Cernach mac Fogartaig (died 738) was a king in southern
Brega
Brega , also known as ''Mersa Brega'' or ''Marsa al-Brega'' ( ar, مرسى البريقة , i.e. "Brega Seaport"), is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, ...
of the Uí Chernaig sept of
Lagore of the
Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine () are the descendants of Áed Sláine (Áed mac Diarmato), son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Co ...
branch of the southern
Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king
Fogartach mac Néill (died 724). He appears as a leader of the Uí Chernaig in the years 737-738.
The Uí Chernaig sept had a feud with the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (
Knowth) in North Brega going back to the assassination of Cernach's grandfather
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701) by
Írgalach mac Conaing (died 702). In 737 the Uí Chonaing King of Brega
Conaing mac Amalgado
Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba ( Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718), a previous king. He ruled from 7 ...
(died 742) defeated Cernach and his kinsman
Cathal mac Áeda
Cathal mac Áeda (before 722–737) was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the son of Áed Laigin mac Néill (died 722) and great-great grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Slái ...
at the Battle of Lia Ailbe in (Moynalvy, county Meath) and Cathal, leader of the Uí Chernaig, was slain.
Cernach seems to have had a bad reputation and the ''Annals of Ulster'' record in 738 at his death:
[''Annals of Ulster'' 738.3]Cernach, son of Fogartach, is treacherously killed by his own criminal adherents, and the calves of the cows and the women of this lower world for long bewailed him.
Notes
See also
*
Kings of Brega
References
* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Textsa
University College Cork* ''Annals of Tigernach'' a
a
University College Cork* Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
External links
a
University College Cork
Kings of Brega
738 deaths
8th-century Irish monarchs
Year of birth unknown
{{Ireland-royal-stub