Báetán mac Ninneda
Báetán mac Ninneda (died 586) was an Irish king of the Cenél Conaill, a sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Ninnid mac Duach (flourished 561–563) and great grandson of Conall Gulban (died 464).[1] He was a member of the Cenél nDuach branch of the Cenél Conaill. He is counted as King of Tara in some sources.
The kingship of Tara rotated between the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill branches in the late 6th century.[2] It is difficult to disentangle the reign of Báetán from that of his younger second cousin Áed mac Ainmuirech (died 598). Various lengths are given to the reign of Áed in the king lists, all of which would put the start of his reign before the death of Báetán.[3] Both kings are omitted from the Baile Chuinn, the earliest Irish king list of the late 7th century, but this was probably a partisan document.[4] It is possible that Báetán was not actually high king but was given this position by the synthetic historians to explain away the rule of Báetán mac Cairill (died 581) of the Dal Fiatach of Ulster as high king.[5] The kinglists only assign him a reign of one year. Whether Báetán was king of Tara or not, the real effective power among the northern Uí Néill from 572 was Áed mac Ainmuirech.[6]
His death is recorded in the annals in 586 when he was killed at Léim in Eich (Lemanroy, Termoneeny parish, County Londonderry) at the instigation of Colmán Bec (died 587), the southern Uí Néill King of Uisnech who was making a bid for the high kingship.[7] The annals give him the title King of Tara.
Notes
References
- Annals of Ulster at [1] at University College Cork
- Annals of Tigernach at [2] 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
- Mac Niocaill, Gearoid (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
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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