Ainmuire mac Sétnai
Ainmuire mac Sétnai (died 569) or Ainmire or Ainmere was a High King of Ireland from the Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. He was the great-grandson of Conall Gulban (died 464), founder of this branch.[1] He ruled from 566 to 569.[2] He was the first high king from the Cenél Conaill.
Before becoming high king, Ainmere is mentioned in a number of events in which he is allied to other northern Uí Néill princes. These were Forggus mac Muirchertaig and his brother Domnall Ilchelgach (died 566) of the Cenél nEógain, as well as Ainmere's cousin Ninnid mac Dauach (a member of the Cenél nDuach branch of the Cenél Conaill). The northern Uí Néill fought the Connachta at the Battle of Slicech (modern County Sligo) in 544/547 and slew the king Eógan Bél.[3]
In 561 these northern Uí Néill princes allied with Áed mac Echach (died 577) of Connacht versus the high king Diarmait mac Cerbaill (died 565) of the southern Uí Néill whom they defeated at the Battle of Cúl Dreimne (County Sligo).[4] According to the annals, Saint Columba organized this confederacy. The purpose of this battle may have been to ensure the succession to Diarmait for the northern Uí Néill.[5]
In 563 these northern princes fought the Battle of Móin Dairi Lothair versus the Cruthin tribes in the north and crushed them.[6] By this victory they expanded into modern county Londonderry to the River Bann.[7] According to the report in the annals, Ainmere recovered the possessions of his father Sétnae.
Ainmere succeeded to the high kingship on the death of Domnall Ilchelgach in 566.[8] The middle Irish king lists have misplaced his reign putting it later than the annalistic tradition but other king lists have him in the correct order.[9] He is also omitted from the earliest list of Kings of Tara, the Baile Chuind (The Ecstasy of Conn), a late-7th-century Irish poem. He was slain by Fergus son of Néilléne (died 570) of the Cenél nEógain in 569.[10] This Fergus was killed the next year by Ainmere's son Áed mac Ainmuirech (died 598) who was also a high king.[11] According to Keating, Báetán mac Ninneda of the Cenél nEógain instigated the assassination.[12] The Chronicum Scotorum records of Ainmire's death:[13]
"Femhen, when he was king was not an ignoble place; today, crimson is its aspect from Ainmire, son of Senna."
Ainmere had married Brigid ingen Cobthaig of the Uí Cheinnselaig who was mother of his son Áed.
Notes
- ^ Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Table 4
- ^ He is given a reign of 3 years in the Laud Synchronisms and the Book of Leinster.
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 543.2, 547.1; Annals of Tigernach AT 542.2
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 561.1; Annals of Tigernach AT 560.1
- ^ T.M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, pg.294-295, 510
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 563.1; Annals of Tigernach AT 562.2
- ^ Byrne, pg.95
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 566.2; Annals of Tigernach AT 565.2
- ^ Charles-Edwards, pg.484-487
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 569.1; Annals of Tigernach AT 568.1
- ^ Annals of Tigernach, AT 569.1
- ^ Geoffrey Keating, History of Ireland, Book II, pg.77
- ^ Chronicum Scotorum, CS 568
References
- Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Chronicum Scotorum at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
- Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), Early Christian Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-36395-0
- Geoffrey Keating, History of Ireland at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- v
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- Diarmait mac Cerbaill
- Forggus mac Muirchertaig and Domnall Ilchelgach
- Ainmuire
- Báetán mac Muirchertaig and Eochaid mac Domnaill
- Báetán mac Cairill
- Áed mac Ainmuirech
- Fiachnae mac Báetáin
- Áed Sláine and Colmán Rímid
- Áed Uaridnach
- Máel Coba
- Suibne Menn
- Óengus mac Colmáin
- Domnall mac Áedo
- Congal Cáech
- Cellach and Conall Cóel
- Diarmait and Blathmac
- Sechnassach
- Cenn Fáelad
- Fínsnechta Fledach
- Loingsech
- Congal Cennmagair
- Fergal mac Máele Dúin
- Cathal mac Finguine
- Fogartach
- Cináed
- Flaithbertach
- Áed Allán
- Domnall Midi
- Niall Frossach
- Donnchad Midi
- Áed Oirdnide
- Conchobar mac Donnchada
- Fedelmid mac Crimthainn
- Niall Caille
- Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid
- Áed Findliath
- Flann Sinna
- Niall Glúndub
- Donnchad Donn
- Congalach Cnogba (Ruaidrí ua Canannáin)
- Domnall ua Néill
- Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
- Brian Bóruma
- Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó
- Toirdelbach Ua Briain
- Muirchertach Ua Briain
- Domnall Ua Lochlainn
- Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair
- Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn
- Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair