Áed Uaridnach

Who was Áed Uaridnach?

Áed Uaridnach was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name most commonly used for the 8th-century king of the same name, this Áed's great-great-grandson.

Áed was the son of Domnall Ilchelgach and brother of Eochaid mac Domnaill, considered to have been High Kings by some sources.. He belonged to the northern Cenél nEógain kindred of the Uí Néill. He was King of Ailech from 604 to 612

Áed, it was said, was preceded as High King by the joint rule of Áed Sláine and Colmán Rímid and ruled from 604 to 612. Áed is mentioned in the earliest Irish King list contained in the Baile Chuind, a late 7th-century Irish poem. In 605 Áed won a victory over the King of Leinster, Brandub mac Echach at the Battle of Slabra. Leinster was often a target of the Ui Neill for inaugural raids and the levy of a cattle-tribute. The Annals of Tigernach place the beginning of his reign after this event.

The cause of Áed's death is unknown, but his obituary presents it as a non-violent death. The Cenél Feradach, led by the descendants of Suibne Menn, overshadowed Áed's branch of the Cenél nEógain—the Cenél maic Ercae—and it was not until the time of his great-grandson Fergal mac Máele Dúin that the Cenél maic Ercae again provided a High King of Ireland. Áed's son Máel Fithrich mac Áedo was a king of Ailech.