Báetán mac Muirchertaig

Who was Báetán mac Muirchertaig?

Báetán mac Muirchertaig, also Baetán Bríge, was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. He was the son of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig, also considered a high king. He was a member of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He ruled in Ailech from 566 to 572.

The high kingship of Ireland rotated between the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill branches in the late 6th century. Báetán ruled jointly with his nephew Eochaid mac Domnaill from 569. The middle Irish king lists have misplaced their reign putting it earlier than the annalistic tradition but other king lists have them in the correct order. They are also omitted from the earliest list of Kings of Tara, the Baile Chuind, a late 7th-century Irish poem. It is possible that the Ulaid king, Báetán mac Cairill, was the actual high king at this time.

In 572 the two kings were defeated and slain by Crónán mac Tigernaig, king of the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin.

Báetán's son Colmán Rímid also appears as high king of Ireland in some lists. He had four other sons, Máel Umai, Forannán, Fergus and Ailill. His sons are given in The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories as follows: "Coic maic Baetáin maic Muirc[h]ertaig .i. Forgus, otáit Cenél Forgusa; Forannán, a quo Hui Forannáin; Ailill .i. athair Cindfaelad; Maelhumai .i. in rígfénid; Colman Rimid athair Fína máthar Flainn."