was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill...

, had been the first 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....

High King from the south-central 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...

based in modern County Westmeath

County 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...

and western County Meath

County Meath

County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...

, 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...

. The reigns of Domnall and his successor, Niall Frossach

Niall Frossach

Niall Frossach was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech, sometimes considered to have been High King of Ireland. Brother of high king Áed Allán , Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill...

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...

, had been relatively peaceful, but Donnchad's rule saw a return to a more expansionist policy directed against Leinster

Leinster

Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...

, traditional target of the Uí Néill, and also, for the first time, the great southern kingdom of 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...

.

Donnchad continued his father's support for the Columba

Columba

Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...

n churches, led by 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...

. In his many wars he used the churches, particularly the Columban monastery of Durrow, as a source of support. He also ruthlessly attacked and plundered churches that supported his rivals among the Uí Néill and also those of Leinster and Munster. Donnchad was remembered, not always fondly, as a warrior king. He firmly established Clann Cholmáin's dominance among the Uí Néill kindreds of the midlands. His descendants shared in the High Kingship until the time 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...

, the last traditional High King of Ireland.

Origins and background

Donnchad was a son of Domnall Midi

Domnall Midi

Domhnall Mac Murchada , called Domnall Midi , was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill...

and Domnall's only known wife, Ailbíne ingen Ailello of Ard Ciannacht, a minor kingdom of the coast north of the River Boyne

River Boyne

The River Boyne is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newbury Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through County Meath to reach the Irish Sea between Mornington, County Meath and Baltray, County Louth. Salmon...

. Domnall was reckoned High King of Ireland from 743, when he defeated and killed Áed Allán

Áed 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....

of the northern 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...

branch of the Uí Néill, until his death on 20 November 763. Domnall was eventually followed as High King by Áed Allán's younger brother Niall Frossach

Niall Frossach

, who was apparently without rivals. The succession to the kingship of Clann Cholmáin

Clann Cholmáin

, the branch of the Uí Néill to which Domnall and Donnchad belonged, was altogether less peaceable.

Donnchad's distant kinsman Fallomon mac Con Congalt of Clann Cholmáin Bicc appears to have held the title king of Mide at his death in 766, so that Donnchad can at most have been king of Uisnech, chief of Clann Cholmáin, at his father's death. 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...

record strife among Donnchad's kin after his death. His brother Diarmait Dub was killed in 764, leading the forces of the monastery of Durrow in battle against those of Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise

The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....

, led by Bressal mac Murchado, probably his brother's son. Bressal was himself killed later the same year. That year Donnchad defeated the Fir Tulach Midi, a minor people who lived by Lough Ennell

Lough Ennell

Lough Ennell is a lake near the town of Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. It is situated beside the N52 road, off the Mullingar/Kilbeggan road. It is approximately 4.5 miles long by 2 miles wide, with an area of about...

and the following year, with the support of Fallomon mac Con Congalt

Fallomon mac Con Congalt

Fallomon mac Con Congalt , also written Follaman mac Con Congelt, was King of Mide, a kingdom of the Uí Néill in central Ireland in modern County Westmeath and County Meath.-Background:...

, he defeated and killed his own brother Murchad at Carn Fiachach, near present-day Rathconrath

Rathconrath

Rathconrath is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is situated on the R392 regional road west of Mullingar.Rathconrath is also one of the baronies in Co. Westmeath, see list of baronies of Ireland.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...

, County Westmeath

County Westmeath

. Fallomon was killed in 766, after which Donnchad became King of Mide.

King of Mide

In 769 Donnchad drove Coirpre mac Fogartaig

Coirpre mac Fogartaig

Coirpre mac Fogartaig was a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Fogartach mac Néill ....

, King of Lagore, into exile. Coirpre, son of former High King Fogartach mac Néill

Fogartach mac Néill

Fogartach mac Néill , sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill...

, ruled the southern part 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...

and may have been the leading representative of the rival, but internally divided, southern Uí Néill kin group of 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....

. The following year, to a background of internal conflict in Leinster

Leinster

, Donnchad led an army into the province. The king of Leinster, Cellach mac Dúnchada

Cellach mac Dúnchada

Cellach mac Dúnchada was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Dúnchad mac Murchado , a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Líamhain...

, refused to give battle and Donnchad remained camped at Dún Ailinne

Dún Ailinne

Dún Ailinne, on the hill called Knockaulin, is a large enclosed archaeological site in County Kildare, Ireland. It lies close to the modern N78 road to Athy, south-west of Kilcullen , and immediately adjacent to the lower rise on which sits Old Kilcullen. The site comprises 13 hectares surrounded...

for a week while his army pillaged Leinster.

The late Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...

places Niall Frossach's abdication in the same year as Donnchad's campaign in Leinster, dated to 770 by 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...

, and places the beginning of Donnchad's reign from 771 AD. Later sources present the succession of High Kings as regular, with one king following another immediately. This is not believed to be an accurate representation. Where Niall Frossach is concerned, some years may have elapsed between the death of Domnall Midi and Niall's inauguration. Another possible cause for, or sign of, Niall's fall from power appears in 771 and 772 when Donnchad campaigned in the lands of the northern Uí Néill.

In 775 Donnchad took control of the monastery at Clonard

Clonard Abbey

Clonard Abbey was an early medieval monastery situated on the River Boyne, just beside the traditional boundary line of the northern and southern halves of Ireland in modern County Meath...

in the Leinster borderlands. He also campaigned in Munster

Munster

. The Annals of Ulster record that Donnchad "did great devastation in the territory of the Munstermen, and many of the Munstermen fell". He repeated this in 776 with the aid of the community of Durrow.

Donnchad is recorded as twice having disturbed the óenach

Óenach

The Óenach, usually translated fair or assembly, was an annual gathering in Ireland which combined features of the popular assembly and fair. As well as the entertainment, the óenach was an occasion on which kings and notables met under truce and where laws were pronounced and confirmed.The most...

of Tailtiu

Tailtiu

Tailtiu or Tailltiu is the name of a presumed goddess from Irish mythology. Telltown in County Meath, was named for her.-In Irish mythology:...

, first in 774, when no explanation is given, and again in 777, this time the annals state that the Ciannachta, by which the Síl nÁedo Sláine, this time the north Brega branch of the kindred, are meant, were the targets. This is explicitly linked to the war between Donnchad and Congalach mac Conaing

Congalach mac Conaing

Congalach mac Conaing was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill...

, the King of Knowth, which began earlier in 777 when Donnchad led an army from Leinster into Brega. A pitched battle somewhere in Brega in 778 ended with Congalach and many of his allies dead.

High King of Ireland

The only evidence that Donnchad may have been High King before Niall Frossach's death comes in 778 when he is said to have proclaimed the "law of Columba

Columba

" together with Bressal, Abbot of Iona

Abbot of Iona

The Abbot of Iona was the head of Iona Abbey during the Middle Ages and the leader of the monastic community of Iona, as well as the overlord of scores of monasteries in both Scotland and Ireland, including Durrow, Kells and, for a time, Lindisfarne...

. Niall died later that year on Iona

Iona

. In 779 Donnchad campaigned in against the northern Uí Néill once again and received the submission of the "king of the North", Domnall

Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg

Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal and sometimes styled "King of the North". He was the son of Áed Muinderg and grandson of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig .During the eighth century the Cenél Conaill vied with...

, son of Áed Muinderg

Áed Muinderg

Áed mac Flaithbertaig , called Áed Muinderg, was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig . His byname Muinderg means "red-necked"....

.
A raid on Donnchad's territories by the Leinstermen in 780 was repulsed. Later in the year a meeting between the Uí Néill and the Leinstermen was held at the King of Tara is believed to have settled whatever dispute had provoked the raid. In 784 a similar meeting appears to have been planned between Donnchad and Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin

Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin

Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He reigned from 750 to 789. He was the son of Áed Róin and brother of Bressal mac Áedo Róin ,previous kings...

, the King of Ulster, at Inis na Ríg, one of the islands that gave modern Skerries

Skerries, Dublin

-The 20th century and today:Historically, Skerries has been a thriving fishing port and a major center of hand embroidery. In the late 20th century, it became a resort town , and another suburb for commuters to the city of Dublin....

its name. The intended conference was turned into a non-event by Donnchad's refusal to appear the lesser party by boarding Fiachnae's ship and Fiachnae's refusal to come ashore for the same reason. This was commemorated in verse in the margins of the Annals of Ulster.

In 786 the annals record that Febordaith, head of the monastery at Dulane, was killed. A later gloss adds that the killing was avenged. This appears to be related to the following entry in the Annals of Ulster, which reports that Donnchad defeated the Síl nÁedo Sláine at Lia Finn, near to modern Nobber

Nobber

Nobber is a village in north County Meath, Ireland. The village is built near a river called the Dee and near Whitewood Lake which is situated in the town land of Whitewood. It is on the Navan–Kingscourt road about north of Navan. This places the village about from the M50 motorway ; the...

, killing Fogartach mac Cummuscaig, the king of Lagore.

In 791 Donnchad is said to have "dishonour[ed] the staff of Jesus and relics of Patrick" during an óenach, probably the óenach of Tailtiu. The óenach Tailten may have seen further trouble in 791, for Donnchad attacked Áed Oirdnide and drove him from Tailtiu and out of the valley of the river Boyne

River Boyne

. Cathal mac Echdach, king of the Uí Chremthainn, and other notables were killed in the rout. The last of the many records of Donnchad at war comes in 794, when he aided Leinster against Munster. Donnchad died early in 797, aged 64. He was succeeded as High King by Niall Caille's son Áed Oirdnide and by his son Domnall as head of Clann Cholmáin and King of Mide.

Donnchad's reputation was mixed. The Félire Óengusso, written at Tallaght

Tallaght

Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...

in the borderlands of Leinster, apparently includes him among the oppressive secular rulers whom the authors dismissed as at best unimportant and at worst wicked. It does, however, confirm the apparent record of the annals, that Donnchad was a warlike ruler quite unlike his father, referring to him as "Donnchad the wrathful, ruddy, chosen". While Donnchad was a friend to the Columban churches, others religious communities, and especially those on the borders of Munster, suffered at his hands. Although earlier histories saw the arrival of the Vikings, first attested in the seas around Ireland shortly before Donnchad's death, as responsible for changes in warfare that made churches a frequent target, Donnchad and his contemporaries sacked churches with some regularity.

Family

Donnchad was certainly married to Bé Fáil ingen Cathail, daughter of Cathal mac Muiredaig

Cathal mac Muiredaig

Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso , a previous king and brother of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan . He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin...

, eponym

Eponym

An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...

of the Leth Cathail in Ulster

Ulster

Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. 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...

. Her death is recorded by the Annals of Ulster in 801: "Be Fáil daughter of Cathal, Donnchad's queen, died." Their children included Óengus and Máel Ruanaid. Donnchad is less certainly believed to have been married to one Fuirseach, daughter of a Dál nAraidi

Dál nAraidi

Dál nAraidi was a kingdom of the Cruthin in the north-east of Ireland in the first millennium. The lands of the Dál nAraidi appear to correspond with the Robogdii of Ptolemy's Geographia, a region shared with Dál Riata...

king named Congal, said to have borne him Conchobar. The mother of his sons Ailill, Conn, Domnall and Falloman and his daughters Gormlaith and Euginis is not recorded. Eithne, who married Bran Ardchenn

Bran Ardchenn

Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Muiredach mac Murchado , a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu in South Kildare. He ruled from 785-795.Bran was a rival of Ruaidrí mac...

, King of Leinster, is sometimes called Donnchad's daughter but was more probably his sister.

Conn had predeceased his father, killed in 795. It was Domnall

Domnall mac Donnchada Midi

Domnall mac Donnchada Midi was a King of Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of the High King of Ireland, Donnchad Midi . He ruled in as King of Mide from 797 to 799...

who succeeded Donnchad as King of Mide on his death, but he ruled for only a short time. The Annals of Ulster report that "Domnall son of Donnchad was treacherously killed by his kinsmen" in 799.

Donnchad's son 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...

was later king of Mide and High King. Máel Ruanaid

Máel Ruanaid mac Donnchada Midi

Máel Ruanaid mac Donnchada Midi was a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of the High King of Ireland, Donnchad Midi and brother of the high king Conchobar mac Donnchada...

was king of Mide and father of later High King Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. Ailill was killed in 803 fighting against his brother Conchobar at Ruba Conaill. Óengus died in 830, he is called "king of Telach Midi"; so too did Fallomon, killed fighting the Munstermen. It may be that Ruaidrí son of Donnchad, the secundas abbas of Clonard

Clonard Abbey

Clonard Abbey was an early medieval monastery situated on the River Boyne, just beside the traditional boundary line of the northern and southern halves of Ireland in modern County Meath...

and tanaise of Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise

The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....

—these terms probably mean he was vice-abbot of both communities— whose death in 838 is reported by the Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum is a medieval Irish chronicle.According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the 'Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric times to 1150 but with some gaps, closely related to the 'Annals of Tigernach'...

, was a son of this Donnchad.

Gormflaith ingen Donncadha, who died in 861, was married to Niall Caille, Áed Findliath was their son. Eugenis, who died in 802, is called "queen of the king of Tara" by the Annals of Ulster.

Family tree I

Domnall Midi, died 763.
=Ailbíne ingen Ailello
|
|_________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Donnchad Midi Eithne Muiredach Diarmait Dub Murchad Indrechtach
=Bran Ardcenn

Family tree II

Donnchad Midi
= Bé Fáil = Fuirseach? = identity unknown
| | |
|__________ | |_________________________________________________
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Óengus Máel Ruanaid Conchobar Ailill Conn Domnall Falloman Gormlaith Euginis

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