Murchad mac Diarmato (died 715), called Murchad Midi (Murchad of Meath), was an Irish king. One of four or more sons of Diarmait Dian, he succeeded his father as King of Uisnech at the latter's death in 689.

Life

The Kings of Uisnech ruled a kingdom centred in modern

County Westmeath County Westmeath (; or simply ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It formed part of the historic Kingdom of ...

, named for Uisnech (also Ushnagh), the Hill of Uisneach, reputed to be the centre of Ireland. They belonged to Clann Cholmáin, a kin group descended from Colmán Már, son of

Diarmait mac Cerbaill Diarmait mac Cerbaill (died ) was King of Tara or High King of Ireland. According to traditions, he was the last High King to follow the pagan rituals of inauguration, the ''ban-feis'' or marriage to goddess of the land. The last High King to ...

, and were counted among the southern branches of the Uí Néill. In the 7th century, the dominant kin group among the southern Uí Néill, who shared the title of

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 ...

King of Tara The term Kingship of Tara () was a title of authority in ancient Ireland - the title is closely associated with the archaeological complex at the Hill of Tara. The position was considered to be of eminent authority in medieval Irish literature ...

with the northern

Cenél Conaill 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 ...

kindred, were the rival Síl nÁedo Sláine, whose lands lay in modern

County Dublin County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...

and

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

, to the east of Uisnech. Murchad was among the guarantors of the ''

Cáin Adomnáin The ''Cáin Adomnáin'' (, , "Law of Adomnán"), also known as the ''Lex Innocentium'' (Law of Innocents), was promulgated amongst a gathering of Gaels, Gaelic and Picts, Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697 in Ireland, 697. It is named ...

'' (Law of Innocents) proclaimed at the Synod of Birr in 697. There are few reports of Murchad 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 ...

. His brother Bodbchad was killed in the Battle of Claenath in 704, near

Clane Clane (; ) is a town in County Kildare, Ireland, from Dublin. With a population of 8,152 in 2022, it is the ninth largest town in Kildare and the 66th largest in Ireland. The town is on the River Liffey. Clane gives its name to the associate ...

in modern

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 ...

, fighting alongside Fogartach mac Néill against the King of Leinster, Cellach Cualann. In 714 the annals record the Battle of Bile Tened between Clann Cholmáin, led by Murchad, and the Síl nÁedo Sláine near

Moynalty Moynalty () is a village in the north-west of County Meath in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the R194 road, R194 and R164 road, R164 Regional road (Ireland), regional roads north of Kells, County Meath, Kells, n ...

. Murchad's brothers Áed and Colgu were killed in the first encounter. The opposition's Flann mac Áedo was killed in the second. Clann Cholmáin had an old feud with the Síl nDlúthaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, and Flann's father Áed mac Dlúthaig killed Murchad's father Diarmait in 689. On the same day of Battle of Bile Tened, the men of Meath won a battle over the Uí Fhailgi of Offaly and their king Forbassach Ua Congaile was slain. Shortly afterwards the chief of Síl nÁedo Sláine, Fogartach mac Néill, was "expelled from the kingship and went to

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

". Some later sources say he was expelled by the High King

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 ...

, and others say that he himself been High King. Fogartach was probably expelled from the kingship of the southern Uí Néill, and Murchad drove him from power.

Death

Murchad was killed in 715 by Fogartach's uncle, the warlike Conall Grant. 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� ...

'' and the ''

Annals of Tigernach The ''Annals of Tigernach'' (Abbreviation, abbr. AT, ) are chronicles probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin language, Latin and Old Irish, Old and Middle Irish. Many of the pre-historic entries come f ...

'' call him "king of the Uí Néill". This title is not common in the annals. It probably corresponds with the title "king of the North" (''Rí in Tuaiscert'') found attached to some northern Uí Néill who were not reckoned high kings and means that Murchad had acted as High King Fergal's deputy among the southern Uí Néill.

Family

Murchad left at least two sons,

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 ...

, who was later high king, and Coirpre, who died in 749. Bressal mac Murchado, killed in 764, may have been Murchad's son. (Bressal may have been Domnall Midi's grandson, through Domnall's son Murchad.) Domnall became king of Uisnech, but Fogartach returned from Britain in 716 and was clearly the chief king among the southern Uí Néill.Irwin, "Fogartach"; Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High Kings'', p. 282; Charles-Edwards, ''Early Christian Ireland'', pp. 594 & 604.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Murchad Midi 7th-century births 715 deaths Kings of Uisnech People from County Westmeath 7th-century Irish monarchs 8th-century Irish monarchs