Máel Ruanaid mac Donnchada Midi
Encyclopedia
Máel Ruanaid mac Donnchada Midi (died 843) was a King of Uisnech
in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin
. He was the son of the High King of Ireland
, Donnchad Midi (died 797) and brother of the high king Conchobar mac Donnchada
(died 833). He ruled in Uisnech from 833-843.
He succeeded his brother as King of Uisnech in 833 but did not succeed to the high kingship which rotated amongst the Clann Cholmain and the Cenél nÉogain
of the Northern Ui Neill at this time. Niall Caille became high king as representative of the northern branch.
Apparently Niall caille had to ensure his authority and a burnin raid is recorded by him into meath in the year in 835. Meath was also caught up in the war between Niall Caille and Feidlimid mac Crimthainn, the King of Munster. Feidlimid raided Meath and Brega in an advance on Tara in 840 where he was halted by Niall.
In 841 Máel Ruanaid was defeated by his nephew Diarmait mac Conchobair and was temporarily ousted from the throne but his son Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid
(died 862) killed Diarmait on the same day thereby saving his father and his throne.
His sons included Flann mac Máele Ruanaid (died 845) who was King of Mide and Máel Sechnaill who became High King in 846.
Uisnech
The Hill of Uisneach, or Ushnagh, also Uisnech , formerly regarded as the centre of Ireland, is a historical site in County Westmeath . The 182 metre hill lies on the north side of the R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, beside the village of Loughanavally...
in Mide of 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...
. He was the son of the 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...
, Donnchad Midi (died 797) and brother of the high king 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...
(died 833). He ruled in Uisnech from 833-843.
He succeeded his brother as King of Uisnech in 833 but did not succeed to the high kingship which rotated amongst the Clann Cholmain and the Cenél nÉogain
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...
of the Northern Ui Neill at this time. Niall Caille became high king as representative of the northern branch.
Apparently Niall caille had to ensure his authority and a burnin raid is recorded by him into meath in the year in 835. Meath was also caught up in the war between Niall Caille and Feidlimid mac Crimthainn, the King of Munster. Feidlimid raided Meath and Brega in an advance on Tara in 840 where he was halted by Niall.
In 841 Máel Ruanaid was defeated by his nephew Diarmait mac Conchobair and was temporarily ousted from the throne but his son Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid
Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid was High King of Ireland. The Annals of Ulster use the Old Irish title rí hÉrenn uile, that is "king of all Ireland", when reporting his death, distinguishing Máel Sechnaill from the usual Kings of Tara who are only called High Kings of Ireland in late sources such...
(died 862) killed Diarmait on the same day thereby saving his father and his throne.
His sons included Flann mac Máele Ruanaid (died 845) who was King of Mide and Máel Sechnaill who became High King in 846.