Muiredach mac Domnaill Midi (died 802) was a King of

Uisnech The Hill of Uisneach or Ushnagh ( or ) is a hill and ancient ceremonial site in the barony of Rathconrath in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is a protected national monument. It consists of numerous monuments and earthworks—prehistoric and medi ...

Mide Meath ( ; ; ) was a kingdom in Ireland from the 1st to the 12th century AD. Its name means "middle," denoting its location in the middle of the island. At its greatest extent, it included all of County Meath (which takes its name from the k ...

of the

Clann Cholmáin Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már mac Diarmato, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and hi ...

. He was the son of the

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 ...

Domnall Midi Domhnall Mac Murchada (born c. 700, died 20 November 763), called Domnall Midi (Donald of Meath), was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill. Clann Cholmáin's pre-eminence among the southern Uí Néill ...

(died 763) and brother of the high king

Donnchad Midi Donnchad mac Domnaill (733 – 6 February 797), called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and west ...

(died 797). He ruled in as King of Mide from 799 to 802. The period between the death of Donnchad Midi and the accession of his son

Conchobar mac Donnchado Conchobar mac Donnchada (or Conchobar mac Donnchado) was High-King of Ireland with opposition (''rí Érenn co fressabra'') between 819 and 833. Conchobar was the son of Donnchad Midi, high-king of Ireland ( 733– 797); his mother was Fuirseach, ...

in 803 was a time of civil strife and confusion amongst the Clann Cholmáin. Apparently Donnchad was succeeded by his son Domnall mac Donnchada Midi in 797. That same year the high king

Áed Oirdnide Áed mac Néill (; died 819), commonly called Áed Oirdnide ("the anointed"), was King of Ailech. A member of the Cenél nEógain dynasty of the northern Uí Néill, he was the son of Niall Frossach. Like his father, Áed was reckoned High King ...

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 ...

invaded Meath and defeated Clann Cholmáin at the Battle of Druim Ríg. In this battle were slain two of Muiredach's brothers, Fínnechta and Diarmait Odar. Áed went on to devastate Meath which submitted to him and the beginning of his high kingship is considered to have occurred from that point on. In 799 Domnall mac Donnchada Midi was assassinated by his own kinsmen and Muiredach became King of Mide. Muiredach first appears in 799 as leading the forces of Mide in a victory over the Cenél Cairpri of

Tethba Tethbae (; also spelled ''Tethba'', often anglicised ''Teffia'') was a confederation of túatha in central Ireland in the Middle Ages. It was divided into two distinct kingdoms, north Tethba, ruled by the Cenél Coirpri, and south Tethba, ruled ...

at the Battle of Finnabair in Tethba in which the king of the Cenél Cairpri was slain. He may have been acting in the interest of his nephew Domnall as the ''Annals of Ulster'' place this event before Domnall's assassination. However, the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' place this even after Domnall's assassination and so Muiredach may have been imposing his own authority. At his death notice in the annals in 802 he is definitively named as King of Mide.''Annals of Ulster'' AU 802.1

Notes

References

* Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, * Mac Niocaill, Gearoid (1972), ''Ireland before the Vikings'', Dublin: Gill and Macmillan * ''Annals of Ulster'' a

a
University College Cork
* ''Annals of the Four Masters'' a

a
University College Cork
* ''Book of Leinster'',''Mide magen clainne Cuind'' a

a
University College Cork

External links

a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muiredach Mac Domnaill Midi Kings of Uisnech 802 deaths 8th-century Irish monarchs 9th-century Irish monarchs Year of birth unknown