Matudán mac Muiredaig (died 857) 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, Ireland. He was the son of
Muiredach mac Eochada
Muiredach mac Eochada (died 839) was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, medieval Ireland. He was the son of Eochaid mac Fiachnai (died 810), a previous king. He ruled from 825-839.
His father had been defeated in battle by his own brother Cairell mac ...
(died 839), the previous king. He ruled from 839-857.
Life
His father had been killed by his own brother Áed. However, Matudán killed his uncle and was able to acquire the throne.
Vikings were on Lough Neagh in 839 and wintered there in 840-841 in the opening years raiding the various parts of the north including the Ulaid territories. In 852 the Norse fought a fierce naval battle with newcomers, the Danes, in Carlingford Lough but were heavily defeated. Matudán may have given land support to the Norse forces in this battle.
In 851 Matudán met with the high king
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (died 863) of the southern
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 ...
in Armagh. In a meeting presided over by the clerics of Armagh and Mide, Matudán formally acknowledged the authority of the high king. This led in 855 to an attack by
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 ...
, King of Ailech, of the northern Ui Neill. However his foray failed and he left behind slain kin. Áed Findliath had as one of his wives the sister of Matudán- Gormlaith Rapach "the harsh".
The annals record a possible co-ruler (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") Cathmal mac Tommaltaig of the Leth Cathail branch of the Dál Fiatach (in Lecale, modern County Down) who is not recorded in the king lists. Cathmal was slain by the Norse in 853.
[AU 853.6]
Matudán died in 857 and according to the ''Fragmentary Annals'' he took clerical orders prior to his death. His descendants (if any) did not hold the throne of Ulaid which descended through the line of his uncle Áed.
Notes
References
* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
a
University College Cork* ''Annals of the Four Masters'' a
a
University College Cork* ''Fragmentary Annals of Ireland'' 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,
*Ó Corráin, Donnchad (1972), ''Ireland Before the Normans'', Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
External links
a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matudan Mac Muiredaig
Kings of Ulster
9th-century Irish monarchs
857 deaths
Year of birth unknown