Kings of Scots & DalRiata + how far back?

[Alan B. Wilson]

Since 30 Dec 1997 when Stewart Baldwin unlinked the chain which I had
sought to forge from Eva of Leinster to Niall of the Nine Hostages, I've
been wondering what other line, from which many may trace descent, might
reach so far back--say to the fifth century.

The early kings of the Scots and of DalRiata would seem to be quite
firm back at least to Fergus Mar mac Ercc who lived in the fifth century.
And perhaps one may "push the envelope" yet another generation or two.

I'll be glad to receive corrections on any of the following. I'd
especially appreciate a critical assessment of generations 20-23.

First Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

1 Malcolm III Canmore King of Scotland.[368, p. 222],[233, ii, 78, 81, 89;
iii, 621],[74, 170:21],[75, 161:8],[73, p. 30],[248],[328, 10:21],[413,
Table 3],[329, 25],[417],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:31],[104, pp. 6, 21],[82,
301:22*->405[353]] Born ca 1031.[73, p. 30 *],[233, ii, 89 *],[82],[74,
170:21 *] Malcolm III Canmore died in In Battle At Alnwick (Nthumb)
England on 13 Nov 1093; he was 62.[233, ii, 78, 89 +],[73, p. 30 +@],[74,
170:21 +@],[82] King of Scotland {1058-1093}.[248]

ca 1069 when Malcolm III Canmore was 38, he married Margaret of England
"St. Margaret"[233, ii, 78, 79],[74, 1:22],[75, 161:8],[73, pp. 30,
31],[248],[328, 10:21],[413, Table 3],[417],[376, pp. 75, 162],[151,
233:32],[104, pp. 6, 21],[82, 301:23*->406], in Dunfermline (Fife)
Scotland.[233, ii, 78, 89 =],[74],[151]

Margaret was the daughter of Edward "the Atheling" and Agatha von Braunschweig.

Second Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

2 Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crinan) King of Scots.[233, ii, 89],[244, iii,
240],[74, 170:20],[73, p. 30],[248],[417],[376, p. 162],[151,
165:32],[104, p. 21],[82, 421:12*] Born ca 1001 in Scotland.[233, ii, 89
*],[73, p. 30 *],[82] Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crinan) died in Moray,
Scotland slain on 14 Aug 1040; he was 39.[233, ii, 89 +],[73, p. 30
+],[82],[74, 170:20 +] King of Scots {1034-1040}.[417]

Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crinan) married Sybilla of Northumberland[73, p.
30],[248],[417],[151, See 165:32],[104, p. 21],[82, 421:13*].

3 Sybilla of Northumberland.[73, p. 30],[248],[417],[151, See
165:32],[104, p. 21],[82, 421:13*]

Sibylla was a relative of Earl Siward of Northumbria, a match which
provided Duncan's son Malcolm a valuable ally in his efforts to wrest
Scottish kingship from Macbeth.[248]

Third Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

4 Crinan Mormaer of Atholl.[233, ii, 88, 89],[244, iii, 239],[74, See
170:19],[73, p. 30],[193],[248],[355],[417],[376, p. 162],[151,
252:34],[104, pp. 21, 101],[82, 562:02*] Born in 978.[74, 170:19 *],[355,
* (ca 975)] Crinan slain in 1045; he was 67.[233, ii, 89 +],[73, p. 30
+],[74, 170:19 +] Abbot of Dunkeld.[248],[417],[233, ii, 89]

ca 1000 when Crinan was 22, he married Bethoc Princess of Scotland[233,
ii, 88, 89],[244, iii, 240],[74, 170:19],[73, p.
30],[355],[417],[248],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:33],[104, pp. 21, 101],[82,
562:03].[233, =],[355, = (ca 1005)],[74, 170:19 =]

5 Bethoc Princess of the Scots.[233, ii, 88, 89],[244, iii, 240],[74,
170:19],[73, p. 30],[355],[417],[248],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:33],[104,
pp. 21, 101],[82, 562:03]

Fourth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

10 Malcolm II (Mael Coluim mac Cinaed) King of Scots.[233, ii, 80,
88],[244, iii, 240],[74, 170:18],[73, pp. 28-30],[248],[417],[376, p.
162],[151, 165:34],[104, pp. 21, 102],[82, 780:10*] Born ca 954.[233, ii,
88 *] Malcolm II (Mael Coluim mac Cinaed) died in Glamis (Tayside)
Scotland on 25 Nov 1034; he was 80.[233, ii, 88 +],[82, +@],[74, 170:18
+] King of Scots {1005-1034}.[248],[417]

Fifth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

20 Kenneth II (Cinaed mac Mael Coluim) King of Scots.[233, ii, 88],[74,
170:17],[73, pp. 28-30],[248],[417],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:35],[104, p.
21],[82, 780:20*->510] Kenneth II (Cinaed mac Mael Coluim) died in 995 in
Fettercairn in the Means (Grampian) Scotland.[233, ii, 88 +],[73, p.
30],[74, 170:17 +],[82] King of Scots {971-995}.[248],[417]

Sixth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

40 Malcolm I (Mael Coluim mac Domnall) King of Scots.[233, ii, 88],[74,
170:16],[73, pp. 28-29],[248],[417],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:36],[104, p.
21],[82, 510:02*] Malcolm I (Mael Coluim mac Domnall) died ca 954 in
Fetteresso, Fordoun Parish, (Grampian) Scotland.[233, ii, 88 +],[73, p. 29
+],[74, 170:16 +] King of Scots {943-954}.[248],[417]

Seventh Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

80 Donald II (Domnall mac Causantin) King of Scots.[233, ii, 88],[74,
170:15],[73, pp. 28-29],[248],[417],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:37],[104, p.
21],[82, 510:04*] Donald II (Domnall mac Causantin) died in 900 in Forres,
Moray (Grampian) Scotland.[233, ii, 88 +],[82],[73, p. 29 +],[74, 170:15
+] King of Scots {889-900}.[248],[417]

Eighth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

160 Constantine I (Causantin mac Cinaed) King of Scots.[233, ii, 88],[74,
170:14],[73, p. 29],[248],[417],[151, 165:38],[104, p. 21],[82, 510:08*]
Constantine I (Causantin mac Cinaed) died in 877 in Inverdoval (Fife)
Scotland.[233, ii, 88 +],[248],[82],[73, p. 29 + (877)],[74, 170:14 +]
King of Scots (king of Alba) {862-876}.[248]

Ninth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

320 Kenneth I (Cinaed mac Alpin) King of Scots.[233, ii, 88],[74,
170:13],[73, pp. 29, 278],[248],[417],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:39],[104, p.
21],[82, 510:16*->606] Kenneth I (Cinaed mac Alpin) died in 858 in
Fortevoit (Tayside) Scotland.[233, ii, 88 + (859)],[248, + (858)],[73, p.
29 + (858)],[74, 170:13 + (858)] Buried in Iona. King of Picts and Scots
{842-858}.[248]

Tenth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

640 Alpin mac Eochaid King of Kintyre.[233, ii, 88],[74, 170:12],[73, pp.
29, 278],[248],[417],[376, p. 162],[151, 165:40],[104, p. 21],[82,
606:02*] Alpin mac Eochaid died on 20 Jul 834 in Pitalpie, near Dundee
(Tayside) Scotland.[233, ii, 88 + (834)],[73, p. 29 + (slain in Galloway
841)],[74, 170:12 + (slain in Galloway 841)],[82] He did not succeed to
the kingship..[248]

Eleventh Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

1280 Eochaid Rinnamail mac Aed Find.[233, ii, 88],[74, 170:11],[73, pp.
29, 278],[248],[151, 165:41],[104, p. 21],[82, 606:04] Eochaid Rinnamail
mac Aed Find died in 814/827.[73, p. 29 +],[82] Did not succeed to
kingship of DalRiata.[248]

Twelfth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

2560 Aed Find mac Eochaid King of DalRiata.[74, 170:10],[73, pp. 29,
278],[248],[151, 165:42],[104, p. 21],[82, 606:08] Aed Find mac Eochaid
died in 778.[73, p. 29 +],[74, 170:10 +],[82] King of DalRiata
{748-778}.[416, p. 229]

Thirteenth Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

5120 Eochaid mac Eochaid King of DalRiata.[74, 170:9A],[73, pp. 29,
278-279],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[151, 165:43],[104, p. 21],[82,
606:16->729] Eochaid mac Eochaid died ca 733.[82],[73, p. 29 +] King of
DalRiata {ca 721-733}.[74, 170:9A]

14th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

10240 Eochaid mac Domangart King of DalRiata.[74, 170:9],[73, pp. 29,
279],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[151, 165:44; see also 341:47],[104, p.
21],[82, 729:02] Eochaid mac Domangart died in 697 in killed by Cenel
Loairn.[248],[74, 170:9 +] King of DalRiata {697}.[248]

15th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

20480 Domangart mac Domnal Brecc King of DalRiata.[74, 170:8],[73, p.
29],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[151, 165:45],[104, p. 21],[82, 729:04]
Domangart mac Domnal Brecc died in 673 in killed.[248],[73, p. 29] King
of DalRiata {660-673}.[248]

16th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

40960 Domnall Brecc mac Eochaid Buid King of DalRiata.[74, 170:7],[73, p.
29],[248],[426, p. 88],[416, Table C, p. 230],[151, 165:46],[104, p.
21],[82, 729:08] Domnall Brecc mac Eochaid Buid was alive in 621.[73]
Domnall Brecc mac Eochaid Buid died in Dec 0642 in battle of
Strathcarron.[248],[426, p. 88 +],[73, p. 29 +@],[74, 170:7 + (ca 642)
@],[82] King of DalRiata {629-642}.[248]

17th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

81920 Eochaid Buid mac Aedan King of DalRiata.[74, 170:6],[73, p.
29],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[426, p. 88],[151, 165:47],[104, p.
21],[82, 729:16->730] Eochaid Buid mac Aedan died in 629.[248],[426, p. 88
+],[73, p. 29 +],[74, 170:6 + (ca 630)] King of DalRiata {606-629}.[248]
Educated by St. Columba.[73, p. 29]

18th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

163840 Aedan mac Gabran King of DalRiata.[74, 170:5],[73, p.
29],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[426, pp. 76, 88],[151, 165:48],[104, p.
21],[82, 730:02] Born ca 532 in Scotland.[73, p. 29 *],[82] Aedan mac
Gabran died in 606; he was 74.[248],[426, p. 76 +],[73, p. 29 +],[74,
170:5 + (ca 608)] King of DalRiata {574-606}.[248] Crowned King of
DalRiata by St. Columba at Iona 574..[73, p. 29]

19th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

327680 Gabran mac Domangart King of DalRiata.[74, 170:4],[73, p.
28],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[426, p. 76],[151, 165:49],[104, p.
21],[82, 730:04] Gabran mac Domangart died in 560.[248, + 558],[426, p. 76
+ (560)],[73, p. 28 + (560)] King of DalRiata {538-558}.[248]

20th Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

655360 Domangart mac Fergus King of DalRiata.[74, 170:3],[73, p.
28],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[426, p. 76],[151, 165:50],[104, p.
21],[82, 730:08] Domangart mac Fergus died in 507.[248],[426, p. 76 +]
King of DalRiata {501-507}.[82],[248]

655361 Feidelm Fotchain.[74, See 170:3],[73, p. 28],[248],[151,
251:52],[82, 730:09]

21st Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

1310720 Fergus Mar mac Ercc King of DalRiata.[74, 170:2],[73, pp. 28,
243],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[426, p. 76],[151, 165:51],[104, p.
21],[82, 730:16->731] Fergus Mar mac Ercc died ca 501.[248],[73, pp. 28,
243] King of DalRiata {ca 500-501}.

1310722 Brion.[74, See 170:3],[73, p. 28],[426, p. 9],[248],[151,
251:53],[82, 730:18->732]

Brion is listed as a half-brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages in the
official tradition. [426, Fig. 2, p. 9]

22nd Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

2621440 Ercc mac Eochaid Munremar King of Irish DalRiata.[74, 170:1],[73,
pp. 28, 243],[248],[416, Table C, p. 230],[151, 165:52],[82, 731:02] Born
ca 400 in Northern Ireland.[73, p. 243 *],[82] Ercc mac Eochaid Munremar
died in 474; he was 74.[74, 170:1 +],[73, pp. 28, 243 +],[82]

2621444 Eochaid Mugmedon.[73, p. 28],[426, p. 9],[248],[151, 251:54],[82,
732:02 & 2108:08]

23rd Generation
‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

5242880 Eochaid Muinremur King of Irish DalRiata.[74, 170:1],[73, pp. 28,
243],[248],[151, 165:53],[82, 731:04] Born in 4th cent.[73, p. 243 (Ercc
b. ca 400)] Eochaid Muinremur died bef 439.[73, pp. 28, 243 +],[82] King
of DalRiata in Ireland.

"Fergus Mor, one of Erc's sons, is generally considered to be the
earliest historically authenticated ancestor of the kings of Scotland, but
it is just possible that Fergus had a father Erc who had a father Eochaid
Munremar."[248]

³Chronicle of the Scots²[157, p. 133] lists the genealogy: ³. . .
Malcolaim filii Cinada, filii Maelcolaim, filii Domnaill, filii
Constantin, filii Cinacha, filii Alpin, filii Echach, filii Eda-find,
filii Echadach, filii Echach, filii Domongrat, filii Domnail-bric, filii
Echach-buide, filii Edan, filii Gabran, filii Domangrat, filii Fergusa,
filii Eirc, filii Echach-muinremuir, filii Oengusaphir, filii
Fedelinthe-aislingig, filii Oengusa-buiding, filii . . .²

³Corpus genealogiarum sanctorum Hiberniae²[442, p. 34 #201] lists the
genealogy (of the saint Berchan m. Micain): ³. . . Loairn m. Eirc Moir m.
Echach Munremuir m. Oengusa Fir m. Feidlimid Aslingthig m. Oengusa Budnig
m. Senchormaic m. Cruithluthi m. Find Fecci . . .²

REFERENCES

73. Moriarty, George Andrews, The Plantagenet Ancestry of King Edward III
and Queen Philippa, Salt Lake City, Utah: Mormon Pioneer Genealogy
Society, 1985.
74. Weis, Frederick Lewis, Ancestral roots of certain American colonists
who came to America before 1700; 7th ed., with additions and correctiuons
by Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr. ; assisted by David Faris, Baltimore, MD:
Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992.
75. Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Magna Charta Surities, 1215, 4th ed., with
additions and corrections by Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr., with David Faris,
Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991.
82. Call, Michel L., Royal Ancestors of Some American Families ; Pedigree
Charts., Printed by the author, 1991.
104. Turton, William Harry, The Plantagenet ancestry, Baltimore, MD:
Genealogical Publishing Co., 1993.
151. Stuart, Roderick W., Royalty for commoners : the complete known
lineage of John of Gaunt, . . . second edition, Baltimore: Genealogical
Pub. Co., 1992.
157. Skene, William Forbes, 1809-1892, Chronicles of the Picts, chronicles
of the Scots, and other early memorials of Scottish history, Edinburgh:
H. M. General Register House, 1867.
193. Foster, Joseph, 1844-1905, Pedigrees of the county families of
Yorkshire. Vol. I - West Riding; vil. II - North and East Riding,
London: W. Wilfred Head, Plough Court, Fetter Lane, 1874.
233. Schwennicke, Detlev (ed.), Europaische Stammtafeln : Stammtafeln zur
Geschichte der europaischen Staaten / begrundet von Wilhelm Karl Prinz zu
Isenburg ; fortgefuhrt von Frank Baron Freytag von Loringhoven ; neue
Folge herausgegeben vonٹ., Marburg: Stargardt, 1978-<1995 >.
244. Paul, James Balfour, Sir, 1846-1931, The Scots peerage, Edinburgh :
D. Douglas, 1904-14.
248. Davidson, Michael R., ³Genealogy of the early medieval Scottish
kings², soc.genealogy.medieval, 23 Oct 1995.
328. Stone, Don Charles, Some ancient and Medieval descents of Edward I of
England, Philadelphia: the author, 1995.
329. Joannis, J. D. de, and R. de Saint-Jouan, Les seize quartiers
genealogiques des Capetiens, Lyon: Sauvegarde Historique, 1958.
355. Stephen, William, Rev., History of Inverkeithing and Rosyth,
Aberdeen: G. & W. Fraser, 1921.
368. Faris, David, Plantagenet ancestry of seventeenth-century colonists,
Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishers, 1996.
376. Winkhaus, Eberhard, Ahnen Zu Karl Dem Grossen Und Widukind,
Westfalen, 1950.
413. Douglas, David C., William the Conqueror: the Norman Impact upon
England, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964.
416. Anderson, Marjorie Ogilvie, Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland,
Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1980.
417. Ross, Stewart, Monarchs of Scotland, New York: Facts On File, 1990.
426. Mac Niocaill, Gearَid, Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and
Macmillan, 1972.
442. O Riain, Padraig (ed.), Corpus genealogiarum sanctorum Hiberniae,
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1985.

--
Alan B. Wilson
abwi...@uclink2.berkeley.edu

[Stewart Baldwin]

abwi...@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Alan B. Wilson) wrote:

> Since 30 Dec 1997 when Stewart Baldwin unlinked the chain which I had
>sought to forge from Eva of Leinster to Niall of the Nine Hostages, I've
>been wondering what other line, from which many may trace descent, might
>reach so far back--say to the fifth century.

> The early kings of the Scots and of DalRiata would seem to be quite
>firm back at least to Fergus Mar mac Ercc who lived in the fifth century.
>And perhaps one may "push the envelope" yet another generation or two.

> I'll be glad to receive corrections on any of the following. I'd
>especially appreciate a critical assessment of generations 20-23.

[later generations omitted]

>19th Generation
>‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

>20th Generation
>‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

>21st Generation
>‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

>22nd Generation
>‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

>23rd Generation
>‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

>REFERENCES
[omitted]

The problem with trying to "push the envelope" beyond Fergus is that
it has already been pretty much pushed to the limit as it is. Both
Fergus and his son Domangart are very shadowy figures. St. Columba
did not arrive in Ireland until after the death of Gabran, during the
reign of Conall. It was about a hundred years later that Adamnan
wrote his life of St. Columba, and about the same time (i.e., the late
seventh century) that the annals become clearly contemporary. In
general, the earlier annals were compiled later, based on whatever
material was available at the time.

Now, the kinglists of Dal Riata begin with Fergus, who appears to have
been the leader who removed the seat of government of the Dal Riata
from Ireland to Scotland (probably due to Ui Neill encroachments).
This apparently occurred during the living memory of the oldest
individuals living during the time of St. Columba, and it is
reasonable to accept that basic information (although the dates
certainly cannot be trusted to be accurate to the year), even though
virtually nothing is known of the first three kings (Fergus,
Domangart, Comgall).

However, when you get back to the generation of Fergus's father, the
whole scheme reeks of late invention. Loarn and Oengus, ancestors of
the other two septs of the Dal Riata, are made out to be brothers of
Fergus, but there is no guarantee that this was the case. It appears
to be just the typical scheme in which the ancestors of the various
competing groups are made into brothers in the "official" genealogy.
Several possible scenarios suggest themselves.

(a) The known genealogy originally began with Fergus, and when the
genealogists made Fergus, Loarn, and Oengus into brothers, they
invented the names prior to Fergus.

(b) There was a genuine tradition that Fergus was the son of Erc and
grandson of Eochaid, and when Loarn and Oengus were made into brothers
of Fergus, they were attached at the appropriate place in Fergus's
genalogy.

(c) Fergus, Loarn, and Oengus actually were brothers, despite the very
suspicious nature of the evidence.

(d) None of the above. (Numerous other competing scenarios could be
developed, all consistent with the meager surviving evidence.)

All of the above scenarios are POSSIBLE. However, in my opinion, it
is not appropriate to choose one of them to the exclusion of the
others. Thus, I think it is best to cut the pedigree off at Fergus.

Regarding the supposed marriage of Domangart, it is chronologically
possible, but the evidence is late, and I am dubious about it. The
connection between Brion and Eochaid Mugmedon should also be
considered dubious. There is a lot that is suspicious in the early
history of the kings of Connacht, and it is quite likely that the
"brother" relationship between Niall and Brion (and others) was a
later invention, similar to the case of Fergus, Loarn, and Oengus.

[Begin nitpick mode]
When writing Irish names using the "mac" element, you need to put the
patronymic in genetive rather than nominative.
[End nitpick mode]

Stewart Baldwin