Murchad mac Brain Mut
Encyclopedia
Murchad mac Brain Mut was a King of Leinster
from the Uí Dúnlainge
branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill
(died 696), a previous king. He ruled from 715 to 727.
to Cashel in 715. His reign saw warfare with the Ui Neill
and in 719 they harried Leinster 5 times. Murchad aligned himself with the pretensions of Cathal mac Finguine
(died 742), the King of Munster
and in 721 they harried Brega
together.
However Cathal made peace with the high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin
(died 722) of the Cenél nEógain
and that same year in 721 Fergal invaded Leinster and enforced the payment of the cattle tribute.
The Leinstermen broke the truce however, and Fergal retaliated by invading again. However in December of 722 Fergal and numerous nobles of the Ui Neill were slain at the Battle of Allen (Kildare Co.) by the Leinstermen led by Murchad. The saga Cath Almaine preserves the story of this battle and mentions that Murchad's son Dúnchad mac Murchado (died 728) and Áed mac Colggen
(died 738) of the Uí Cheinnselaig
fought for Leinster. The breaking of the truce angered Cathal and they sent the head of Fergal to him. The Annals of Tigernach claim that the high king Cináed mac Írgalaig
(died 728) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
defeated the Laigin at the Battle of Maíne in 726 and obtained his demands but this is not confirmed by other annals.
The rise of the Ui Dunlainge was assisted by the decline of the Uí Máil
. Two of the sons of Cellach Cualann
(died 715), the previous king were slain during his reign. Áed mac Cellaig (died 719) was slain at the Battle of Finnabair (Fennor, Co.Kildare) in a fight among the Laigin and Crimthann mac Cellaig (died 726) was slain at the Battle of Belach Lice at an immature age.
One of Murchad's wives was Conchenn ingen Cellaig (died 743) of the Uí Máil, she was the mother of Fáelán mac Murchado
(died 738) and Muiredach mac Murchado
(died 760 in Ireland|760), who were kings of Leinster. Other sons included Dúnchad mac Murchado
(died 728) and Bran Becc mac Murchado
(died 738), also kings of 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...
from 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....
branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill
Bran Mut mac Conaill
Bran Mut mac Conaill was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Fáelán mac Colmáin , a previous king. He ruled from 680-693....
(died 696), a previous king. He ruled from 715 to 727.
His reign
His first mention in the annals is when he began his reign by an inaugural raid into MunsterMunster
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...
to Cashel in 715. His reign saw warfare with the Ui Neill
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....
and in 719 they harried Leinster 5 times. Murchad aligned himself with the pretensions of Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7th century to the 10th...
(died 742), the King 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...
and in 721 they harried 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...
together.
However Cathal made peace with the high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin
Fergal mac Máele Dúin
Fergal mac Máele Dúin was High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich , a King of Ailech, and great grandson of the high king Áed Uaridnach...
(died 722) 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...
and that same year in 721 Fergal invaded Leinster and enforced the payment of the cattle tribute.
The Leinstermen broke the truce however, and Fergal retaliated by invading again. However in December of 722 Fergal and numerous nobles of the Ui Neill were slain at the Battle of Allen (Kildare Co.) by the Leinstermen led by Murchad. The saga Cath Almaine preserves the story of this battle and mentions that Murchad's son Dúnchad mac Murchado (died 728) and Áed mac Colggen
Áed mac Colggen
Áed mac Colggen was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchado, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738 His father Colcú mac Bressail was called king of Ard Ladrann at his death obit in the...
(died 738) 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...
fought for Leinster. The breaking of the truce angered Cathal and they sent the head of Fergal to him. The Annals of Tigernach claim that the high king Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland.-Background:Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing , a previous King of Brega...
(died 728) of 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....
defeated the Laigin at the Battle of Maíne in 726 and obtained his demands but this is not confirmed by other annals.
The rise of the Ui Dunlainge was assisted by the decline 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...
. Two of the sons of Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi was the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of Cualu which lay around Glendalough.The name Uí Máil may mean "grandsons of the princes"...
(died 715), the previous king were slain during his reign. Áed mac Cellaig (died 719) was slain at the Battle of Finnabair (Fennor, Co.Kildare) in a fight among the Laigin and Crimthann mac Cellaig (died 726) was slain at the Battle of Belach Lice at an immature age.
One of Murchad's wives was Conchenn ingen Cellaig (died 743) of the Uí Máil, she was the mother of Fáelán mac Murchado
Fáelán mac Murchado
Fáelán mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , a previous king...
(died 738) and Muiredach mac Murchado
Muiredach mac Murchado
Muiredach mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , a previous king. He ruled from 738 to 760....
(died 760 in Ireland|760), who were kings of Leinster. Other sons included Dúnchad mac Murchado
Dúnchad mac Murchado
Dúnchad mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , the previous king. He ruled from 727 to 728....
(died 728) and Bran Becc mac Murchado
Bran Becc mac Murchado
Bran Becc mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut , a previous king. He ruled briefly in 738....
(died 738), also kings of Leinster.