Eochaid mac Fiachnai
Encyclopedia
Eochaid mac Fiachnai was a Dal Fiatach
king of Ulaid
, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin
(died 789), a previous king. He ruled from 790 to 810.
Eochaid first appears in the annals in 776. In that year he gave his support to Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig
(died 790) in a civil war among the rival Dal nAraide family. They defeated and slew the incumbent king Cináed Ciarrge mac Cathussaig
and his ally, Dúngal king of the Uí Tuirtri (an Airgialla
tribe west of Lough Neagh) at the Battle of Drong.
His father had restored the fortunes of the Dal Fiatach dynasty but upon his death a succession struggle broke out. Eochaid was challenged for the kingship by his kinsmen Tommaltach mac Cathail. Tommaltach was the great grandson of Óengus, son of Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai
(died 647) king of Ulaid and this branch (called the Cenél nÓengusa) threatened to be excluded from the throne. Tommaltach was defeated and slain in battle by Eochaid. However Tommlatach's branch of the family remained based in Leth Cathail (Lecale)-"Cathal's Half" in southern modern County Down (also known as Mag Inis).
Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig of Dal nAraide had profited by the civil war among the Dal Fiatach to acquire the throne of all Ulaid. He died the next year in 790 and in that year the annals also record a slaughter of the Dal Fiatach by the Dál nAraidi. Whether this occurred before or after Tommaltach's death is uncertain. Eochaid became King of Ulaid in 790.
In 801 The Ulaid went to war with the Uí Echach Cobo
in the west part of county Down, probably to impose their authority. The Ulaid were victorious and slew the King of Coba, Eochu mac Aililla. On the side of the Ulaid, Cairell mac Cathail of the Leth Cathail branch was slain.
In 809 the high king Áed Oirdnide campaigned against Ulaid and defeated them ravaging from the Bann to Strangford Lough. The motive for this conflict was apparently the killing of Dúnchú, superior of Tulach Léis (Tullylisk, County Down), by the Ulaid. A civil war then followed in which Eochaid was defeated by his brother Cairell mac Fiachnai
(died 819). The annals report that Eochaid escaped from this battle and historians place his death in 810.
Eochaid may be associated with the establishment of Dún Echdach (Duneight) which became the royal seat of the Dal Fiatach as they shifted their power northwards by the 9th century from their old royal seat at Downpatrick. The sons of Eochaid included Muiredach mac Eochada
(died 839), a King of Ulaid, and Áed mac Eochada who fathered three kings of Ulaid.
Dál Fiatach
The Dál Fiatach were a group of related dynasties located in eastern Ulster in the Early Christian and Early Medieval periods of the history of Ireland.-Description:...
king of Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of 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...
(died 789), a previous king. He ruled from 790 to 810.
Eochaid first appears in the annals in 776. In that year he gave his support to Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig
Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig
Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig was a King of Dal nAraide in Ulaid and possible King of all Ulaid. He was the son of Indrechtach mac Lethlobair , a previous King of Dal nAraide. He ruled from 776 to 790 and as King of all Ulaid from 789 to 790...
(died 790) in a civil war among the rival Dal nAraide family. They defeated and slew the incumbent king Cináed Ciarrge mac Cathussaig
Cináed Ciarrge mac Cathussaig
Cináed Ciarrge mac Cathussaig was a Dal nAraide king in Ulaid . He was the son of Cathussach mac Ailello , a previous king and possible King of all Ulaid. He belonged to the Eilne branch of the family...
and his ally, Dúngal king of the Uí Tuirtri (an Airgialla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
tribe west of Lough Neagh) at the Battle of Drong.
His father had restored the fortunes of the Dal Fiatach dynasty but upon his death a succession struggle broke out. Eochaid was challenged for the kingship by his kinsmen Tommaltach mac Cathail. Tommaltach was the great grandson of Óengus, son of Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai
Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai
Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Demmáin and half-brother of Dúnchad mac Fiachnai , previous kings. He ruled from circa 644-647....
(died 647) king of Ulaid and this branch (called the Cenél nÓengusa) threatened to be excluded from the throne. Tommaltach was defeated and slain in battle by Eochaid. However Tommlatach's branch of the family remained based in Leth Cathail (Lecale)-"Cathal's Half" in southern modern County Down (also known as Mag Inis).
Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig of Dal nAraide had profited by the civil war among the Dal Fiatach to acquire the throne of all Ulaid. He died the next year in 790 and in that year the annals also record a slaughter of the Dal Fiatach by the Dál nAraidi. Whether this occurred before or after Tommaltach's death is uncertain. Eochaid became King of Ulaid in 790.
In 801 The Ulaid went to war with the Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo were a branch of the Dál nAraidi in Ulster . They gave their name to the early medieval Kingdom of Coba located in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh in modern County Down...
in the west part of county Down, probably to impose their authority. The Ulaid were victorious and slew the King of Coba, Eochu mac Aililla. On the side of the Ulaid, Cairell mac Cathail of the Leth Cathail branch was slain.
In 809 the high king Áed Oirdnide campaigned against Ulaid and defeated them ravaging from the Bann to Strangford Lough. The motive for this conflict was apparently the killing of Dúnchú, superior of Tulach Léis (Tullylisk, County Down), by the Ulaid. A civil war then followed in which Eochaid was defeated by his brother Cairell mac Fiachnai
Cairell mac Fiachnai
Cairell mac Fiachnai was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Áedo Róin , a previous king. He ruled from 810 to 819....
(died 819). The annals report that Eochaid escaped from this battle and historians place his death in 810.
Eochaid may be associated with the establishment of Dún Echdach (Duneight) which became the royal seat of the Dal Fiatach as they shifted their power northwards by the 9th century from their old royal seat at Downpatrick. The sons of Eochaid included 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....
(died 839), a King of Ulaid, and Áed mac Eochada who fathered three kings of Ulaid.