| Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib | |
|---|---|
| King of Munster | |
| Reign | c. 628 – 639 |
| Predecessor | Cathal mac Áedo |
| Successor | Cúán mac Amalgado |
| Died | 639 |
| Issue | Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind (died 678) |
Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib (died 639) [1] was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He succeeded Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach of the Glendamnach branch in 628. He was the younger brother of a previous king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib (d. 618).[2] His sobriquet Flann meant "blood-red".
Career
In 629, he fought the Battle of Carn Feradaig (Cahernarry, County Limerick) versus Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (d.663) of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne of Connachta.[3] Faílbe won the battle and Guaire was put to flight and his ally Conall mac Máele Dúib of the Uí Maine and many Connaught nobles were slain. Guaire ruled at the height of Ui Fiachrach power in south Connaught and sought to recover the lost Connaught territories in Thomond.[4] Byrne believes that the true expansion of the Deisi into County Clare dates from this battle.[5]
The other important event of his reign was the Battle of Áth Goan in the western Liffey plain fought in 636.[6] In this battle Faílbe intervened in the Leinster kingship. He gave his support to Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666) of the Uí Dúnlainge versus Crimthann mac Áedo of the Uí Máil who was king of Leinster. Failbe and Fáelán were allied with Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni (died 637) of Mide. They were victorious and Crimthann was slain. A Munster tract claims that Faílbe paid the tribute of the Laigin to the Ui Neill but Byrne dismisses this as later Munster propaganda to claim Leth Moga (the southern half of Ireland).[7]
Family and descendants
Faílbe's descendants were known as the Clann Faílbe sept of the Cashail branch, later known as the MacCarthy dynasty, rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond, as well as the principalities of Carbery, Muskerry, and Duhallow.
His son Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind (died 678) was also a King of Munster.
Notes
- ↑ all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy
- ↑ Francis J. Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Table 12
- ↑ Annals of Ulster AU 627.2; Annals of Tigernach AT 628.3; Annals of Innisfallen AI 629.1
- ↑ Geoffrey Keating, History of Ireland, Book II, pg.71
- ↑ Byrne, pg.239
- ↑ Annals of Ulster AU 633.2; Annals of Tigernach AT 636.2; Annals of Innisfallen AI 637.2
- ↑ Byrne, pg.151
See also
References
- Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Annals of Innisfallen at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
- Geoffrey Keating, History of Ireland at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.
- Faílbe Flann is mentioned in various volumes of Peter Tremayne (Peter Berresford Ellis)'s "Sister Fidelma Mysteries" as the father of the fictional detective for whom the series is named.