- Bran Ardchenn
Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (died 795) was a
King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of theUí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son ofMuiredach mac Murchado (died 760), a previous king. [Byrne, Table 9; Charles-Edwards, Appendix XVII] This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He ruled from 785-795.Bran was a rival of
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785) of the Uí Fáeláin sept for the throne. In 780 the high kingDonnchad Midi (died 797) campaigned against Leinster and defeated Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin, devestating the territory of his adherants. ["Annals of Ulster", AU 780.7] That same year a congress of the synods of Uí Néill and Laigin was held at Tara and peace was restored. [AU 780.12] Donnchad may have been campaigning in the interests of Bran and he may have been installed as king at this congress. [Charles-Edwards, pg.578; Byrne ("A New History of Ireland, Volume I"), pg.671] In 782 Bran was defeated and captured at the battle of Curragh (near Kildare) by Ruaidrí. Brans's allies Mugrón mac Flainn, king of Uí Failgi, and Dub dá Crích son of Laidcnén of the Uí Cheinnselaig were slain. [AU 782.3; Charles-Edwards, pg.578; Byrne, pg.158] Bran succeeded to the throne in 785.Bran had married Eithne ingen Domnaill (died 795), the sister of
Donnchad Midi , the high king of theClann Cholmáin . This relationship ensured good relations with the high king during his reign. [Charles-Edwards, pg.578] In 794 Donnchad led a hosting into Munster to protect the Laigin. [AU 794.6; Charles-Edwards, pg.578; Byrne, pg.158]On May 6th, 795 Bran and his queen were assassinated in a church at Cell Cúile Duma (near Stradbally, Co.Leix) by his successor
Fínsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig (died 808) of the Uí Dúnchada sept. This was a ruthless political gesture directed at the high king Donnchad. [AU 795.1; Charles-Edwards, pg.578; Byrne, pg.158]His sons included Muiredach mac Brain (died 818) and
Cellach mac Brain (died 834), both kings of Leinster.Notes
References
* "Annals of Ulster" at [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ 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
* Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (2005), "A New History of Ireland", Volume One, Oxford: Oxford University PressExternal links
* [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
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