Cathalán mac Indrechtaig (died 871) was a

Dál Fiatach Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland, which lasted throughout the Middle Ages until their demise in the 13th century at the hands of Normans in Ireland, Normans ...

king of

Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or (Irish language, Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic Provinces of Ireland, over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include , which ...

, which is now

Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. He belonged to a branch of the Dal Fiatach called the Leth Cathail centered in the Lecale barony of modern County Down. He ruled from 857 to 871 as leth-

rí Rí, or commonly ríg (genitive), is an ancient Gaelic word meaning 'king'. It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings, and those of similar rank. While the Modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottis ...

(half-king or co-ruler) of Ulaid. His grandfather Tommaltach mac Cathail (died 789) had made a bid for the crown but was defeated and slain in battle by Eochaid mac Fiachnai (died 810) of the main Dal Fiatach branch. His father, Indrechtach mac Tommaltaig, is only mentioned in the ''Annals of Innisfallen'' which state that he was a co-ruler of Ulaid. This is not confirmed by other annals or king lists however. Cathalán succeeded to the throne of Ulaid in 857 as co-ruler with Lethlobar mac Loingsig (died 873) of the

Dál nAraidi Dál nAraidi (; "Araide's part") or Dál Araide, sometimes List of Latinised names, latinised as Dalaradia or Anglicisation, anglicised as Dalaray,Boyd, Hugh AlexanderIrish Dalriada ''The Glynns: Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Societ ...

sept of modern County Antrim. Though not listed in the king lists, the annals award him the title of co-ruler at his death notice. He was killed treacherously at the instigation of the high king

Áed Findliath Áed mac Néill (died 879), called Áed Findliath ("fair-grey Áed"; Modern Irish: ''Aodh Fionnadhliath'') to distinguish him from his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide, was king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. He was also called Áed Olach ...

(died 879) of the northern

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...

.AU 871.1 He had a son named Cummascach. His brother

Máel Mocheirge mac Indrechtaig Máel Mocheirge mac Indrechtaig (died 896) was a Dál Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He belonged to a branch of the Dal Fiatach called the Leth Cathail centered in the Lecale barony of modern County Down and was the brother of ...

(died 896) was also a leth-rí of Ulaid.

Notes

References

* ''Annals of Ulster'' a

a
University College Cork
* ''Annals of Innisfallen'' a

a
University College Cork
* Byrne, Francis John (2001), ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Dublin: Four Courts Press, * Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

External links

a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathalan Mac Indrechtaig Kings of Ulster 9th-century Irish monarchs 871 deaths Year of birth unknown