Maelsechniall II 979-1022 pt 1

Maelsechniall II [Malachy 2]979-1022Brian Borama 1002 1014

Maelseachniall m Donnall m Donnchad Donn m Donchad Midi m Flann Sinna m Maelseachnaill m Mael Runaid m Donchad Midi m Domnall Midi m Suibne m Colmain Mar m Diarmait m Cearbiall m Conall Cremtainne m Niall.

He was king on the almost unnoticed death of his predicessor Donnall Ua Neill of Cinel Eogan and was king for 23 years.
Than shared the kingship with Brian Borama for 12 years and alone again hi King for 8 years till his death in 1022.
His total reign as hi king was 43 years a stability Ireland had not known since the rign of Ollam Fodla in 703 BC who was an Irian king for 40 years.

When Moyleseacniall beceme hi king Amlaeib son of Sitric went to Iona [Hi] on a pilgrimage and died there in penance and religion.
He is the first Norse chief mentioned as being converted at last to Christianity.

Mael lead an army with allys of Eochaid m Ardgar of Ulidia to Ath Clieth against the gallaib where he gave the battle at Taragh overwelming the Danes where many were killed .
The battle lasted 3 days and 3 nights and many hostages were taken of them.
2000 hostages, jewels and goods and the ONeill freedom [La Saoire] from the Sinainn to the Sea from tribute [cain] and from exaction of tax.

Maelsechniall issued a proclaimation freeing all the Gaedil in the territory of the Gallaib from servitude and bondage and letting them go to their own territory in peace and happiness. Somewhat like the Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln in 1863 freeing the Negro slaves in America.

The irish considered the captivity of themselves by the Gall the gaoidealaib as akin to the Babylonian captivity of the Jews as a captivity of hell [iffrinn].

In 980 only one combat noted where 2 chiefs killed each other in mortal combat.
Donnal Ui Aiteid lord of the Ui Eathach and Loingsech m Fogartach chief of Ui Niallain .

In 981 Dal Cais [dal gaisse] was plundered by Maelsechnaill and the tree of Aenark-Maige Adhen cut and its roots dug up at county Clare.
This was the inaguration tree of the o Brians.

Imar the Dane of Port Lairge Waterford plundered Killdare.

In 982 Mael allied with his mothers son Gluniarn whom she had by Amlaeib and overpowerd Donnall Clean and Imar of Port Large where the gallaib were drowned and killed along with Gilla Padraig m Imar.
Leinster was spoiled and ravaged by Maelsechnaill to the sea.

Ath Cliath gallaib plundered Glen da Loch.

Gilla Padraig m Donnchad plundered Leith Glinn.
This was the ancestor of the Fitzpatricks of Ossory.
Later he was made prisoner by Brian m Ceinneitig.

983 West Meath was plundered by Brian m Ceineittig.

malachy 2 pg 2

In 984 Maelsechnaill plundered Connact distroying its islands and killing its cheiftans.
Mag Aei was burned to ashes.
The Connact men retaliated burning Meath to Lough Ennel near Mullingar and than burned Feara Ceall and killed its Lord.

Donnagh O Conoly prince of Tara ,Tanist to Ireland was killed by Colmain Cearball.

985 Mael removed the Shrine of Colum Cill from Ardee to Ath Sige a river near Tealtean.
This accomlishment was reguarded by the Bishop of Armagh as a sin applying a heavy fine against the king as removal of the shrine was considered a sacralage.
He paid 7 cumals [21 cows] to the Bishop and a banquet was given to the Bishop at every fort with the King present.

The Danes came in 3 ships to the coast of Dal Riada [Down] but they were defeated and hung.

Hi was plundered by the Danes on Christmass night.
They tormeneted and killed the successor of Colum Cill Mael Ciarair martyring him.

At Easter's Good Friday that year Clonmacnoise burned again.

Leinster lead an army to Osraige and killed their chiefs.

In 986 hurricaine force winds hit Eirinn taking down buildings and houses.
Moyle Ronye o Kyerge and Carbury spoiled Munster and Brian was overwelmed.
Downpatrick was preyed by Danes of Dublin.

The Danes at Hi were slain with 360 of them dying.
This may have been by a plague or desease.
It is discribed as arising from the 'miracle of God and Colum Cill.

The great belief of the Church that punative happenings or desease or other afflictions were a direct act by a Saint or God prevailed through the 16th century in the Roman Church and was transfered to prodistantism as a doctrine the Calvinism and predestination theory.
This tendancy to place all happenings as being 'the will of God' now prevails in human society in modern evangelical philosophy both eastern and western incuding religions and spiritualisms other than Christain followings.

The event of study knowledge and science in handling the problems of mankind and his world was and still is challanged from within this wizardly thinking.

A pre natural sickness was brought to east Ireland by 'demons' were many died.
The cow morrrain became natively called the Mael Garb which had never before affected the Island livestock.

Maelsechlainn went to Leinster with his army to collect the Borama carrying off great herds of cows.

In 987 Munster and the gallaib of Port Lairge confronted the Connactmen who won the battle.
Both the chief of Connact Muirglas and the king of Muinter Dunlaing were killed.

Laidgnen m Cerball Lord of Fearnmiag was killed by Fergal m Conaing Lord of Oileach and the Cinel Eogain.

Conaille Ua Cuileenain of Conaille and Caircaile m Cairellan Lords of Brega killed each other.

In 988 the 10th year of Mael he held a battle over the foreigners at Ath Cliath and laid seige to their fortress for 20 nites.
[this is the site of Dublin Castle later built there by the Anglos].
The gallaib were without water and surrendered an ounce of gold to be paid to Maelsechlniall from every garden on Chrismas Night forever.

Dunleitglas was burned by the foreigners.

In 990 Maelsechlnail won the battle of Ard Droma over Thomond where Lorcans son Donnall Lord of Muscrage-Thire and Ui Forggo and 600 men were killed at Ormond Tipperary.
Hugh Moyledory a horse breaker and prince of Tir Conell died.

Urard m Coshe who was given a stifend by the king for one year elected to keep it for himself and challanged the king to a duel on horseback.
Mael being an expert horseman and a horse breaker came to joust with his poet of Ireland and by careful evasions to his thrusts was finally gently to unseat this mailed warrior took back his stiphend and relaesed the old man to his home in the bog where he the poet chose to dwell.
This poet died shortley after Mael himself in 1023 Ad.

Danes and Leinstermen marched into Meath plundering to Loch Ennell.
Donnal m Tuathal {O Toole] was taken prisoner by Dunchad m Donnal king of Leinster who was than taken prisoner by Maelsechnial m Donnall king of Ireland.

Dongalaig [Donnelly] tigerna of Muscraige was killed .

maelsechniall pg 3

In 991 Mael led an army to Connact brought out a prey of cattle one of the biggest a king had ever got.
Brian came to Meath with Connact and Munster to Loch Ainninn [Enell].
However he took no prey but the kings cows and wasted and distroyed while Mael away.
He ravashed everything.
Mael had killed Egnech Ua Leochainn Lord of Tuath Luigne along with Cathal m Labraid.

The Archdbishop of Armagh went to Tir Eogan and convoked an inagurated Aed m Donnall as the king.

This upheld the policy of the Church throughout Europe to claim surzanity of the kings giving them this right from the churchs God and making the kings subservient to the will of Rome.
This was the issue that caused Henry 8 to rebel against the authority imposed on his life by Rome over the divorce of Catherine of Arragon his wife.
The Holy Roman Emperor Charles defied the power of Rome to control his kingdom in all matters as did many of the petty kingdoms and fifes and city states throughout Europe.

Maelsecniall held as hostage Donchad m Connall king of Leinster who was assasinated for the king.

The gallaib of Ath Cliath plundered 3 churches and their lands.

The 'color of fire' was seen in the night sky--probably the northern lites--This phenomonon than was not seen as a natural phenomonon as were not the elcipses and other weather or hevenly occurances or desease but as acts of God or the Devil and always related to the sin of man as punishment for his transgressions and defended by the Church.

By 994 Mael Burned Aenach-Tech at Tipperary routing Brian and the Munstermen.

Mael also raided Dublin and the Danes and carried way Charles sword and the Ring of Tomar which was a golden neck collar or torque formerly worn by Tomrech the tanist of Lochlainne who had been killed in 846.

The gallaie of Ath Cliath raided Dun Patrick in Down.

In 995 Ard Macha was burned by lightning.
Houses, churches and the Cloicteacha [bell tower] and the Fidneimid woods all burned.
This was seen as a great vengance since the discovery of Irleand till the day of judgement of the burning of Patricks city , the son of Calprann m O Itid.

The Conaille and Mugduna took an army to Glen Rig but they were overtaken by Donnal Lord of Ailech who defeated them in battle in which Malurdan Lord of Conaile and 200 of the men were killed.
Cathbad and Muirgeas mac Ruaidri m Cosrach and Ua Ceallaigh [Kelly] of Ui Maine vs the Munstermen many were killed and Muirgeas m Ruaidri killed.

The internicine fighing between the cinels of Ireland a long traditional in this society continued. Prince killing prince.

In 996 the foreigners of Ath Cliath plundered Cluain Iraid and Cearnannus.

In 997 the Lord of Mug Dorna was killed by Mael Sechniall on Inis Mocta.

Brian and Mael lead an army against the Gallaib and hostages were obtained to the joy of the Irish .

These two princes joined armys the men of Meath and the men of Munster collected at Ath Cliath and took of hostages jewels and gold from the galliab.

The gallare plundered Doire Calgaich.

Mael lead an army to Connact with Brian plundered and burned Magh Aei Ciarraige-Aei.

Brian took his army into Laigen.

The Gallaib took their army to Ui Ceinsealaigh were they lost most of their horses.
Most all of Ireland was afire this year by these 2 rulers and the Norse.

By 998 the 20th year of Maelsechnial m Donnall Cildara was plundered by the Norse of Ath Cliath.
The Oirgaialla and the Conaille had a battle in which Conaills Lord Gilla Christ Ui Cuilennan was killed.

The great prey of Mag Coba was conducted by Aed m Donall [Hugh m Donell] against the Ui Eathach.

A great stone fell at Mag Ailbe fort and 4 mill stones to grind wheat were made of it by the king.

Mael and Brian lead an army to Glenn Mamna in Wicklow where they met the foreigners at Ath Cliath who were routed and slaughtered.
They than jointly went to Ath Cliath and seiged it for a week carring off its gold and silver and hostages.
Theyburned the fortress andthe town and expelled Sitric and freed Donchad m Daniel[Donnelly] king of Leinster and than gave that kingdom to Mael Morda.

Malachy 2 pg 4

In 999 Brian took his great army with Conaill south chiefs and Leinster and the foreigners of Ath Cliath to Teamair.
The gallaib set out ahead of Brians main force to Mag Beg with calvary and were met by Malachy where he defeated them.
Brian went to Neimids grave in Meath near Kells in Meath.
He returned without plunder or bringing a battle.

This was the first sign of guile in opposition [imrodtre meabaill] turning agaisnt Maelsechniall by Brian with South Connact.

Much fruit and nuts this year.

Brian camped at Tailten Tarash Hill [Tara] and than went to Ard Macha.
He spent 7 nights there and offered 10 guineas of gold as an offering.
The Ulstermen gave him no hostages and he returned to Munster from Ferta Neive Moybrey.

In 1000 Meath was depraved by Munster but they were overtaken and the spoils were left behind with their dead.

Maelsechniall made some Causways at Athling [Lanesbourgh] across the Shannon.
Mael providing 1/2 and king Cathal Ua Concobar the other 1/2 from Connact.

In 1001 Sitric set out in his ships to plunder Cill Cleathe and Inis Cumscraigh in Derry. He took hostages.

Aed O Neill lead an army to Tailtin but did not atttack and went home peacefully.

Conncact plundered by the Irish.
Teamrach plundered by the Irish.

Brian took his army with the gallaib Leinster and Munster to Ath Luaig to weaken the Ui Neill and Conail and took hostages of them.

Brian than joined forces with Malachy all Ireland Meath, Connact, Munster, Leinster and the gallaib to Dun Dealgan [Dundalk] at Muirtheimne.
They were met by Aed m Donnall Ua Neill and the north rigdamna to the Irish sovereinty along with Eochaid m Ardar of Ulidia, Cenel Connail Cinel Eogain and the Airgialla who did not permit Brians combined force to proceed further.

A truce/ peace was made no booty or hostages or pledges on either side.

Brian lead an army to Ath Cliath and took hostages of Meath and Connact at Athlone.

In 1002 Brian somehow became listed as sovereign of Ireland at age 76.
He was 24 years older than Malachy whom he deposed.
61 is recorded Brians age as correct and Mael 53.
Was it an agreement or what between these two as they were allied at the time.
Brian was 83 when killed at Clontarb.
No mention is made or any of the annals as to this sudeen usurpation.
Only the Annals of Clonmacnoise make mention of the takeover by Brian saying under the year 996
'Bryan Borowa tooke the kingdom and government thereof out of the handes of king Moyleseachlin in such manner as I doe not intend to Relate in this place'

A theory may develope that they were lovers.

The princes continued to kill each other.

In 1003 Brian with Malachy lead their joint army into north Connact to Traigh-Eothaile at Sligo.
They intended a curcit of Ireland this year but were prevented entry by the O Neill.
This would be Donnall O Neill at that time.

The battle of Creab Tulcha fought between Ulidia and Cenel Eogain who won.
Eochaid the Ulidian was killed along with his brother Duibtuinne and his two sons Cuduilig and Domnall Gairbid the lord of Ui Eathach along with many other nobles.
The battle waged at Dun Eathach on the river Lagin and Druim Bo at Castlereagh Down.

Donnchad Ua Loingsig the tanist of Ulaid killed directly after this battle.
He was lord of Dal Raidne.

Donnall Ua Neill tigerna of Ailech fell in this battle at age 29 years and in the 15th year of his reign as lord of Ailech.
He was the O Neill who refused aid to Maelsechniall to ward of Brian and hence Brian was given the kingship.

The Ui Maine and West Meath where Tadg ua Ceallaigh [Kelly[] fought the Ui Fiachrach-Aidne and West Connact.
Comaalta Ua Fleirgig [Cleary] tigerna of Ua Gilla Ceallaigm Giollaceal Laig was killed.
Also Finn Marcan tanist of Ui Maine was killed there.

In 1004 Cill Lamraige Donnal m Neill was had of the king.

Brian made a hosting with the south Irish to Cinel Eogain and Uldia to demand hostages.They went through Meath [undoubtedly Brian was than living at Kincora in Munster].
They spent a week at Ard Macha than went into Dal Raide taking pledges from that tribes and Dal Fiachah as well.

Flaithebeartach Ua Neill grandson of Neill plundered Catails half and killed Aed m Tomalac their Lord.

Flaithbeartach won a battle over the Ui Eathach and the Ulidia at Dom o Lod[Bricrenn].