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List of kings of Dál Riata facts for kids

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Dál Riata was an ancient kingdom that existed in parts of what are now Scotland and Ireland. This article lists the kings who ruled Dál Riata. Many of these kings, and later rulers of Scotland, believed they were descended from a famous leader named Fergus Mór mac Eirc. Even as late as the 16th century, James VI of Scotland proudly said he came from "Fergus's race."

About Dál Riata

Historians first started recording the deaths of Dál Riata kings around the mid-6th century. We know about kings like Comgall mac Domangairt, who died around 538–545, and his brother Gabrán, who died around 558–560.

A big battle called the Battle of Moira happened in 637. After this defeat, the Irish part of Dál Riata lost control of its lands in Scotland. Later, in the 8th century, another group called the Dál nAraidi took over the Irish Dál Riata. However, the name Dál Riata was still used for the area for a long time.

The last known king of Scottish Dál Riata was Fergus mac Echdach. He was the brother of Áed Find, and his death was recorded in 781. Dál Riata was made up of different family groups or clans, called cenéla. Two important ones were the Cenél nGabráin from Kintyre, who said they came from Gabrán, and the Cenél Loairn, who claimed to be descendants of Loarn mac Eirc.

Kings of Dál Riata

Early Kings (Before 637 AD)

Here are some of the early kings of Dál Riata:

  • Loarn mac Eirc
    • He was the son of Erc.
    • Loarn is said to be the founder of the Cenél Loairn clan.
  • Fergus Mór (Reigned around 498-501)
    • He was also a son of Erc.
    • Some records say he died around 501.
  • Domangart Réti (Reigned around 507)
    • He was the son of Fergus Mór.
    • He was sometimes called Domangart of Cenn Tíre.
  • Comgall (Died around 540)
    • He was the son of Domangart.
    • Comgall is the ancestor of the Cenél Comgaill clan.
  • Gabrán (Died around 560)
    • He was another son of Domangart.
    • Gabrán is the ancestor of the Cenél nGabráin clan.
  • Conall (Died around 574)
    • He was from the Cenél Comgaill clan, son of Comgall.
    • It is said he gave the island of Iona to Saint Columba.
  • Áedán (Died around 606)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Gabrán.
    • We know a lot about him from the writings of Adomnán of Iona.
  • Eochaid Buide (Died around 629)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Áedán.
    • He is also mentioned in the Life of Saint Columba.
  • Connad Cerr (Died around 629)
    • He was from the Cenél Comgaill clan, son of Conall.
    • He ruled at the same time as Eochaid Buide but died before him. He was killed in a battle.
  • Domnall Brecc (Died around 642)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Eochaid Buide.
    • He was defeated and killed in battle by the king of Alt Clut.
  • Ferchar
    • He was from the Cenél Comgaill clan, son of Connad Cerr.
    • He might have ruled jointly with Domnall Brecc.

Kings After the Battle of Mag Rath (637 AD to 741 AD)

Here are some kings who ruled after the Battle of Mag Rath:

  • Dúnchad (Died around 654)
    • He was likely from the Cenél nGabráin clan.
  • Conall Crandomna (Died around 660)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Eochaid Buide.
  • Domangart (Died around 660)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Domnall Brecc.
  • Máel Dúin (Died around 689)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Conall.
  • Domnall Donn (Died around 696)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Conall.
  • Ferchar Fota (Died around 697)
    • He was from the Cenél Loairn clan.
    • He was the chief of the Cenél Loairn and briefly king of Dál Riata.
  • Eochaid
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Domangart.
    • He is mentioned in some old lists of kings.
  • Ainbcellach (Deposed around 698)
    • He was from the Cenél Loairn clan, son of Ferchar Fota.
    • He died in a battle against his brother Selbach in 718.
  • Fiannamail (Died 700)
    • He might have been from the Cenél nGabráin clan.
    • It's not fully clear if he was a king of Dál Riata.
  • Béc (Died 707)
    • He was likely from the Cenél nGabráin clan.
    • He was probably the chief of the Cenél nGabráin.
  • Dúnchad (Died 721)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan.
    • He was the chief of Kintyre (Cenél nGabráin) for a few years.
  • Selbach (Abdicated 723)
    • He was from the Cenél Loairn clan, son of Ferchar Fota.
    • He gave up his throne to his son Dúngal and became a religious person. He died in 730.
  • Dúngal (Deposed 726)
    • He was from the Cenél Loairn clan, son of Selbach.
    • He was probably still chief of the Cenél Loairn until 733.
  • Eochaid (Reigned 726–733)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Eochaid.
    • His rule marked a return to the Cenél nGabráin line of kings.
  • Muiredach (Reigned 733–736)
    • He was from the Cenél Loairn clan, son of Ainbcellach.
    • He was the chief of the Cenél Loairn and possibly king of Dál Riata.
  • Alpín
    • He appears in some old lists, but his rule is uncertain.
  • Eógan
    • He was from the Cenél Loairn clan, son of Muiredach.
    • He might have been chief of the Cenél Loairn.
  • Indrechtach (Died 741)
    • He was possibly from the Cenél nGabráin clan.
    • He was killed in a battle, possibly by the Picts.

Kings from the 740s Onwards

For a period, Dál Riata was controlled by the Picts, so not many kings are known.

  • Unknown kings (Around 736–750 or later)
    • Dál Riata was under the control of the Picts. It's thought the Picts ruled through local kings, but their names are not known.
  • Áed Find (Before 768–778)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan.
  • Fergus (Reigned 778–781)
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, brother of Áed Find.
  • Eochaid
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Áed Find.
    • He is known from later family trees, but not from early records.
  • Donncoirce (Died 792)
    • His death is recorded, but not much else is known about him.
  • Caustantín
    • He was King of the Picts from around 792–820.
    • He is listed in some Dál Riata king lists, but it's not certain he was a king there.
  • Unknown kings (Around 792–805)
    • No kings are known from this time.
  • Conall (Around 805–807)
    • He was killed in a battle in Kintyre.
  • Conall (Around 807–811)
    • He killed Conall mac Taidg and then ruled for about four years.
  • Domnall (Around 811–835)
    • He was the son of Caustantín mac Fergusa.
    • He ruled for about twenty-four years.
  • Óengus
    • He was King of the Picts from around 820–834, and brother of Caustantín.
    • Like Caustantín, he is listed in some Dál Riata king lists, but it's not certain he was a king there.
  • Eóganán
    • He was King of the Picts from around 837–839, and son of Óengus.
    • He is also listed in some Dál Riata king lists, but it's not certain he was a king there.
  • Áed (Around 835–839)
    • He was killed in battle against the Vikings along with Eóganán mac Óengusa.
  • Alpín
    • He is known from later family trees, but there is no clear proof he was a king in Dál Riata.
  • Cináed
    • He was from the Cenél nGabráin clan, son of Alpín.
    • He was King of the Picts from around 843–858. It's not generally thought he was a king in Dál Riata.
  • Diarmaid (Around 914)
    • He was a king of the Irish Dál Riata.

See also

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