Fíachnae mac Báetáin

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Fíachnae mac Báetáin (died 626), also called Fíachnae Lurgan or Fíachnae Find, was king of the

Mongán mac Fiachnai
.

Life and kingship

The Dál nAraidi kingdom was in fact a number of competing Cruthin tribes at this time so succession to the kingship was achieved through force of arms and prestige rather than by any regular means. According to the genealogies, Fiachnae's predecessor was his great-uncle Áed Dub mac Suibni, who died c. 588, and Fíachnae became king some time after Áed Dub's death. The kingship of the Ulaid was contested by Dál nAraidi and Dál Fiatach kings, so Fíachnae again didn't succeed directly to the kingship but required some time to impose himself as high king after the death of his predecessor.[2] There is reference in the Annals of the Four Masters dated 597 [3] describing the Battle of Cuil Cael where he defeats the Dal Fiatach leader Fiachnae mac Demmáin and from this could date his true overlordship of Ulaid.[citation needed]

While no historical sources for Fíachnae's life now remain, excepting a few bald entries in the

Æthelfrith of Northumbria. He may have captured Bamburgh - or only besieged it - circa 623.[4]

Literary sources claim that Fíachnae's mother, who is said to have come from the Dál Fiatach, conceived him as a means of revenge against her husband. Báetán did not like the child and once set a ferocious dog on him, which Fiachnae killed by spearing it through the heart with a meat-spit.[5]

The 8th century saga

Britons of the Kingdom of Strathclyde.[6] It may be that Fiachnae was, in fact, High King of Ireland for some time if he is identified with the Féachno who followed Diermait (presumed to be Diarmait mac Cerbaill) in the Baile Chuinn Chétchathaig list.[7]

The Middle Irish tale Fiachna mac Báetáin 7 Ríge Alban "Fíachnae mac Báetáin and the Kingship of Scotland" recounts how Fiachnae obtained the kingship of Scotland. The tale includes supernatural features and common literary tropes. The Preface to Amra Coluimb Cille states that Fiachnae gave hospitality to the poets of Ireland when they were expelled from the rest of the country.

Fíachnae was killed in 626 at the Battle of Leithet Midind, defeated by Fiachnae mac Demmáin of the Dál Fiatach. His son Mongán predeceased him and a second son, Scandal Sciathlethan, father of Congal Cáech, may have done so as well, but a third son, Eochaid Iarlaithe, lived until around 666.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ Byrne, p.287
  2. ^ Byrne, pp. 106–112 & 287.
  3. ^ dated 601 in Annals of Ulster
  4. ^ Byrne, p. 112; Ó Cróinín, pp 51–52.
  5. ^ MacKillop, pp. 218–219.
  6. ^ Byrne, p. 112
  7. ^ Byrne, pp. 112 & 276–277.
  8. ^ Byrne, pp. 111 & 287.

See also

References

  • Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973.
    ISBN 0-7134-5882-8
  • MacKillop, James, The Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford U.P., Oxford, 1998.
    ISBN 0-19-860967-1
  • Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí, Early Medieval Ireland: 400–1200. Longman, London, 1995.
    ISBN 0-582-01565-0

External links
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