Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703) was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. Loingsech was a member of the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. Although his father Óengus (died 650) had not been High King, his grandfather Domnall mac Áedo (died 642) had been.[1]
Loingsech is first mentioned in the annals of Ireland under the year 672 when he defeated Dúngal mac Máele Tuil of the Cenél mBógaine who was slain. The Cenél mBógaine were a branch of the Cenél Conaill located in southwest County Donegal. The Annals of Ulster do not mention Loingsech as victor, whereas the Annals of Tigernach do.[2] The Annals of the Four Masters refer to Loingsech as chief of the Cenél Conaill with regards to this event.[3] His accession to lordship of the Cenél Conaill is not mentioned, but the death of his uncle Ailill Flann Esa (died 666) is recorded during the plague years.[4]
High Kingshipedit
The Chronicle of Ireland records the beginning of Loingsech's reign in 696, having recorded the killing of his predecessor Fínsnechta Fledach the year previously.[5] The record in the Annals of Ulster may show that Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill was a candidate for the high kingship after the killing of Fínsnechta, in competition with Loingsech. It is not until after Congalach's death that the annal, probably based on a contemporaneous chronicle kept on Iona, announces the beginning of Loingsech's reign.[6] The Annals of Tigernach on the other hand place the beginning of Loingsech's reign in 695 before the death of Congalach.[7] He ruled as high king from 695–703.[8]
It was in his reign that Adomnán – a member of the Cenél Conaill – came to preach in Ireland. Loingsech appears as the first non-ecclesiastical signatory of Adomnán's "law of the innocents"—the Cáin Adomnáin—agreed at the Synod of Birr in 697. Loingsech gave his full support to this law and it is likely through his aid that the Law found widespread support.[9]
The annals record plagues afflicting people and cattle, and famine following, during his reign.[10] According to Keating this famine went on for three years.
Death and descendantsedit
The Cenél Conaill expansion in the north had been blocked by the expansion of the rival Cenél nEógain into Daire. As a result, their outlet for expansion was to the south versus Connacht. This, along with a desire to make his high kingship a reality, prompted an attack on Connacht in 703.[11] Loingsech was killed in 703, in the Battle of Corann (in Southern Co.Sligo) against the men of Connacht led by their old king Cellach mac Rogallaig (died 705).[12] The Chronicle of Ireland again calls him High King when reporting his death. The annals say that three of Loingsech's sons (Artgal, Connachtach, and Flann Gerg) were killed with him, and many others besides.
A quatrain attributed to the old king Cellach states:[13]
"For his deeds of ambition, on the morning he was slain at Glais Chuilg; I slew Loingseach there with a sword, the monarch of all Ireland round."
He married Muirenn ingen Cellaig (died 748), daughter of Cellach Cualann (died 715), King of Leinster.[14] Their son, Flaithbertach (died 765), was later High King. Another son, Fergal, led a force of northern Ui Neill in victory over Connacht to avenge his father's death in 707.[15]
Loingsech was followed as High King of Ireland by Congal Cennmagair (died 710).
Notesedit
^Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Table 4
^Annals of Ulster AU 672.1; Annals of Tigernach AT 672.1
"The Annals of Ulster AD 431–1201". CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Annals of the Four Masters at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN978-1-85182-196-9
Charles-Edwards, T.M., Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000. ISBN0-521-36395-0
Geoffrey Keating, History of Ireland at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Meyer, Kuno (1905). Cain Adamnain: An Old-Irish Treatise on the Law of Adamnan. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Retrieved 23 March 2008.
External linksedit
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
January 25, 2024
loingsech, Óengusso, died, irish, king, high, king, ireland, loingsech, member, northern, cenél, conaill, branch, néill, although, father, Óengus, died, been, high, king, grandfather, domnall, Áedo, died, been, contents, early, events, high, kingship, death, d. Loingsech mac oengusso died 703 was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland Loingsech was a member of the northern Cenel Conaill branch of the Ui Neill Although his father oengus died 650 had not been High King his grandfather Domnall mac Aedo died 642 had been 1 Contents 1 Early events 2 High Kingship 3 Death and descendants 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly events editLoingsech is first mentioned in the annals of Ireland under the year 672 when he defeated Dungal mac Maele Tuil of the Cenel mBogaine who was slain The Cenel mBogaine were a branch of the Cenel Conaill located in southwest County Donegal The Annals of Ulster do not mention Loingsech as victor whereas the Annals of Tigernach do 2 The Annals of the Four Masters refer to Loingsech as chief of the Cenel Conaill with regards to this event 3 His accession to lordship of the Cenel Conaill is not mentioned but the death of his uncle Ailill Flann Esa died 666 is recorded during the plague years 4 High Kingship editThe Chronicle of Ireland records the beginning of Loingsech s reign in 696 having recorded the killing of his predecessor Finsnechta Fledach the year previously 5 The record in the Annals of Ulster may show that Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre died 696 of the Sil nAedo Slaine branch of the southern Ui Neill was a candidate for the high kingship after the killing of Finsnechta in competition with Loingsech It is not until after Congalach s death that the annal probably based on a contemporaneous chronicle kept on Iona announces the beginning of Loingsech s reign 6 The Annals of Tigernach on the other hand place the beginning of Loingsech s reign in 695 before the death of Congalach 7 He ruled as high king from 695 703 8 It was in his reign that Adomnan a member of the Cenel Conaill came to preach in Ireland Loingsech appears as the first non ecclesiastical signatory of Adomnan s law of the innocents the Cain Adomnain agreed at the Synod of Birr in 697 Loingsech gave his full support to this law and it is likely through his aid that the Law found widespread support 9 The annals record plagues afflicting people and cattle and famine following during his reign 10 According to Keating this famine went on for three years Death and descendants editThe Cenel Conaill expansion in the north had been blocked by the expansion of the rival Cenel nEogain into Daire As a result their outlet for expansion was to the south versus Connacht This along with a desire to make his high kingship a reality prompted an attack on Connacht in 703 11 Loingsech was killed in 703 in the Battle of Corann in Southern Co Sligo against the men of Connacht led by their old king Cellach mac Rogallaig died 705 12 The Chronicle of Ireland again calls him High King when reporting his death The annals say that three of Loingsech s sons Artgal Connachtach and Flann Gerg were killed with him and many others besides A quatrain attributed to the old king Cellach states 13 For his deeds of ambition on the morning he was slain at Glais Chuilg I slew Loingseach there with a sword the monarch of all Ireland round He married Muirenn ingen Cellaig died 748 daughter of Cellach Cualann died 715 King of Leinster 14 Their son Flaithbertach died 765 was later High King Another son Fergal led a force of northern Ui Neill in victory over Connacht to avenge his father s death in 707 15 Loingsech was followed as High King of Ireland by Congal Cennmagair died 710 Notes edit Francis J Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings Table 4 Annals of Ulster AU 672 1 Annals of Tigernach AT 672 1 Annals of the Four Masters M 670 2 Annals of Ulster AU 666 1 Annals of Ulster AU 695 1 696 7 T M Charles Edwards Early Christian Ireland pg 506 Annals of Tigernach AT 695 4 696 7 He is given a reign of 8 years in the Book of Leinster and 9 years in Rawlinson Genealogies and the Laud Synchronisms Herbert Maire 1995 Iona Kells and Derry The History and Hagiography of the familia of Columba p 51 Annals of Ulster AU 700 1 700 6 Byrne pg 247 Annals of Ulster AU 703 2 Annals of Tigernach AT 703 2 Annals of the Four Masters M 701 2 Geoffrey Keating History of Ireland Book II pg 147 Annals of Ulster AU 707 2References edit The Annals of Ulster AD 431 1201 CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts Retrieved 24 October 2007 Annals of Tigernach at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Annals of the Four Masters 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 Early Christian Ireland Cambridge University Press Cambridge 2000 ISBN 0 521 36395 0 Geoffrey Keating History of Ireland at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Meyer Kuno 1905 Cain Adamnain An Old Irish Treatise on the Law of Adamnan Oxford Clarendon Press Retrieved 23 March 2008 External links editCELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Loingsech mac oengusso amp oldid 1194319582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
