Óengus mac Colmáin Bec (died 621)[1] was an Irish king. He was the King of Uisnech in Mide from 618 to 621.[2] He belonged to the southern Uí Néill. According to the genealogies, he was a son of Colmán Bec (died 587), son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill (died 565). The later Caílle Follamain traced their descent through Óengus.[3]
Before acquiring the rulership of Uisnech, the annals record Oengus' involvement in the feud between the rival midland dynasties of Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine. In 612 he won the Battle of Odba (near Navan, Co.Meath) in which Conall Laeg Breg mac Áedo Sláine was slain.[4] This battle may have been caused by Conall's claims to succeed Áed Uaridnach as high king who died in 612.[5]
He acquired the throne of Uisnech in 618 succeeding Fergus mac Colmáin. According to the Annals of Ulster, Oengus was killed in 621.[6]
According to entries in the Irish annals reporting Óengus's death in 621, which incorrectly call him a son of Colmán Már, he was regis Nepotum Neill or ríg h-Úa Neill, that is king of the Uí Néill. This appears to be synonymous with the alternative titles of High King, King of Ireland, or that King of Tara. It is suggested that the explanation for this is that when Suibne Menn killed Máel Coba mac Áedo in 615, he supported Óengus's claims rather than taking power himself, or perhaps that Óengus was a deputy king in the south.[7]
The king list in the Baile Chuind, created in late 7th century during the reign of the southern Uí Néill king Fínsnechta Fledach, apparently lists an Óengus—Glorious Óengus—as king following Suibne Menn. Another king list of Marianus Scotus includes Óengus as a high king.[8]
His sons Máel Umai mac Óengussa and Colgu mac Óengussa were slain, as part of the southern Uí Néill feud, at the Battle of Cúil Caeláin in 635, by Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665).[9] His grandson, Fáelchú mac Máele Umai was slain at the Battle of Ogamain in 662 fighting on the side of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile of Cnogba and Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) versus the adherents of Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine.[10]
^Annals of Ulster AU 635.2; Annals of Tigernach AT 637.8
^Annals of Ulster AU 662.2; Annals of Tigernach AT 662.4
Referencesedit
Charles-Edwards, T.M., Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000. ISBN0-521-36395-0
Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
Charles-Edwards, T.M. (2004). "Suibne Menn mac Fiachnai (d. 628)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19501. Retrieved 22 October 2007. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Annals of Ulster at *CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Book of Leinster,Rig Uisnig at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Laud Synchronisms at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
January 01, 1970
Óengus, colmáin, died, irish, king, king, uisnech, mide, from, belonged, southern, néill, according, genealogies, colmán, died, diarmait, cerbaill, died, later, caílle, follamain, traced, their, descent, through, Óengus, before, acquiring, rulership, uisnech, . oengus mac Colmain Bec died 621 1 was an Irish king He was the King of Uisnech in Mide from 618 to 621 2 He belonged to the southern Ui Neill According to the genealogies he was a son of Colman Bec died 587 son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill died 565 The later Caille Follamain traced their descent through oengus 3 Before acquiring the rulership of Uisnech the annals record Oengus involvement in the feud between the rival midland dynasties of Clann Cholmain and Sil nAedo Slaine In 612 he won the Battle of Odba near Navan Co Meath in which Conall Laeg Breg mac Aedo Slaine was slain 4 This battle may have been caused by Conall s claims to succeed Aed Uaridnach as high king who died in 612 5 He acquired the throne of Uisnech in 618 succeeding Fergus mac Colmain According to the Annals of Ulster Oengus was killed in 621 6 According to entries in the Irish annals reporting oengus s death in 621 which incorrectly call him a son of Colman Mar he was regis Nepotum Neill or rig h Ua Neill that is king of the Ui Neill This appears to be synonymous with the alternative titles of High King King of Ireland or that King of Tara It is suggested that the explanation for this is that when Suibne Menn killed Mael Coba mac Aedo in 615 he supported oengus s claims rather than taking power himself or perhaps that oengus was a deputy king in the south 7 The king list in the Baile Chuind created in late 7th century during the reign of the southern Ui Neill king Finsnechta Fledach apparently lists an oengus Glorious oengus as king following Suibne Menn Another king list of Marianus Scotus includes oengus as a high king 8 His sons Mael Umai mac oengussa and Colgu mac oengussa were slain as part of the southern Ui Neill feud at the Battle of Cuil Caelain in 635 by Diarmait mac Aedo Slaine died 665 9 His grandson Faelchu mac Maele Umai was slain at the Battle of Ogamain in 662 fighting on the side of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile of Cnogba and Blathmac mac Aedo Slaine died 665 versus the adherents of Diarmait mac Aedo Slaine 10 See also editKings of UisnechNotes edit all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals Daniel P McCarthy Laud Synchronisms give him a reign of 6 years Book of Leinster 7 years Charles Edwards Appendix III Annals of Ulster AU 612 2 Annals of Tigernach AT 610 2 Mac Niocaill pg 90 Annals of Ulster AU 621 2 Charles Edwards pg 492 493 Charles Edwards pg 486 Annals of Ulster AU 635 2 Annals of Tigernach AT 637 8 Annals of Ulster AU 662 2 Annals of Tigernach AT 662 4References editCharles Edwards T M Early Christian Ireland Cambridge University Press Cambridge 2000 ISBN 0 521 36395 0 Gearoid Mac Niocaill 1972 Ireland before the Vikings Dublin Gill and Macmillan Charles Edwards T M 2004 Suibne Menn mac Fiachnai d 628 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 19501 Retrieved 22 October 2007 Subscription or UK public library membership required Annals of Tigernach at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Annals of Ulster at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Book of Leinster Rig Uisnig at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Laud Synchronisms at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title oengus mac Colmain amp oldid 1140079966, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
