Donnhad Midi

The main sources of information about the life and work of Donnhad Midi are the Irish Annals . Of these, the most detailed are the “ Annals of Ulster ”, which most accurately convey the text of the so-called “ Chronicles of Ireland ", The foundations of all the Irish annals. Information about Donnhad’s rule is also contained in other historical works: in the “ Annals of Inishfalllen ”, which retained messages missing from other sources about the early history of Munster , and in the “ Annals of the Four Masters ”, a compilation of many from the 17th century, including now lost sources ^[2] . Brief reports on Wu Neil ’s policies regarding Leinster are found in the poem “On Belonging to the Ehdah Ard Family” by the author of the 9th century Ortanakh wa Kaelam Kuirrig ^[3] . Information about the kinship of the High King of Ireland is contained in a 12th-century compilation of “ Banshenchas "(" About famous women ") and genealogical treatises.

All aspects of the activities of Donnhad Midi are also considered in the works of modern historians. Among those who studied in detail this period of Irish history, there were such well-known medievalists as Georoid Mac Nykayll , John Francis Byrne and Thomas Charles-Edwards .

The early years

Donnhad was the son of King Meade Domnall Midi , who also occupied the throne of the supreme king of Ireland in 743-763, and Ailpin (or Ailbin), daughter of Ailil poppy Kenn Faelada from the small kingdom of Ard Kianhacht, located north of the Boyne River. He belonged to Klann Holmayn , one of the branches of the genus South Wye Neill. Donnhad, like his father and grandfather, received his nickname - "Midi" as a native of the kingdom of Meade ^[4] .

After the death of Domnall Midi on November 20, 763, his possessions were divided: his distant relative, Fallaman poppy Con Kongalt from Clann Holmein Bikk , became King Meade, and the title of High King of Ireland passed to Niall Frossach from Kennel Eogein . It is not known exactly what Donnhad received after the death of his father. It is believed that he could become the ruler of the lands around Usneh Hill . As the king of these lands Donnhad is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in the records of the events of 766 ^[5] .

The Irish annals report on the struggle for power that began in Clann Holmine between the sons of the deceased Domnall Midi. Donnhad’s brother, Diarmait Oak, died in 764, leading the army of the Darrow Abbey during the campaign against the rival Clonmaknois Monastery ^[6] . The winner of Diarmait, his nephew Bressal poppy Murhado, fell later that year ^[7] . Donnhad Midi himself at the same time defeated the septum Fir Tulah Midi, who owned land near Loch Annell . In 765, Donnhad, with the help of King Meade Fallamann, defeated his brother Murhad in the battle of Karn Fiahaha (near present-day Ratkonrath ), and then executed him. Ally Muhhad, King of Tetba Aygal, fled ^{[4] [8]} .

King Meade

King Fallaman Mack Con Kongalt was killed in 766, which allowed Donnhad to receive the throne of Meade ^[5] . Since the main person who benefited from the elimination of Fallamann was Donnhad, it is assumed that he was the organizer of the murder ^[9] .

In 769, Donnhad Midi expelled King Kairpre Mack Fogartaig , ruler of the Sept Septor Lagor from the kingdom of Bregu ^{[4] [10]} .

The “Annals of the Four Masters” put in the records of the events of 770 a message about the abdication of Niall Frossach from the throne of Tara , and the year 771 marks the beginning of the reign of Donnhad Midi as the supreme king of Ireland ^[11] . Historical sources do not say anything about the activities of Niall Frossach from 772 to 778 (dates of his death), therefore it is assumed that he could formally retain the title of supreme king until his death, while among other rulers of the island there was a struggle for the throne of Tara . With these events, historians attribute the beginning of the large-scale hostilities that Donnhad Midi waged against the Kings of the Irish fives in the 770s ^{[12] [13]} .

Already in 770, King Meade intervened in the feud in Leinster , proclaiming himself overlord of the kingdom. He made a trip here and although at first he was defeated at Castledermat , but then the local king Kellah poppy Dunhada did not dare to give a new battle to Donnhad, which allowed King Meade to set up camp near Dun Eilin and to plunder the Leinster lands without hindrance for a week ^{[14] [15]} .

In 771 and 772, Donnhad made two trips to the north of the island, seeking to obtain recognition from the rulers of these lands of his right to the throne of Tara ^{[16] [17]}

In 775, Donnhad Midi took control of the Clonard Abbey in the border lands of Leinster ^{[14] [18]} .

The object of Donnhad's attacks in 775 was also Munster , which he greatly devastated ^[19] . In 776, with the help of troops from the Darrow Abbey, he again invaded this kingdom, and although he again managed to ravage the Munster lands, several Donnhad brothers died during this campaign ^{[14] [20]} . Probably the result of these events was the conclusion of peace between the King of Munster, Mael Duin, Mac Aedo, and Donnhad, according to which the first recognized the right of the ruler Meade to receive the title of High King of Ireland ^{[4] [21]} .

It is known that during the reign of the kingdom, Mide Donnhad twice, in 774 and 777, was the initiator of unrest in the oenahs in Tailtiu ^{[22] [23]} . The reason for the last of them was the conflict between King Meade and Kianannahty from Sil Aedo Slane , which led to the war of Donnhad Midi with one of the Bregian rulers, King of Nauta Kongalahom pop Coning . In 777, King Meade made a campaign in Bregu, and in 778, during the new Donnhad invasion, Kongalah died along with many of his allies ^{[4] [24] [25]} .

High King of Ireland

The first reliable testimony of Donnhad Midi as the supreme king of Ireland dates back to 778, when he, along with Abbot Iona Bressal, declared the “law of Columbus ”, thus assuming the duties of the patron of this monastery ^[26] . The Annals of Ulster who reported on this event dated it to the time of the death of Niall Frossach ^{[27] [28] [29]} , which had happened earlier in the same year.

In 779, Donnhad made a campaign against the Northern Wye Neil and received a tribute and hostages from the "King of the North", the head of Kenel Conyle Domnalla poppy Aed Muindeyrga ^[30] .

Using the civil war that reigned in Leinster, the High King of Ireland in 780 made a new campaign in this kingdom. Perhaps the invasion was carried out by Donnhad Midi at the call of his son-in-law Bran Ardhenn , who was fighting for the throne of Leinster with King Ruaidri mack Faelayn . During this campaign, in the battle of Kilcock, the supreme king defeated the army of King Ruidri and the ruler subordinate to him, Hui Hennselaig Kairpre mack Laydknen . In pursuit of the retreating Leinster, Donnhad again ravaged their lands, not sparing the churches ^[31] . Later that same year, a meeting was held between the rulers of Leinster and Wye Neillov, at which peace was concluded between the warring parties ^{[14] [32] [33]} . Since that time, in all Leinster documents, Donnhad Midi is titled only as “the king of Tara ”, which testifies to the recognition by the rulers of Leinster Donnhad as the supreme king of Ireland ^[34] .

Donnhad’s attempt in 784 to enter into an alliance with King Ulster Fiahna poppy Ado Royn failed. At a meeting in the modern Skerris area, Donnhad refused to board the ship of Fiahna, believing that it was not worthy of the supreme king, and Fiahna did not want to arrive at the site of Donnhad’s camp, which would testify to his recognition of King Tara’s suzerainty over him ^{[35] [36]} .

In 786, Donnhad Midi invaded Bregu, near the modern Nobber defeated the forces of the Forces Ado Slane. The king of Lagora Vogartach poppy Kummaskayg , the ruler of Nauta Diarmayt poppy Coning and his relative Koning poppy Dunlinge were killed in the battle. This campaign could have been carried out in revenge for the murder of Febordight, an abbot of the Tuilen community (near present-day Dulane ) ^{[4] [37]} .

In 791, there was a serious conflict between Donnhad Midi and representatives of the influential Abbey of Armagh . The Annals of Ulster report that during another oenach in Tailtiu, Donnhad, a supporter of the community of Aion Monastery competing with the Army, “dishonored the house of Jesus and the relics of St. Patrick ” ^[38] . Probably taking advantage of this, some of the Irish rulers present at the meeting, including Donnhad's own son-in-law , King Aileh Aed , declared war on the supreme king. However, in the battle that took place here, Donnhad Midi won a complete victory: Aed was forced to retreat to Slane and was captured here, and many noble figures from his supporters, including the ruler of Ayrgyall sub-kingdom Ui Khremtayn Katalla mak Ekdaha, died during the flight ^{[4 ] [39] [40]} .

The last report on Donnhad’s campaigns dates back to 794, when he assisted his son-in-law, King Leinster Bran Ardhenn, in a war with the ruler of Munster, Arthri Mack Cataille ^[41] . However, the very next year, Bran and his wife Etne were killed by order of Finsnecht poppy Kellig , who captured the Leinster throne ^{[14] [42] [43] [44]} .

During the reign of Donnhad Midi, the Vikings invaded Ireland . The first report of their attack on Britain is contained in the Irish annals in the records of 794 ^[45] , and the following year the coast of Ireland itself was looted: the islands of Sky , Aion , Inishmurray were ravaged , Inishbofin and Lambey ^[46] . These events of 795 are the first Norman attack in Irish history. Under the successors of Donnhad, such Viking attacks will become regular ^{[47] [48]} .

Donnhad Midi died on February 6, 797 ^[49] . After his death, the kingdom of Meade passed to his son Domnall poppy Donnhad Midi , and the title of High King of Ireland to the ruler of Ailech Aed the Initiate.

Family

Donnhad Midi was married three times. His children from these marriages were seven sons and two daughters ^[4] .

Donnhad's first wife was Be File ingen Catail ( Irish Bé Fáil ingen Cathail ), the daughter of Katal, the founder of the Ulster septum Let Katail ( Irl. Leth Cathail ) from the Dal Fiat dynasty . In this marriage, the king had two sons:

• Angus Mack Donnhada (died in 830)
• Mael Rwanayd poppy Donnhada (died 843) - King of Usneha and Meade (833–843)

The second wife of Donnhad Midi was the daughter of King Dal Araide Congala, which was probably called Fuirsach ( Irl. Fuirseach ). The only child from this marriage was King Meade and the High King of Ireland, Konhobar Mack Donnhada (died in 833).

Also, historical sources call the children of Donnhad Midi four more sons and two daughters:

• Ailil Mack Donnhada (assassinated in 803) - King of Meade (802-803)
• Conn Mack Donnhada (died 795)
• Domnall poppy Donnhada Midi (killed in 799) - King Meade (797-799)
• Fallaman poppy Donnhada (died in 830)
• Euginis ingen Donnhada (died 802) - wife of King Aileh and High King of Ireland Aed the Initiate (died 819)
• Gormlight ingen Donnhada (died 861) - wife of King Ailech and High King of Ireland Niall Calle (died in 846)

One of the daughters of Donnhad Midi is also called Etne (died in 795), the wife of King Leinster Bran Ardhenn ^[14] , but it is also believed that she was the sister of Donnhad ^{[50] [51]} .

• Byrne F. D. Kings and supreme rulers of Ireland. - SPb. : Eurasia , 2006 .-- 368 p. - ISBN 5-8071-0169-3 .
• Barlett T., Jeffery K. A Military History of Ireland . - Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1997 .-- 592 p. - ISBN 978-0-5216-2989-8 .
• Charles-EdwardsTM Early Christian Ireland . - Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. - P. 728. - ISBN 978-0-5213-6395-2 .
• A New History of Ireland. Volume I. Prehistoric and Early Ireland / Ó Cróinín D .. - Oxford: Oxford University Press , 2008 .-- 1219 p. - ISBN 978-0-1992-2665-8 .

• The Annals of Ulster . CELT: The Corpus of Electronic Texts. Date of treatment August 11, 2012. Archived October 1, 2012.
• Annals of the Four Masters . CELT: The Corpus of Electronic Texts. Date of treatment August 11, 2012. Archived October 1, 2012.