Áed mac Colggen
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Áed mac Colggen (died 738) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Bec mac Murchada, but it appears that Áed was sole ruler of Leinster from 722 or earlier.
In 722 Áed faced an invasion by Fergal mac Máele Dúin of the Cenél nEógain, High King of Ireland, seeking to impose his overlordship on Leinster. Their armies met at the battle of Allen where Fergal was killed. The battle was commemorated in Homeric style verse, with patron saints taking the place of the Greek gods. Thus, the poem say, Columba was unable to give the victory to Fergal as Brigid of Kildare terrified the High King's army and gave the victory to Áed and the Leinstermen.
Áed, along with many other kings, was killed in battle against Fergal's son Áed Allán at Áth Senaig in 738. This fight known as the battle of the groans is described at length in the Irish annals. Áed was slain in single combat with Áed Allán and his supposed co-ruler Bran Bec also died there. The Annals of Ulster say:
And men say that so many fell in this great battle that we find no comparable slaughter in a single onslaught and fierce conflict throughout all preceding ages.
After the crushing defeat at Áth Senaig, the Uí Dúnlainge dominated the kingship of Leinster for fully three centuries until Diarmait mac Mail na mBo became king of Leinster in 1042.
Áed's son Eterscél was later king of the Uí Cheinnselaig.
[edit] References
- Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7134-5882-8
[edit] External link
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork includes: Gein Branduib (original & translation), Annals of Ulster, Annals of Tigernach, Annals of Innisfallen and others.
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