Pictland
From 632 till 642 Pictland was ruled by 3 grandsons of the great Brude mac Maelchon: Gartnait III, Brude II, and Talorc III. Though their reigns were short, this was a stable time for the Picts, though the growing hegemony of the Angles south of the Firth of Forth would eventually bring them into conflict with Northumbria. After the defeats to Aedan of Dál Riada at the battles of the River Teith (590) and Circinn (596), the Miathi were finally broken and vanished from history. Pictland’s border with Dál Riada remained static, and for now, both coexisted peacefully.

Dál Riada
Aedan mac Gabhran abdicated in 606, shortly after his defeat at Degsastan (603). The throne passed to his son, Eocho Bude, who offered sanctuary to the children of his father’s enemy when Æthelfrith was killed in 616. The æthelings grew up in Dál Riada and were converted to Christianity on Iona. After Eocho Bude died in 629, the kingship of Dál Riada became relatively unstable. Conadd Cerr lasted only 3 months and was followed by Domnall Brecc, a weak king who was finally forced to share the throne with Connad Cerr’s son, Ferchar. Domnall did, however, supply an army for Oswald to successfully reclaim the throne of Northumbria in 635. In 642, Dál Riada was forced to cede possession of Manau to Strathclyde when Domnall was killed by Owen map Beli at the battle of Strathcarron.

Ulster & the Uí Neills
The rise of Dalriadan power in Scotland (Alba) brought about a major realignment of power in Ulster (Ulaid). The kings of Tir Eogan and Tir Conal (Uí Neills) were now the overlords in the north of Hibernia and dynastic warfare had broken out both between and within the clans of Dál nAraide and Dál Fiatach – and this led to a series of battles that involved Dalriadan and Bernician royalty. Fiachna Lurgan had fought against Edwin of Northumbria on behalf of the ætheling exiles in Dál Riada, and they supported him in his struggles against Fiachna mac Deman of Dál Fiatach. Eventually the kings of Tir Conal intervened which led to the great battles of Mag Rath and Saeltire in 637. This broke the back of Dalriadan power in Ulster, and from now on, Scottish and Irish affairs were separate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

601 – Battle of Cúl Caíl
Fiachna of Dál nAraide
def.
Fiachna of Dál Fiatach

603 – Battle of Degsastan
Æthelfrith of Bernicia
def.
Aedan of Dál Riada

613 – Battle of Caerlegion
Æthelfrith of Bernicia
def.
Iago of Gwynedd

616 – Battle of River Idle
Rædwald of East Anglia
def.
Æthelfrith of Bernicia

622 – Battle of Leithet Midind
Fiachna of Dál Fiatach
def.
Fiachna of Dál nAraide

622 – Battle of Cenn Delgthen
Domnal Brecc of Dál Riada
def.
The Ui Neill of Mide

624 – Battle of Ard Corran
Connad Cerr of Dál Riada
def.
Fiachna of Dál Fiatach

 

 

 

Strathclyde
Riderch map Tudwal died in 612 after ruling Strathclyde for 58 years. but left no male heir. The crown passed to his 2nd cousin, Neithon map Guipno, who was followed in turn by his son Beli (622–631) and grandson Owen. When Oswald of Northumbria annexed Gododdin, Owen expanded into Manau by defeating Domnall Brecc of Dál Riada in 642.

Northumbria
Æthelfrith had crushed the Britons, annexed the Pennines, and united the crowns of Bernicia and Deira (including Eborac) in 604. However, he was killed in 616 by his nemesis, Edwin son of Ælle, and Æthelfrith’s young children (æthelings) took asylum in Pictland and Dál Riada. Edwin, an on-again, off-again Christian, had forged an even larger kingdom by absorbing Elmet and The Peak, but was himself killed in 633 when Cadwalla of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia invaded and ravaged Northumbria.
Æthelfrith’s heir, Eanfrith, soon returned from Pictland to reclaim his father’s crown, but was murdered by Cadwalla when he sought a truce. Oswald then became heir, and leading a great army of Dalriadans and Bernician exiles, he defeated Cadwalla in 635 and claimed the throne. Oswald declared Northumbria a Christian kingdom and invited Bishop Aidan to found a monastery at Lindisfarne. He annexed Gododdin and became the overlord of Rheged through his brother Oswiu’s marriage to Princess Reinmellt. However, Penda was still campaigning in Northumbria and Oswald was killed at Maserfelth (modern Mackersfield) in 642. Oswiu then became king and Rheged was officially absorbed into greater Northumbria.

Gwynedd & Mercia
Gwynedd survived the collapse of the Britons in the early years of the 7th century and its leader, Cadwalla map Cadfan, even went on to attack and ravage Northumbria as an ally of Mercia. The neighbouring province of Powys was slowly disintegrating in face of an expanding Mercia, but Gwynedd, like Strathclyde, managed to survive. Cadwalla was killed by Oswald in 635, and the throne of Gwynedd was usurped by Cadfael Cadomedd in 635. Penda of Mercia survived for many years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

629 – Battle of Fid Eoin
Mael Caech of Dál nAraide
def.
Connad Cerr of Dál Riada

633 – Battle of Hæthfelth
Cadwalla of Gwynedd
def.
Edwin of Northumbria

635 – Battle of Hefenfelth
Oswald of Northumbria
def.
Cadwalla of Gwynedd

637 – Battle of Mag Rath
Domnall mac Aed of Tir Conal
def.
Congal Caech of Dál nAraide

637 – Battle of Saeltire
Conal Cael of Tir Conal
def.
Domnall Brecc of Dál Riada

642 – Battle of Maserfelth
Penda of Mercia
def.
Oswald of Northumbria

642 – Battle of Strathcarron
Owen of Strathclyde
def.
Domnal Brecc of Dál Riada

Interactive Map of Britannia circa 640

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map of Northern Brittania circa 640 <strong>Pictland</strong><br /> Very little had altered in <em>Pictland</em> over the previous century. The most significant change was that southern <em>Miathi</em> had been brought under control and a single king ruled both north and south. Brude mac Maelchon had united the nation and regained control over the Gowrie district and his grandchildren now ruled from Scone rather than the northern strongholds of Craig Phadrig, Torridun or Dunfoither. <strong>Dál Riada</strong><br /> Domnall Brecc had ruled <em>Dál Riada</em> from 629, and had involved himself in the dynastic wars in <em>Ulster</em> with little success. Dalriadan power in <em>Ulster</em> had waned as the power of the dominant Uí Neill overlords in <em>Tir Eogan</em> and <em>Tir Conal</em> had increased. Domnall’s support for Oswald was, however, a success and Northumbria was now an ally. <em>Dál Riada’s</em> suzerainty over <em>Manau</em>, though, had diminished, and by 642, this province was split between <em>Northumbria</em> and <em>Strathclyde</em>. <strong>Strathclyde</strong><br /> This kingdom proved to be the great survivor amongst the Brythonnic-speaking nations. While nearly all had fallen to the might of <em>Northumbria</em>, Riderch map Tudwal and his successors had carefully avoided conflict with their neighbours north and south. The liege kings in <em>Galloway</em> had lost <em>Ynys Manann</em>, first to <em>Dál Fiatach</em> and then to <em>Dál Riada</em> but they gained <em>Salway</em> and parts of <em>Catraeth</em> when <em>Rheged</em> began to collapse. However, in 638, they lost their suzerainty of <em>Gododdin</em> when that province was overrun by Oswald. Soon after, Owen map Beli killed Domnall Brecc of Dál Riada and gained much of the old province of <em>Manau</em>. <strong>Ulster</strong><br /> By 640, the lords of <em>Dál Riada</em> had lost most of their holdings in Ulster and were no longer a major force in local affairs. Similarly, <em>Dál Fiatach</em> and <em>Dál nAraide</em> had become sub-kingdoms of the Uí Neill kings, mostly brought about by internal and dynastic warfare. From this time, the affairs of Scotland and Ulster were significantly distinct and not as interwoven as they had been for the previous 200 years. <strong>Northumbria</strong> <br /> <em>Northumbria</em> had become an empire created from the ashes of several Brythonnic nations that had came into being at the end of the Roman administration of Britain around 410. After originally taking control of <em>Bryneich</em> in 537 and <em>Deifr</em> in 560 (renamed <em>Bernicia</em> and <em>Deira</em>), the Angles had struggled to survive in the face of resistance from Urien of <em>Rheged</em> and others. However, before and after Æthelfrith had merged those two crowns in 604, the Angles slowly devoured their British neighbours: <em>Eborac</em> in 580; the <em>Pennines</em> in 595; <em>Elmet</em> and <em>The Peak</em> in 616; <em>Rheged</em> and <em>Gododdin</em> in 638. The nation then withstood late challenges from <em>Gwynedd</em> and <em>Mercia</em> to emerge as the undisputed powerhouse of the region. <strong>Gwynedd & Mercia</strong> <br /> Æthelfrith had attacked <em>Gwynedd</em> in 613, and Cadwalla returned the favour in 633 when he joined with Penda of <em>Mercia</em> to invade and ravish <em>Northumbria</em>. They killed Edwin at Hæthfelth (Hatfield Chase) in 633 and murdered Æthelfrith’s heir Eanfrith the following year when he tried to reclaim his father’s throne. Oswald had his revenge in 634 when he led a victorious army of Scots and Bernician exiles at the Battle of Hefenfelth (Heavensfield near Hexham). He killed Cadwalla, and the throne of <em>Gwynedd</em> was usurped by Cadafael <em>Cadomedd</em> (The Battle Shirker). Penda continued his raids against <em>Northumbria</em> and killed Oswald at the battle of Maserfelth (modern Parish of Mackersfield, Lancashire) in 642.

 

 

Battles from AD 603 to AD 642

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map of Northern Brittania showing battle 601-642 <strong>Battle of Strathcarron 642</strong><br /> Domnall Brecc had been a weak king who lost the Dalriadan lands in Ulster after the Battle of Mag Rath in 537. His suzerainty over <em>Manau</em> was also challenged, with the Northumbrians taking some lands west of Din Eityn (Edinburgh) and <em>Strathclyde</em> occupying the districts south of Guidi (Stirling). Domnall attacked Owen map Beli at Strathcarron near the forth, but was defeated and killed. <strong>Battle of Degsastan 603</strong><br /> Aedan had lost 2 sons at the battle of Catraeth in 598, and was now concerned about Æthelfrith’s invasion of the border provinces around Hadrian’s Wall. Many Bernicians had fled to Dál Riada when Æthelfrith stole the crown from Hussa, and Aedan was keen to support Hussa’s son Hering in his attempt to regain the Bernician throne. He marched south through the Esk Valley to confront the Bernicians as they rampaged through eastern Rheged – Aedan and Æthelfrith met near the headwaters of the Liddel River in 603. Both sides sustained heavy losses, and although the Angles had won the day, both armies had to retreat to their homelands. <strong>Battle of Hefenfelth 635</strong> <br /> Cadwalla of <em>Gwynedd</em> and Penda of <em>Mercia</em> invaded <em>Northumbria</em> in 633 and killed Edwin at the battle of Hæthfelth (Hatfield Chase). They ravaged the countryside and murdered Eanfrith, Æthelfrith’s heir, when he returned to claim his father’s throne in 634. The next ætheling in line was Oswald, a refugee in <em>Dál Riada</em>. Domnall Brecc supplied Oswald a large army, and along with a force of Bernician exiles, Oswald reoccupied Bebbanburg (Bamburg) and marched on to meet Cadwalla at Hadrian’s Wall (near modern Hexham). He raised a large cross on the eve of the battle, and thereafter the field of battle was known as ‘Hefenfelth’ (Heaven’s Field). The following morning, Oswald’s forces crossed the wall and slaughtered the Welsh army. Cadwalla fled south, but was overrun at Denis Brook (now Rowley Burn) and killed. The Welsh called this battle <em>Bellum Canstcaul</em>. <strong>Battle of Caerlegion 613</strong> <br /> When Æthelfrith seized the throne of Deira, Prince Edwin fled to <em>Gwynedd</em> for refuge. Edwin never relinquished the throne, and remained a constant threat to Æthelfrith’s rule. Eventually, Æthelfrith decided to rid himself of the threat posed by Edwin, so he marched to the outskirts of Caerlegion (modern Chester) in 613 where he was met by both King Selyf of <em>Powys</em> and King <em>Iago</em> of Gwynedd. Æthelfrith defeated and killed both kings along with hundreds of monks who had come to pray. However, Iago’s son Cadfan and his grandson Cadwalla fought a rearguard action that prevented Æthelfrith from total success. Edwin escaped to <em>Mercia</em> and Cadwalla planned his revenge. <strong>Battle of Hæthfelth 633</strong> <br /> Edwin had married Penda’s 1st cousin, Cwenburg, but she died in 624. Both Cadwalla of <em>Gwynedd</em> and Penda were concerned about Northumbrian expansion (particularly after the annexation of Elmet), and Penda invaded that district with the support of Cadwalla. Edwin marched south from his stronghold at Poclintun and engaged the invaders at Hæthfelth (modern Hatfield Chase near Doncaster), but his army was decimated and he was killed. This brought about the virtual collapse of <em>Northumbria</em> which Penda and Cadwalla then ravaged for almost a year. Edwin’s sons Osfrith and Eanfrith were both killed at or soon after the battle, so the throne of Northumbria was claimed by Eanfrith son of Æthelfrith, at that time a refugee in Pictland. <strong>Battle of the River Idle 616</strong> <br /> When Edwin escaped after the battle of Caerlegion, he went to the court of Cearl in <em>Mercia</em>. He soon married Cearl’s daughter Cwenburg and later sought asylum with Rædwald of <em>East Engle</em>. Æthelfrith pressured Rædwald to surrender Edwin, and when this did not happen, he marched south to exact revenge. However, Rædwald met the Northumbrians on the banks of the River Idle in 616 and defeated and killed Æthelfrith. Edwin immediately claimed the throne and invaded <em>Elmet</em> while Æthelfrith’s children (æthelings) fled to <em>Dál Riada</em> and <em>Pictland</em>. <strong>Battle of Maserfelth 642</strong> <br /> Although Oswald was able to defeat Cadwalla in 635, Penda of <em>Mercia</em> still remained a great threat to <em>Northumbria</em>. Oswald absorbed <em>Rheged</em> and <em>Gododdin</em> in 638 and spent the next 4 years consolidating his realm. However, Penda attempted to push across the River Mæsea in 642, so Oswald marched across the Pennines to meet him at Maserfelth (Mackersfield). However, Penda crushed the Northumbrians and Oswald’s body was hung from a tree near the field. Oswiu now came to the throne of <em>Northumbria</em>. <strong>Battle of Leithet Midind 622</strong> <br /> Fiachna Lurgan came to the throne of the <em>Dál nAraide</em> by killing Aed Dubh in 588, and took the position as High King of the Ulaid when he defeated Fiachna mac Deman in 601 at Cúl Caíl (Kilkeel, County Down). He was a strong ally of <em>Dál Riada</em> and had led a warband against Edwin of <em>Northumbria</em> in 633. However, the rivalry between the two factions continued until Fiachna mac Deman defeated and killed Fiachna Lurgan at Leithet Mindind near Drung (Knocklayd, County Antrim) in 622. This defeat began a war with the Dalriadans. =<strong>Battle of Ard Corran 624</strong> <br /> When Fiachna Lurgan was killed at Leithet Midind in 622, <em>Dál Riada’s</em> influence in <em>Ulaid</em> came under threat. Domnall Brecc had campaigned against the allies of <em>Dál Fiatach</em> in Meath (battle of Cenn Delgthen), and now Prince Connad Cerr (Eocho Bude’s nephew) sought revenge for the killing of Fiachna Lurgan. The Dalriadan army met the forces of <em>Dál Fiatach</em> at Ard Corran in 624 and Fiachna mac Deman was killed. <strong>Battle of Fid Eoin 629</strong> <br /> Within 3 months of ascending the Dalriadan throne, Connad Cerr was again at war, this time trying to assert Dalriadan suzerainty over his previous allies in <em>Dál nAraide</em>. He was strongly resisted by Mael Caech, grandson of Fiachna Lurgan. The two forces met at Fid Eoin in 629 and Connad’s forces were decimated. The dead included Connad Cerr, Failbe mac Eochaid and Riguallan mac Conaing (grandsons of Aedan), and a number of Bernician exiles serving with the Dalriadans. Connad Cerr had lasted just 3 months as king and was followed by his cousin Domnall Brecc. <strong>Battle Cenn Delgthen 622</strong> <br /> Prince Domnall Brecc, son of King Eochaid of <em>Dál Riada</em>, led his father’s warband to aid Conall mac Suibne of the Southern Ui Neill at Cenn Delgthen in Mide (modern Meath). This battle came soon after Fiachna Lurgan had ben killed Leithet Midind and was part of the Dalriadan response to that victory by Fiachna Deman of <em>Dál Fiatach</em>. The Bernician princes Oswald and Oswiu served with Domanll’s army. This is the only victory ever recorded for Domnall Brecc. <strong>Battle of Cúl Ceíl 601</strong> <br /> In the ongoing struggle between the houses of <em>Dál nAraide</em> and <em>Dál Fiatach</em>, Fiachna Lurgan attacked Fiachna mac Deman’s forces at Cúl Ceí in southern <em>Dál Fiatach</em> in 601. Fiachna Lurgan was victorious and became the High King of the <em>Ulaid</em> – but Fiachna mac Deman survived and plotted his revenge. <strong>Battle of Mag Rath 637</strong> <br /> The civil wars in Ulster had left the province in chaos. <em>Dál Riada</em> had begun to lose its influence after Connad Cerr’s terrible defeat at Fid Eoin and the Cenel Conal (<em>Tir Conal</em>) had began to swing their support behind the <em>Dál Fiatach</em> faction. Since Dalriadan power had shifted to Scotland rather than Ulster, it was only a matter of time before their control of lands in Ulster would be challenged.<br /> In 637, the forces of <em>Tir Conal</em> launched a simultaneous land and sea attack on the Dalriadans and their <em>Dál nAraide</em> and Cenel Eogan allies. Domnall mac Aed defeated and killed Congal Caech of <em>Dál nAraide</em> at Mag Rath and Domnall Brecc was forced to escape. On the same day, Conal Cael mac Mael Cobha attacked and destroyed the combined Dalriadan and Tir Eogan fleets at Saeltire (off Kintyre). This crushing double defeat meant that Dál Riada lost its lands in Ulster and the Uí Neill dominance in Northern Ireland was now complete. <strong>Battle of Saeltire 637</strong> <br /> This naval battle was fought on the same day as the Battle of Mag Rath. See that battle for details.