Selbach mac Ferchair
Encyclopedia
Selbach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn and of Dál Riata
. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals
.
. He ruled as king of the Cenél Loairn from around 698 until his abdication in 723, but it may be that he was undisputed ruler of Dál Riata only in the final years of his reign.
He is known to have had two sons, Dúngal
and Feredach. Selbach's father, brother, son and nephew are included among the predecessors of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada (Malcolm III)
of Scotland
in the Duan Albanach
praise poem, but Selbach is not. This may be a form of Damnatio memoriae
.
Although Selbach is first mentioned after the death of Fiannamail ua Dúnchado
(d. 700), it seems likely that he had deposed his brother Ainbcellach
in 698. In 701 he destroyed Dún Olaigh
, but whether this was in a war against Ainbcellach, against a king of the rival Cenél nGabráin, or some other enemies, is unknown. A number of battles involving Dál Riada are recorded in the time of Selbach, a defeat in Glen Lemnae in 704, and victories over the Britons
at Lorg Ecclet in 711 and again at "the rock called Minuirc" in 717, but Selbach is not named in these reports. In 712 Selbach besieged Aberte (Dunaverty, near Southend, Kintyre
, in the lands of the Cenél nGabráin) and rebuilt Dún Olaigh in 714.
In September 719 Selbach fought against his brother Ainbcellach at Finnglen (perhaps near Loch Fyne
). Ainbcellach was killed in the battle. A month later he faced the Cenél nGabráin, led by their king Dúnchad Bec
, also called king of Cenn Tíre (Kintyre
), in a sea battle off Ard Nesbi. Selbach was defeated, but Dúnchad Bec died in 721, which may have left Selbach as the unchallenged king of Dál Riata.
In 723 Selbach abdicated and retired to a monastery, at which time one annalist calls him lord of Dál Riada. He was probably succeeded by his son Dungal, who was replaced by Eochaid mac Echdach
in 726. Selbach is found in 727 fighting against the supporters of Eochaid at Irros Foichnae.
Selbach died in 730.
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in 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...
.
Life
Selbach mac Ferchair was a son of Ferchar FotaFerchar Fota
Ferchar Fota was probably king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata. His father is named as Feredach mac Fergusa and he was said to be a descendant in the 6th generation of Loarn mac Eirc....
. He ruled as king of the Cenél Loairn from around 698 until his abdication in 723, but it may be that he was undisputed ruler of Dál Riata only in the final years of his reign.
He is known to have had two sons, Dúngal
Dúngal mac Selbaig
Dúngal mac Selbaig was king of Dál Riata. His reign can best be placed in the years 723 to 726, beginning with the abdication of his father, Selbach mac Ferchair, who entered a monastery, and ending with rise of Eochaid mac Echdach of the Cenél nGabráin...
and Feredach. Selbach's father, brother, son and nephew are included among the predecessors of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada (Malcolm III)
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
of 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...
in the Duan Albanach
Duan Albanach
The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material ....
praise poem, but Selbach is not. This may be a form of Damnatio memoriae
Damnatio memoriae
Damnatio memoriae is the Latin phrase literally meaning "condemnation of memory" in the sense of a judgment that a person must not be remembered. It was a form of dishonor that could be passed by the Roman Senate upon traitors or others who brought discredit to the Roman State...
.
Although Selbach is first mentioned after the death of Fiannamail ua Dúnchado
Fiannamail ua Dúnchado
Fiannamail ua Dúnchado was a king of Dál Riata at the end of the 8th century, and a king about whom nothing can be said with certainty other than the fact of his death around 700 by violence....
(d. 700), it seems likely that he had deposed his brother Ainbcellach
Ainbcellach mac Ferchair
Ainbcellach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland....
in 698. In 701 he destroyed Dún Olaigh
Dunollie Castle
Dunollie Castle is a small ruin located on a hill north of the town of Oban, on the west coast Scotland. It commands a view of the town, harbour and, outlying isles. The ruin is accessible by a short, steep path. There is no entrance fee, there is a small layby at the foot of the hill...
, but whether this was in a war against Ainbcellach, against a king of the rival Cenél nGabráin, or some other enemies, is unknown. A number of battles involving Dál Riada are recorded in the time of Selbach, a defeat in Glen Lemnae in 704, and victories over the Britons
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period...
at Lorg Ecclet in 711 and again at "the rock called Minuirc" in 717, but Selbach is not named in these reports. In 712 Selbach besieged Aberte (Dunaverty, near Southend, Kintyre
Southend, Kintyre
Southend is the main settlement at the southern end of the Kintyre peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies south of Campbeltown, the main town in the area. The civil parish of Southend comprises the village and the surrounding land, used mainly for farming and forestry...
, in the lands of the Cenél nGabráin) and rebuilt Dún Olaigh in 714.
In September 719 Selbach fought against his brother Ainbcellach at Finnglen (perhaps near Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs...
). Ainbcellach was killed in the battle. A month later he faced the Cenél nGabráin, led by their king Dúnchad Bec
Dúnchad Bec
Dúnchad Bec was king of Kintyre in the early 8th century.Dúnchad Bec is too late to have been included in the Senchus Fer n-Alban, which includes kings to the first half of the 7th century. He is also unknown to later genealogies. He is named from two entries in the Annals of Ulster...
, also called king of Cenn Tíre (Kintyre
Kintyre
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...
), in a sea battle off Ard Nesbi. Selbach was defeated, but Dúnchad Bec died in 721, which may have left Selbach as the unchallenged king of Dál Riata.
In 723 Selbach abdicated and retired to a monastery, at which time one annalist calls him lord of Dál Riada. He was probably succeeded by his son Dungal, who was replaced by Eochaid mac Echdach
Eochaid mac Echdach
Eochaid mac Eochaid was king of Dál Riata from 726 until 733. He was a son of Eochaid mac Domangairt.Eochaid came to power as king of Dál Riata in 726, presumably deposing Dúngal mac Selbaig. Selbach may have tried to restore his son to power, and fought against Eochaid's supporters at Irros...
in 726. Selbach is found in 727 fighting against the supporters of Eochaid at Irros Foichnae.
Selbach died in 730.
External links
- Annals of Ulster at CELT (translated)
- Annals of Tigernach at CELT
- Duan Albanach at CELT (translated)