Eochaid Mugmedon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eochaid Mugmedón (supposedly died circa|c]].362)^[1]("slave-lord") was a semi-historical High King of Ireland of the 4th century who was said to be the ancestor of many of Ireland's most significant dynasties, such as the Connachta and the Uí Néill. He was the son of the high king Muiredach Tírech (d.351) of the Dál Cuinn.^[2] He acquired the high throne in 352 after slaying his predecessor Cáelbad mac Cronn Badruí(d.352) of Ulster who had slain his father. Not mentioned in the Baile Chuind (The Ecstasy of Conn) as high king, he is listed as king in the Annals, Keating's history, and the Laud Synchronisms.

Keating records wars of Eochaid with the king of Leinster, Énnae Cennsalach and Eochaid was defeated at the Battle of Cruachan Claonta by the Leinsterman.^[3]

By his wife, Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig(d.367), the king of Munster, he had sons Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae. By a slave he captured on a raid in Britain, Cairenn he had a son, Niall, later known as Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages). Eochaid's sobriquet Mugmedon was evidence of his successful slave raiding in Roman Britain and Cairenn's name could be a version of the Roman name Carina^[4]

As of 2006, his senior descendant in the male line is Desmond, the O Connor Donn.

[edit] Notes

^ all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy
^ Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Table 1
^ Geoffrey Keating, History of Ireland, Book I, pg.365-369
^ Byrne, pg.77

Preceded by Cáelbad	High King of Ireland AFM 357-365 FFE 344-351	Succeeded by Crimthann mac Fidaig

[edit] The Connachta

                Conn Cétchathach
                       |
                       |
                 Art mac Cuinn
                       |
                       |
                Cormac mac Airt
                       |
                       |
               Cairbre Lifechair
                       |
                       |
               Fiachu Sraibtine
                       |
                       |
               Muiredach Tirech
                       |
                       |
               Eochaid Mugmedon
          + Mongfind        + Cairenn
             |                  |
    _________|_________         |
    |        |        |         |
    |        |        |         |
  Brion  Fiachrae  Ailill     Niall
      (The Connachta)           |
      __________________________|_______________________________________________________
      |          |       |      .      |           |        |             |            |
      |          |       |      .      |           |        |             |            |
Conall Gulban  Endae   Eógan    .   Coirpre    Lóegaire  Maine  Conall Cremthainne  Fiachu
                         |      .      |           |              ________|________
                         |      .      |           |              |               |
                    Muirdeach   . Cormac Caech  Lughaid     Fergus Cerrbel      Ardgal
                         |      .      |        (d. 507)           |
                         |      .      |                          |
                  Muirchertach  .   Tuathal                   Diarmait mac Cerbaill
                    mac Ercae   .   Maelgarb               
                     (d. 536)    .   (d. 544)                   (d. 565)
                                .
      (Northern Uí Néill)       .                 (Southern Uí Néill)