Áed mac Colggen (died 738) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchada, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738. His father Colcú mac Bressail (died 722) was called king of Ard Ladrann (near Gorey, Co.Wexford) at his death obit in the annals in 722 which mention that he was killed. He was the great-great grandson of Crundmáel Erbuilc (died 656), a King of Leinster, and was a member of the Sil Chormaic sept.

Biography

The date of his succession to the Uí Cheinnselaig throne cannot be dated with certainty. The annals record that the Ui Cheinnselaig king Laidcnén mac Con Mella was slain at the Battle of Maistiu ( Mullaghmast in south

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local gove ...

) in 727 by the Leinster king Dúnchad mac Murchado (died 728). The king lists in the '' Book of Leinster'', have him succeeded by Élothach mac Fáelchon who ruled for seven years before being slain by Áed mac Colggen at the Battle of Oenbethi who then is listed as king. In 722 Leinster faced an invasion by

Fergal mac Máele Dúin Fergal mac Máele Dúin (died 11 December 722) 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 (died 681), a King of Ailech, and great-grandso ...

of the

Cenél nEógain Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history * Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to leg ...

, seeking to impose his overlordship on Leinster. Their armies under the king Murchad mac Brain Mut (d.727) met at the battle of Allen where Fergal was killed. The saga ''Cath Almaine'' preserves the story of this battle and mentions that Áed mac Colggen fought for Leinster where he is referred to as heir-apparent. Áed appears as a rival to the Leinster throne during the reign of Fáelán mac Murchado (died 738) at a time when Cathal mac Finguine (died 742), King of

Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

, was attempting to assert his rights over Leinster during a time of Uí Neill weakness. In 732 Aed and the southern Laigin (Laigin Desgabair) repulsed the Munstermen. Áed, along with many other kings, was killed in battle against Fergal's son Áed Allán at Áth Senaig in 738. This fight (known as the Battle of the Groans) is described at length in the

Irish annals A number of Irish annals, of which the earliest was the Chronicle of Ireland, were compiled up to and shortly after the end of the 17th century. Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days. Over ti ...

. Áed was slain in single combat with Áed Allán and his supposed co-ruler Bran Bec also died there. The

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luin� ...

say:''Annals of Ulster'' AU 738.4

And men say that so many fell in this great battle that we find no comparable slaughter in a single onslaught and fierce conflict throughout all preceding ages.

After the crushing defeat at Áth Senaig, the Uí Dúnlainge dominated the kingship of Leinster for fully three centuries until Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó became king of Leinster in 1042. Aed was succeeded as king of Uí Chennselaig by his brother Sechnassach mac Colggen (died 746/747). Áed's son Eterscél mac Áeda (died 778) was later king of the Uí Cheinnselaig.

Notes

References

* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, * ''Book of Leinster'',''Rig Laigin'' a

a
University College Cork
*Wiley,Dan M.

''The Cycle of the Kings''

External links

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) () is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork (city), Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Universit ...

includes
Gein Branduib
(original & translation), Annals of Ulster, Annals of Tigernach, Annals of Innisfallen and others. {{DEFAULTSORT:Aed mac Colggen 738 deaths Kings of Leinster Kings of Uí Cheinnselaig 8th-century Irish monarchs People from County Wexford Monarchs killed in action Year of birth unknown