Ciannachta: Difference between revisions

{{NoMore footnotes needed|date=May 2010}}

The '''Ciannachta''' were a population group of early historic Ireland. They claimed descent from the legendary figure [[Tadc mac CeinCéin]]. Modern research indicates Saint [[Cianán]] and his followers may have been the origin behind the tribal name as it is a late construction similar in form to [[Eóganachta]] and [[Connachta]]. They first appear in historical sources in the 6th century, and were found in several parts of the island, including in [[plain of Brega|Brega]] and [[Tír EoghainAirgialla]]. The Ciannachta groups were absorbed over time. Modern descendants (mostly surnamed O'Carroll) have formed a '''Clan Cian''' society (headquartered in the United States).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.clancian-ocarroll.com/whatisclancian |title=What Is Clan Cian |date=2022 |work=ClanCian-OCarroll.com |publisher=Clan Cian Society}}</ref>

The Ciannachta claimed descend from [[Tadc mac CeinCéin]], a member of "the possibly legendary early [[Munster]] dynasty, who was said to be a grandson of [[Ailill AulommAulom]]. Tadc was also the putative ancestor of Luigni and [[Gailenga – peoples]]—peoples which were located in a number of centres in the midlands and the west of Ireland".<ref>[[#PByrne2000|Byrne, Ciannachta Breg]], p.&nbsp;121.</ref> The acquisition, by Tadc, of the territory held by his descendants in Brega is related in the possibly late ninth-9th-century saga, ''Cath Crinna''.<ref>[[#O'Grady_1|O'Grady (ed.), Silva Gadelica 1]], pp.&nbsp;[https://archive.org/stream/silvagadelicaixx01ogra#page/318/mode/2up 319&ndash;326]–326; [[#O'Grady_2|O'Grady (trans.), Silva Gadelica 2]], pp.&nbsp;[https://archive.org/stream/silvagadelicaixx02ogra#page/358/mode/2up 359&ndash;368]–368; [[#PByrne2000|Byrne, Ciannachta Breg]], p.&nbsp;122</ref>

The fortunes of the historical Ciannachta can to an extent be traced via the [[Irish annals]].<ref>[[#PByrne2000|Byrne, Ciannachta Breg]], pp.&nbsp;124&ndash;126124–126; [[#Byrnes2000|Byrnes, Ard Ciannachta]], pp.&nbsp;128&ndash;131128–131.</ref> Ciannachta Breg occupied the coastal area between [[Annagassan]] and [[Dublin]]. They are first recorded ''sub anno'' 535 when they were defeated in battle at Luachair Mór (between the rivers [[Nanny (river)|Nanny]] and [[River Boyne|Boyne]]), near [[Duleek]], by [[Túathal Máelgarb]].

The Ciannachta kept their independence into the ninth9th century. HoweverA devastating seaborne attack by [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria]] in June 684,<ref name=Celtic>Koch, John T., ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, Volume 1'' (ABC-CLIO, 2006). {{ISBN|978-1-8510-9440-0}}</ref> which resulted in the seizing of a large number of slaves and the sacking of many churches and monasteries in Brega, was followed in 688 by the battle of Imblech Pich (Emlach, near [[Kells, County Meath|Kells]]) in 688 was an important defeat, inflicted upon them by King Niall mac Cernaigh, [[Kings of Brega|king of Brega]]. After this, they lost their independence south of the Boyne and north of the Nanny Water, and from this point on were referred to as Ard Ciannachta, reflecting their loss of territory in south-east Brega.

Following the death of Cellach (786), the indigenous Ciannachta never again attained the kingship of their own territory and their political ambitions seem to have been entirely focused on the kingdom of Fir Arda Ciannachta ... The political eclipse of Ciannachta Breg from mid-eighth8th century onwards may have resulted in members of that dynasty transferring their ambitions to the ecclesiastical sphere where one of their kindred, [[Conmael ua Loichene]], took the abbacy of the same church [ [[Monasterboice]] ] in 733. Another member of the Ciannachta Breg, Ioseph ua Cernae, acceded to the abbacy of the same church in 790 ... [[Flann Mainistrech]] ... who died in 1056 is name in the Ciannachta Breg pedigree, as is his son, Echthigern ... who died in 1067.

* Ciannachta Breg – found in [[Kings of Brega|Brega]] (between the [[River Liffey|Liffey]] and the Boyne), later conquered by the [[Síl nÁedo Sláine]]

* Ciannachta[[Cianachta GlinneGlenn Geimin]] – found in [[Cenél nEógain]], innow the barony of [[Keenaght (barony)|Keenaght]], in [[County Londonderry]]

Admitting that there are significant questions surrounding the tribal name Ciannachta, David Sproule points out that the ''-acht'' suffix was used to form only three population-group names in early Ireland, namely the [[Connachta]], [[Eoganachta]] and Ciannachta.<ref>[[#Sproule|Sproule, Origins of the Éoganchta]], pp.&nbsp;31&ndash;3231–32</ref> He states that,

Paul Byrne accepts this hypothesis,<ref>[[#PByrne2000|Byrne, Ciannachta Breg]], pp.&nbsp;122&ndash;123122–123.</ref> proposing the "conjecture that the source of the tribal name was the patron saint of the Ciannachta Breg, [[Cianan]], the founder of [[Duleek]]. ... Cianan is, of course, a diminutive form of "Cian." Thus, the name Ciannachta may have been a combination of "Cian" and the suffix "-acht." One may surmise that an ambitious tribe (or grouping of tribes) of relatively insignificant origin based near the church of Duleek – possiblyDuleek—possibly lay tenentstenants of the monastery – decidedmonastery—decided to forge a new identity based on their adherence to the local founder. Thus they became the "Ciannachta" – —'the people of St Cianan.' fortuitously, the ancestor figure of their neighbours Gailenga and Luigni – CianLuigni—Cian mac Ailella Auluimm – wouldAuluimm—would have provided a suitably named ancestor figure when they later sought to construct a new pedigree for themselves." The townland of Keenoge south of Duleek may indicate a place of origin.

Cianan was regarded as a very significant figure in very early Irish Christianity, his church at Duleek traditionally stated as the first stone church in Ireland. Cianan himself is reported in the [[Annals of Ulster]] as dying in 489, four years before [[Saint Patrick]]. No life is extant, but various anecdotes survive, particularly in the medieval commentary on the martyrology [[FelireMartyrology Oengussoof Oengus|Félire Óengusso]].<ref>[[#Stokes1905|Stokes (ed. and trans.), Félire Óengusso]], pp.&nbsp;[https://archive.org/stream/martyrologyofoen00oeng#page/244/mode/2up 244]–247.</ref>

The territorial extantextent of Ciannachta Breg prior to its conquest is uncertain, but believed to have been reasonably large.<ref>[[#Byrnes2000|Byrnes, Ard Ciannachta]], pp.&nbsp;130&ndash;131130–131.</ref>

* Gerthide – probably son of the above, king in 594, defeated at the battle of Eudunn Mor in Ciannacht Breg.

* Doir mac Mael Duib – styled ''king of the Ciannachta'', fl{{Fl.}} 674

* Dub da Chrich – died in 722, apparently king of Ard Ciannachta

* 974. – Tadhg Ua Ruadhrach, lord of Cianachta, was slain in Ulidia.

* {{citation |first=Francis John |last=Byrne |title=Irish Kings and High Kings |edition=3rd |publisher=Four Courts Press |location=Dublin |year=2001 |isbn=1-85182-196-1 |ref=FJByrne2001 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/irishkingshighki00byrn_0 }}

* {{citation |editor-last=Smyth |editor-first=Alfred P. |title=Seanchas: Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History, and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne |last=Byrne |first=Paul |contribution=Ciannachta Breg before Sil nAeda Slaine |pages=127&ndash;136121–126 |publisher=Four Courts Press |location=Dublin |year=2000 |isbn=1-85182-489-8 |ref=PByrne2000}}

* {{citation |editor-last=Smyth |editor-first=Alfred P. |title=Seanchas: Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History, and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne |last=Byrnes |first=Michael |contribution=The Ard Ciannachta in [[Adomnan]]'s "Vita Columbae": a reflection of [[Iona]]'s attitude to the Sil nAeda Slaine in the late seventh century |pages=127&ndash;136127–136 |publisher=Four Courts Press |location=Dublin |year=2000 |isbn=1-85182-489-8 |ref=Byrnes2000}}

* {{citation |first=Margaret E. |last=Dobbs |contribution=The Pedigree and Family of Flann Manistrech |title=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society |volume=5:3 |year=1956 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/=27728169 |ref=Dobbs}}

* {{citation |first=David |last=Sproule |contribution=Origins of the Éoganchta |title=Ériu 35 |year=1984 |pages=31&ndash;3731–37 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/=30007776 |ref=Sproule}}