Diarmight Mac Curbill

The largest amount of information about Diarmayte poppy Kerbayl is contained in the Irish annals . Events related to this monarch are reported by the Annals of Inishfalllen ^[1] , Annals of Ulster ^[2] , Annals of Tigernach ^[3] , Annals of Clonmacnois ^[4] , Annals of the Four Masters ^[5] and " The Chronicle of the Scottes " ^[6] . However, the evidence of these historical sources is for the most part very brief and tends to negatively evaluate Diarmight's activities ^{[7] [8]} . This is probably due to the fact that the Chronicle of Ireland was the common source of information for the early parts of all these annals, which was based on records from the Aion Monastery , founded by Saint Columbus, who were at odds with King Diarmight ^[9] . It is assumed that part of this information could be recorded if not during Diarmait’s lifetime, then soon after his death ^{[10] [11]} .

Several important and unique testimonies about the life of Diarmait Poppy Kerbayl are contained in the life of St. Columbus, written about 700 by Adomanne ^{[8] [12]} . Composed in an era when the descendants of Diarmite were already the most influential force in Central Ireland, life is much less critical of this supreme king than the annals ^[10] .

As the ancestor of many Irish rulers of the 7th-11th centuries, Diarmight poppy Cairbill is repeatedly mentioned in genealogical treatises . Previously, these sources were considered by historians to be completely reliable, but currently the information they provide is in doubt. It is assumed that part of the information of medieval genealogies could be falsified by their authors for the sake of their patrons from the Irish nobility. Not entirely reliable source are the evidence of the Irish sagas , for the most part negatively related to Diarmight because of its frequent conflicts with the clergy ^[7] . In total, thirteen legends are known that tell of various episodes from Diarmait's life ^[13] .

Origin

The origin of Diarmight poppy Kerbayl is not precisely established. According to the opinion most widespread in the writings of medieval authors, his father was Fergus Krivoroty ( dr. Irl. Fergus Cerrbél ), his grandfather was Conall Kremtaynne , his great-grandfather was Niall Nine Hostages ^{[14] [15]} . Thus, Diarmait belonged to the southern branch of the Wye Neil Dynasty. However, according to Adomann, Diarmait was the son of a certain Karbel ( lat. Filius Cerbulis ) ^[7] , about which no information was preserved ^[16] . The 12th-century treatise Banshenchas (On Famous Women) was called the mother of Diarmait by Korbach, the daughter of Leinster Manet ^[8] .

The inconsistency of the news about the kinship of Diarmight MacCurbill allows modern historians to believe that its origin was not exactly known to the early medieval authors. It is even assumed that Diarmight may have been completely unrelated by direct kinship with the South Wye Neil. Perhaps the confirmation of this assumption is the construction not of Niall of the Nine Hostages, but of Diarmuyt of the origin of such clans as Clann Holmain and Sil Aedo Slane , whose ancestors were the sons of this supreme king of Ireland ^[16] .

Another opinion about the origin of this monarch was expressed by the historian B. Lacy , who suggested that Diarmait could belong to Kenel Conayl (from the North Wye Neil family) and rule this kingdom between Fergus Longhead and Ainmere poppy Setnay ^[17] .

Board

King Meade

About the early years of Diarmite's poppy, Kerbayl almost nothing is known. Historical sources lack information about both the date and the place of his birth ^[8] .

According to legend, after the death of the High King of Ireland Muirhertah poppy Erki Diarmait poppy Kerbayl and his distant relative Tuatal Maelgarb after their death in 534 ^[18] or 536 ^[19] announced their claims to the vacant title. The victory in this conflict was won by Tuatal, who became the new supreme king ^[15] .

The first accurately dated evidence of Diarmyte dates back to 538, when, after the death of his brother, King Meade Mane Mack Kerbayl , he inherited the throne of this kingdom ^{[14] [20] [21]} . The residence of the kings of Meade was located near Usneh Hill, and therefore in some medieval sources (for example, in the Leinster Book ) the rulers of this kingdom are referred to as Usneh kings ^{[22] [23]} .

High King of Ireland

540s - 550s

According to the Irish annals, in 544 ^{[K 2] [24] [25] the} High King of Ireland, Tuathal Maelgarb, outlawed Diarmite Mack Curbyle. Diarmait found refuge in the swamps of the Shannon River. Here he became close to St. Kiaran and actively contributed to the construction of the first building of the Clonmaknois Monastery ^[26] . To this day, a high cross created in 901 by order of High King Flann Sinn has survived, which depicts the scene of the founding of this monastery by Kiaran and a certain secular person, according to some historians, Diarmait ^{[27] [28] [29]} .

In gratitude for the assistance in founding the monastery, St. Kiaran predicted to Diarmait that he would become the supreme king of Ireland the very next day. That very night the prophecy came true: Tuatal was the victim of murder ^{[8] [10] [30]} . According to the annals, the assassin of the supreme king was Diarmite ’s half-brother Mael Mor, who acted with the consent of King Meade ^[31] . The killer of Tuatal Maelgarba fell while fleeing from the hands of the royal servants, and since then in Ireland the expression “Mael Morah’s feat” has been used to mean “ Pyrrhic victory ” ^[15] . Since Mael More died, no one was able to accuse King Meade of involvement in the murder, which allowed Diarmight to seize the title of supreme king of Ireland ^{[31] [32]} .

Of the pan-Irish events of the second half of the 540s, only a large epidemic of plague was reported that first hit the inhabitants of the island at that time ^{[10] [33]} . However, in addition to the unreliable later traditions, no information was left about the activities of Diarmite poppy Karbayl in connection with this disaster ^[34] .

Historical sources indicate that already as the supreme king of Ireland, Diarmight poppy Cairbill transferred the throne to Meade to his son Coleman the Elder ^{[14] [35]} . This is mentioned both in the annals and in some other texts (for example, in the Leinster Book ^[22] and the treatise Laud Synchronisms ^[36] ). The exact date of this event is unknown. If the information contained in the “Laud Synchronisms” about the four years of the reign of Coleman the Elder in Mead is reliable, then he should have received the throne of this kingdom in 551 or in 554 ^[36] .

Perhaps for some time after the death of Tuathal Maelgarb, Diarmait Poppy Kerbill had to fight the resistance of other Irish rulers, who challenged his title of supreme king. It is assumed that his main rivals were the rulers of Leinster and Ulster ^{[25] [37]} . One of the episodes of this struggle could also be the conflict between King Meade Coleman the Elder and the Ulsterians , which ended in 555 or 558 with his death at the hands of the king of the local dwellers Disbloit wa Trena ^{[7] [38] [39]} . Probably, after the death of his son, the supreme king again concentrated in his hands all power in Mead, which is confirmed by the data contained in the treatise "Laud Synchronisms" about the twenty-four years of Diarmight's reign in this kingdom ^[36] .

Tara Festival

Although accurate information about the activities of Diarmight poppy Kerbayl in the second half of the 550s in historical sources has not been preserved, it is assumed that by this time he had finally established himself in the eyes of the Irish as the legitimate supreme king ^[25] . Probably, in 558 or 560 the influence of Diarmite poppy Kerbayl was already so great that he was able to conduct the pagan ceremony “Tara Festival” ^{[25] [40]} .

This ancient ritual, an analogue of the pan-European tradition of enthronement , was carried out by the supreme kings of Ireland only once during their reign. The venue was Tara - the ancient residence of the supreme kings. The main ceremony of the festival was the conclusion of the sacred marriage of the ruler of Ireland with Mother Earth, associated with beliefs about her as a bearer of abundance to the inhabitants of the island ^{[8] [41] [42]} .

In the annals, it is specifically mentioned that Diarmait was the last of the supreme kings to perform this ritual ^{[7] [10]} . According to legend, the "feast of Tara" was held by Diarmight at the request of the Irish nobility. It is said that by this time the rituals of the festival had already been forgotten and only thanks to the help of the old Fintan poppy of Bohra poppy this ceremony was held in accordance with ancient traditions ^{[15] [43]} .

Kul Drev battle

In 561, Diarmight poppy Kerbayl was defeated in the battle of Kul Drevne (near Mount Ben Balben ), which became the "greatest failure" of this king ^{[7] [8] [44]} .

According to the Annals of Tygernach and the Scottish Chronicle ^[45] , the cause of the battle was the execution by Diarmait of Prince Kurnan, the son of Connaught king Aed Mack Ehah Tirmharn , who committed the murder during the ceremony of the “Tara festival” and gave himself up for the protection of Saint Columbus ^{[7] [ 7] [ 15] [46]} .

According to other evidence, the reason for the conflict was the secret copying by the Columbus of the Psalter belonging to his friend Finnian Movilsky . It is believed that the manuscript written by Columbus’s hand was partially preserved to this day “ Katakh ” (“Fighter”) ^{[47] [48] [49]} . Since books in the VI century were very valuable, Finnian asked Columbus to give him a copy made by him, and after he refused to comply with this request, he resorted to the mediation of Diarmite Mack Curbile. In a dispute between the two saints, the supreme king sided with Finnian. This Diarmight decision is considered by modern scholars as one of the earliest cases of legislative protection of copyright in the Middle Ages ^[49] . In turn, Columbus asked for protection from his relatives from among the Northern Wye Neilov. As a result, a coalition directed against Diarmight was formed, which included the cousins ​​of Columbus Einmere mak Setnay and Ninnid mak Duah from the septa Kenel Konayl, who jointly ruled the Ailekh brothers Forgus mak Muirhertayg and Domnall Ilhelgah from Kenel Eoghayrnahna and also. Perhaps, for the rulers of the Northern Wye Neilles, the appeal of Columbus for help was only an excuse for starting a rebellion against the supreme king. Their true intentions, probably, was the elimination of Diarmight and the subsequent erection of one of the participants in the rebellion in the supreme kings of Ireland ^{[9] [25]} .

It is assumed that Diarmight poppy Kerbayl first launched hostilities. He went with the army to the possessions of his enemies in Sligo , and here he met with their army on the battlefield ^{[9] [25]} . Medieval authors report that in the battle of Kul Drevne Diarmait was utterly defeated by his opponents, losing three thousand soldiers killed, while only one soldier died in the Allied army ^{[46] [50] [51]} .

Because Columbus was the cause of such a bloody battle, in 562 or 563 he was convicted at a meeting of the Irish clergy in Tailtiu . Repenting of his mistakes, the saint meekly accepted the penance imposed on him by the saints Mo-Laysse , and retired into exile in the lands of British Scottes ^{[7] [50] [51]} . Medieval sources do not report what role Diarmyte Mac Curbile played in condemning Columbus. However, the venue of the cathedral - one of the royal residences where the meetings of the Irish nobility were held annually - allows historians to believe that the saint could be found guilty not without the participation of the supreme king of Ireland ^{[52] [53]} . Perhaps later Columbus reconciled with Diarmait, since it is known from Adomann’s work that the saint maintained friendly relations with his son Aed Slane and cursed the murdered High King ruler Dal Araida Aed Black ^[52] .

Reconciliation with the North Wye Nails

Despite the defeat at Kul Drevne, Diarmight poppy Cairbill retained both the throne of Meade and the title of High King of Ireland. In an effort to strengthen his power, in 562 ^{[K 3]} Diarmait made a campaign in the kingdom of Tetba , but at the battle of Kuyl Winsen he was defeated by her king Aed Mack Brennayn and fled from the battlefield ^{[8] [25] [37] [54]} .

It was likely that Diarmight maintained a strong relationship with the rulers of the North Wye Neil until at least 563, when his winners at Kul Drev in the battle of Moin Dairi Lothire inflicted a crushing defeat on the Ulster Crusader and significantly expanded their possessions ^{[7] [10]} . However, based on the information of the annals and The Life of St. Columbus, it can be concluded that shortly after this event Diarmait reconciled with his relatives. Probably, the conditions for concluding peace were Diarmight's recognition of the new borders of the Northern Wye Neil's possessions in exchange for the consent of the rulers of Ailech and Kenel Conyle not to dispute his rights to the title of supreme king of Ireland ^[9] .

Curse of Tara

Texts created no earlier than the eleventh century (for example, the legend “How Tara was cursed” ^{[29] [55]} and the 20th chapter of the “ Triad of the Isle of Britain ” ^[56] ), preserved as part of the Annals of Clonmacnoise) report that because of arbitrariness Diarmythe Poppy of Curbilla, the residence of the Irish High Kings in Tara, was cursed by Saint Ruadan of Lorra ^[57] .

The reason for the feud between the supreme king and the saint was Diarmait's intention to execute the ruler of the small kingdom of Ui Mane, Aed Guaire, who killed the royal close man, who violated the inviolability of his home. Aed surrendered under the protection of Ruadan, but the High King did not stop persecuting him, threatening, if necessary, to expel his patron from Ireland. Offended by Diarmait’s actions, Ruadan, along with the other “twelve apostles of Ireland” (including St. Brendan Birrsky ), arrived in Tara and cursed this ancient residence of the pagan supreme kings. According to legend, despite the subsequent reconciliation between the parties to the conflict, since then Tara was empty and not one of the Irish rulers kept their royal court here ^{[7] [8] [15]} .

The refusal of the Irish rulers of Ireland to use the residence in Tara from the middle of the VI century is confirmed by archaeological data ^[29] . However, the title "king of Tara" continued to be used further, and only a few centuries later it was finally replaced by the title "supreme king of Ireland" ^{[57] [58]} .

Death

The most extensive corpus of historical sources about Diarmayte poppy Kerbyle is made up of stories about his death ^[7] .

In the Irish annals, the death of Diarmite poppy Kerbayla is presented as one of the episodes of long-term bloody conflicts between the Ue Neill and the Ulsterians in the 5th-6th centuries ^[7] . The Annals report that the High King in 565 ^{[K 4] [25]} was killed in Wright Beck (the modern village of Molinni near Larn ) by the ruler Dal Araida Aed Black ^{[7] [10] [25] [59]} . The body of the supreme king was buried in the village of Connor (in the modern county of Antrim ), and the head in Clonmaknois ^{[8] [10] [29]} .

Traditions supplement the brief annals with testimonies in which historical realities are closely intertwined with mythological motives dating back to the traditions of Irish paganism ^[15] . According to these sources, Diarmight poppy Kerbayl was predicted that he would die "triple death" - from the fire, from drowning and from the fall of the ceiling beam, and his pupil Aed Black will be his killer. Prophecies about the causes of the death of the supreme king are attributed to the pagans - the Druids led by Beck Mak De , as well as some Christian saints (for example, Kiaran and Ruanad) ^{[8] [15] [29]} . Although Diarmait tried to avoid the fulfillment of these prophecies, all his efforts to change his fate were in vain. He died as was predicted to him during a visit to the village of Wright Beck. Here, the High King was attacked by Aed the Black, who owned the nearby nearby Rat Mor fortress. The building in which the wounded Aed Diarmait took refuge was set on fire. Fleeing from the fire, the high king hid in a vat with beer, but the burnt ceiling beam collapsed on Diarmait, from which he died ^{[7] [15]} . Probably, in the information of the legends about the supernatural deaths of Diarmyth and some other early supreme kings, the ideas of the ancient Irish about the sacred nature of the power of their rulers were reflected ^[60] . Perhaps, in such legends some real facts from the struggle between supporters of paganism and Christianity in early medieval Ireland were preserved ^[15] .

The successors of Diarmight poppy Karbayl in the dignity of the supreme king of Ireland were the brothers Forggus poppy Muirgerteig and Domnall Ilhelgah ^{[25] [61]} . The throne, however, was inherited by Mede, the son of the deceased monarch, Colman the Younger ^{[35] [22] [36]} .

Family

Various medieval sources report conflicting data on the marriage of Diarmight poppy Kerbayl. It is assumed that he simultaneously cohabited with several women at once, but only the first of the monarch’s spouses was considered a queen ^[62] .

Although Diarmight’s marriage order is not precisely established ^[10] , it is likely that his first wife was Etne ^[62] (or Erk), the daughter of Connaught soldier Brenainn Dall, the mother of Coleman the Elder (died 555 or 558), the ancestor of the rulers of the septum, Clann Holmine ^{[ 63]} . As the first wife of King Diarmite, some sources also mention the connoisseur Muirenn Mael ^[8] .

Probably the second wife of Diarmait was Mugayn. Her father was Konhrad mak Duah , the first historically reliable king of Osraig ^[64] , a native of the Munster Eoganaht ^[8] . The son of this marriage was Aed Slane (died in 604), the founder of the royal dynasty Brega Sil Aedo Slane ^[65] .

Diarmait’s third wife was Brea (or Breka), the daughter of Colman poppy Nemainde, the mother of Colman the Younger (died 587), the first chapter of the septum Kyle Fallamine ^[63] .

One of the treatises written in the 12th century contains information that Bee Binn from Scotland was another Diarmait’s wife ^[8] . The name of the fourth son of King Diarmite, Mael Duin, is also known ^[26] .

Government Activities

For the most part, medieval Irish sources negatively assessed the reign of Diarmight poppy Kerbayl ^[7] , underestimating its significance as a ruler ^[8] . In the conquest of Wye Neillam in the central regions of Ireland, Diarmight's ancestors did not play a leading role. However, becoming the first supreme king of Ireland from the South Wye Neil, he laid the foundation for a process of gradual growth of influence of a kind ^[66] . Although the annals report mainly about Diarmight’s defeats, evidence from other sources suggests that the monarch’s direct power extended not only to his ancestral lands in Central Ireland, but also for some time to all of the Wye Neill’s lands ^[41] . Probably, the presence of King Diarmight with such authority is indicated by the words of Adomann that this supreme king was “the ruler of all Ireland established by God's authority” ^{[7] [67] [68]} . Diarmait’s activities allowed his closest descendants from the Klann Holmain and Sil Aedo Slan dynasties to become the most influential force among all the South Wye Neil ^[10] and, during the 7th – 11th centuries, successfully claimed the title of Supreme King of Ireland ^{[8] [14]} .

Diarmight poppy Kerbill is considered the first historically reliable supreme king of Ireland, since his name is mentioned in one of the inscriptions contemporary to him ^[41] . At the same time, historians note that after the death of Diarmait, there was a significant drop in the influence of the supreme kings on the events of the whole of Ireland. At this time, the title of supreme king of Ireland often passed from one applicant to another, but not one of them could confirm him for a sufficiently long time ^{[25] [69]} . Only with the reign of Domnall poppy Aedo , who lived in the 7th century, is a new strengthening of the role of supreme kings observed ^[41] .

Relation to Paganism and Christianity

Medieval sources contain contradictory information about which Diarmyte Mack Curbile was a follower of which religion - paganism or Christianity. Some authors considered him an ardent pagan, reporting on his close ties with the Druids, on his conduct of the pagan ritual "Tara Festival" and on his many conflicts with the Christian clergy ^{[7] [29]} . This allows some modern historians to consider Diarmait the last pagan supreme king of Ireland ^{[10] [15] [41] [70]} .

Other medieval authors wrote about Diarmight Mak Curbill's friendship with some Irish saints: Saint Kiaran, whom he helped in founding the Klonmaknois Monastery, and Saint Finian, on whose side he stood in conflict with Columbus and who, according to legend, healed the wife of the High King from infertility ^{[K 5] [7] [29]} . One of the legends contains a story about the execution by Diarmait of his son Bressal, who was accused of stealing monastery cattle, and about the resurrection of him through the prayers of St. Columbus ^[15] . Some of the lives of the saints are also more likely to have a positive attitude towards Diarmait than condemn him ^[7] . Diarmight himself is credited with the authorship of the poem “Woe to the One Who Struggles with Church Priests” ( Dr. Irish Mairg thochras fri cléirchib cell ), which contained Christian motifs ^[7] . It is also noted that the two sons of the supreme king bore the Christian name Colman ^[71] . About Diarmyte as a ruler who was “predetermined in accordance with the desire of God to become king of all Ireland,” Adomann also wrote ^{[8] [67] [72]} . This information, according to some modern historians, does not allow us to speak unambiguously about Diarmyte as a pagan. It is possible that he was still a Christian ^[29] , and all the indications of medieval sources about his addictions to pagan beliefs are only evidence that Diarmight maintained the ancient Irish traditions that receded under the pressure of Christianity ^{[9] [46]} .

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