Énna Mac Murchada

Énna Mac Murchada
King of Uí Chennselaig, Leinster, and Dublin
Énna's name as it appears on folio 36r of Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 503 (the Annals of Inisfallen): "Enna mc. Diarmata".[1]
Died	1126 Wexford
House	Meic Murchada (Uí Chennselaig)
Father	Donnchad mac Murchada

Énna Mac Murchada,^[2] or Enna Mac Murchada,^[3] also known as Énna mac Donnchada,^[4] and Énna mac Donnchada mic Murchada,^[5] was a twelfth-century ruler of Uí Chennselaig, Leinster, and Dublin. Énna was a member of the Meic Murchada, a branch of the Uí Chennselaig dynasty that came to power in Leinster in the person of his paternal great-grandfather. Énna himself gained power following the death of his cousin Diarmait mac Énna. Throughout much of his reign, Énna acknowledged the overlordship of Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, although he participated in a failed revolt against the latter in 1124 before making amends. When Énna died in 1126, Toirdelbach successfully took advantage of the resulting power vacuum.

Background

Énna was a son of Donnchad mac Murchada, King of Leinster (died 1115).^[6] Donnchad had two other sons: one slain in 1115,^[7] and another named Diarmait (died 1171).^[8] The men were members of the Uí Chennselaig.^[7] In the 1040s, the family seized possession of the provincial kingship of Leinster in the person of the King of Uí Chennselaig, Diarmait mac Máel na mBó, Énna's paternal great-grandfather. Diarmait mac Máel na mBó eventually gained the kingship of Dublin, and further laid claim the high-kingship of Ireland itself.^[9] For over a century afterwards the royal rulers of Leinster were regularly drawn from the family.^[10] Énna and his immediate family were members of the Meic Murchada, a branch of the Uí Chennselaig descended and named after Diarmait mac Máel na mBó's son, Murchad.^[11]

In 1117, the kingship of Uí Chennselaig, Leinster, and Dublin was held by Énna's first cousin, Diarmait mac Énna (died 1117). When the latter died within the year,^[12] Énna succeeded to the kingship of Uí Chennselaig, and Leinster. Unlike other recent Uí Chennselaig monarchs, Énna did not face any serious inter-dynastic opposition to his position.^[13]

Dublin

Excerpt from Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 489 (the Annals of Ulster) concerning Énna's death in 1126.^[14] This entry accords Énna a patronym referring to his grandfather, whilst the pictured excerpt from the Annals of Inisfallen refers to Énna's father.

In 1118, Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht seized the kingship of Dublin,^[15] after expelling the reigning Domnall Gerrlámhach Ua Briain, King of Dublin (died 1135),^[16] who appears to have seized control following Diarmait's death the year before.^[17]

At some point afterwards, Énna apparently gained the kingship himself, as he is accorded the title rí Laigen ⁊ Gall by the Annals of Ulster in an entry recording his submission to Toirdelbach in 1122.^{[18][note 1]} Rather than control Dublin directly himself, Toirdelbach appears to have allowed Énna to rule in Dublin as his subordinate.^[20] Although the two appear to have generally enjoyed amiable relations, the former participated in a revolt against the latter in 1124,^[21] spearheaded by Cormac Mac Carthaig (died 1138),^[22] before relations were finally restored,^[23] as Toirdelbach travelled to Dublin and is recorded by the Annals of Tigernach to have handed the kingship over to Énna.^[24] Énna's reign in Dublin is further evidenced by the record of his gift of the estate of "Realgeallyn" to the Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin's ecclesiastical centre.^[25]

Énna's early death in 1126 is recorded in numerous sources such as the Annals of Inisfallen,^[26] the Annals of Tigernach,^[27] the Annals of the Four Masters, and the Annals of Ulster.^[28] The Book of Leinster further reveals that he died in Wexford.^[29] His death there suggests that the Meic Murchada were patronising this Norse-Gaelic enclave,^[30] and it appears that this town and Dublin were the primary concentrations of Leinster's wealth.^[31]

Toirdelbach seized upon the power vacuum caused by Énna's demise, and the following year installed his own son, Conchobar (died 1144), as King of Dublin.^[32] Toirdelbach also invaded the core territory of the Uí Chennselaig, and deposed an unnamed Meic Murchada, before installing Conchobar as king.^[33] The aforesaid Meic Murchada may well have been Máel Sechlainn mac Diarmata (died 1133), a first cousin once removed of Énna.^[34] Another possibility, however, is that the unnamed Meic Murchada was Énna's aforesaid younger brother, Diarmait, an apparent rival of Máel Sechlainn.^[35]

Ancestry

Notes

Citations

References

Primary sources

Secondary sources

Kings of Dublin
9th century	Amlaíb Ímar Auisle Albann^ Oistin mac Amlaíb* Bárid mac Ímair Sichfrith mac Ímair Sitriuc mac Ímair Sichfrith Jarl^ Glúniarann* Ímar ua Ímair
10th century	Sitric Cáech Gofraid ua Ímair Amlaíb mac Gofraid Blácaire mac Gofraid Gofraid mac Sitriuc Amlaíb Cuarán Glúniairn Ímar Sigtrygg Silkbeard
11th century	Echmarcach Ímar mac Arailt Echmarcach Murchad mac Diarmata Diarmait Toirdelbach Ua Briain Gofraid mac Amlaíb meic Ragnaill Domnall mac Murchada Muirchertach Donnchad Muirchertach? Gofraid Crobán Domnall mac Taidc? Domnall Gerrlámhach?
12th century	Magnús berfœttr? Domnall Gerrlámhach Diarmait mac Énna Domnall Gerrlámhach Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair Énna Mac Murchada Conchobar Ua Conchobair Conchobar Ua Briain Ottir Ragnall? Ottir Brodar Gofraid mac Amlaíb Ascall
^ Disputed * Speculative