Fergus Mór mac Erc (abt. 450 - abt. 506)

Born about 0450 in Kingdom of Dál Riata (Ireland) [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 0506 at about age 56 in Kingdom of Dál Riata (Scotland) [uncertain]

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Biography

Birth and Family

Although his date and place of birth are unknown, Fergus Mór mac Erc is presumed the son of Erc Maceochaid, ^[1] who died in 474. ^[2] He had one son, Domangart, King of Dalriada. ^[3]

Fergus Mór, King of Dál Riata

In 498, "Fearghus Mor, son of Erc, son of Eochaidh Muinreamhair, with his brothers, went to Alba Scotland." ^[4][5][6] Although there may have been Irish incursions into the area that would become Dàl RIata, it is unlikely there were earlier colonies. According to W. F. Skene, “The Albania Duan knows of no earlier colony other than that under the sons of Erc. Flann Mainistrech and Tigernach know nothing of it, nor do the additions made to Nennius…” ^[7] Before 501, the Dàl RIata tribe...were settled in Alba (present day western Scotland), ^[7] and Fergus Mór mac Erc became the "semi-mythical king," of Dál Riata. ^{[8][9][10][11][7][12][13][14]}

Death

In A.D. 499; "Fergus Mor Mac Erca, with the tribe of Dál Riada, held a part of Britain and died there." ^[5][6] He possibly died in 506 ^[15] and was buried on Iona. ^[16]

Research Notes

1. Obscurity of Records. “In the records of time there scarcely occurs a period of history which is so perplexed and obscure as the annals of the Scoto-Irish kings and their tribes from their settlement 503 A.D. to their ascendancy in 843 A.D.” ^[17]
2. Fergus Mór mac Erc. "The history of Dál Riata in Scotland may be said to begin with the advent of Fergus Mor mac Eire. Whether he was in fact the founder of Dal Riata (and this is the general view of present-day historians) can be disputed, but there is little doubt that it was in the person of Fergus Mor that the Dalriadic dynasty removed from Ireland to Scotland.” ^[18]
3. Kingdom of Dál Riata. Dál Riata (c. 500–c. 850) comprised the ancient kingdom in the north-east corner of Antrim, Northern Ireland and its colony located in the approximate territory of Argyll, Scotland. "Traditionally a colony of the Dál Riata settled in Britain, probably before 500, and during several generations the two territories, though separated by 13 miles of sea, formed a single kingdom with its center of power in Britain...The historical kings of the Dál Riata…began with Fergus [Fergus II] [called Fergus Mór] (d. 501), reputedly a contemporary of St Patrick…” ^[19][8][13]
4. Dunadd. Dunadd is a hillfort on the Add River in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. “The Kilmartin Glen contains some of the most important archaeological monuments in Britain. most prolific are prehistoric monuments: chambered cairns, round cairns, cists, standing stones and rock carvings…From later periods, there are also a variety of Iron Age and Early Historic sites, the most important of which is Dunadd, the ancient capital of the Scots of Dál Riata.” ^[20]
5. The Footprint of Fealty. Coronation Footprints in Stone at Dunadd, “The carved footprints are the most extraordinary of all. They may have been used during inauguration ceremonies for new kings, symbolising the new ruler’s dominion over the land.” ^[21]
6. Stone of Destiny, Stone of Scone or Lia Fáil? There are multiple conflicting legends regarding the Stone of Destiny used in the coronation of kings. Both the "Stone of Scone" and the "Lia Fáil" are said to be this stone, and legend has it that Fergus mac Erc brought the stone from Ireland to Scotland. The debate is complex, ancient, ongoing, and beyond the scope of this profile. ^[22] However, we can observe that a Stone of Scone, well attested, exists today in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, when not in use for coronations at Westminster Abbey in London. And, similarly, we can note that a Lia Fáil is permanently fixed in place today on the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland.
7. Fergus mac Nisse Error? Possibly due to a copyist's error, Fergus mac Erc, was referred to as Fergus mac Nisse in some ancient writings. ^[23][24][25]

Sources

1. ↑ Henry Project: The Ancestors of King Henry II of England, Baldwin, Stewart, ed., Farmerie, Todd, ed., Fergus Mór of Dál Riata, (Henry Project, 2001), citing, “Supposed father (possible): Ercc. While it would be difficult to rule out the possibility that these generations represent an accurate tradition of the ancestry of Fergus, there is also no compelling reason to accept them as genuine. The best case would be for the correctness of the name Ercc, on the theory that Fergus's patronymic was given correctly in the sources naming him. The further back we go, the less likely it is that the names have been transmitted accurately.” Fergus Mór of Dál Riata
2. ↑ Annals of the Four Masters, author unknown, CELT; Corpus of Electronic Texts, Ó Corráin, Professor Donnchadh; Morgan, Dr Hiram, (Cork, Ireland: University College, 2023), citing, "M474.2, Eirc, son of Eochaidh Muinreamhar, died."141.
3. ↑ Henry Project: The Ancestors of King Henry II of England, Baldwin, Stewart, ed., Farmerie, Todd, ed., Fergus Mór of Dál Riata, (Henry Project, 2001), citing, “Domangart mac Fergusa, King of Dál Riata, early sixth century., Domangart is given a reign of 5 years by both the Duan Albanach [Duan Albanach 131] and the king lists [Poppleton MS, Lists "D", ,"F", "I", "K", KKES, 253, 264, 270, 281, 286], a reign length which agrees with the annals (which, however, are probably not contemporary for this period, and quite possibly also not independent of the king lists). For the epithet of mac Nisse (see below), see the page of his father Fergus, who is given the same epithet. Date of Birth: Unknown, Place of Birth: Unknown.” Domangart mac Fergusa
4. ↑ Annals of the Four Masters, author unknown, CELT; Corpus of Electronic Texts, Ó Corráin, Professor Donnchadh; Morgan, Dr Hiram, (Cork, Ireland: University College, 2023), citing, "M498.2, Fearghus Mor, son of Erc, son of Eochaidh Muinreamhair, with his brothers, went to Alba Scotland." 147.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Chronicon Scotorum, author unknown, CELT; Corpus of Electronic Texts,, Ó Corráin, Professor Donnchadh; Morgan, Dr Hiram, (Cork, Ireland: University College, 2023), citing, “Kal. iii. A.D.499, Fergus Mor Mac Erca, with the tribe of Dál Riada, held a part of Britain and died there.” 35.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Annals of Tigernach, CELT: The Corpus of Electronic Texts, (Cork, Ireland: University College, 2022), vol. 2, citing, “T501.3, Feargus Mór son of Earc with the people of Dalriada held a part of Britain, and there he died.” 124.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Skene, William Forbes, Celtic Scotland: a history of ancient Alban, (Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Press, 1971), vol. 1, 141.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Oram, Richard, The Kings & Queens of Scotland, Kindle edition, (Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press, 2004). p. 34. [Kindle].
9. ↑ Patrick, Saint; Stokes, Whitley,The Tripartite life of Patrick: with other documents relating to that saint, (London: Printed for H.M. Stationery Office., by Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1887), citing, “Patrick found a welcome in the land with Erc's twelve sons ; and Fergus the Great, son of Erc, said to Patrick, ‘If my brother respects me in dividing his land, I would give it to thee.’ … Said Patrick to Fergus : ‘Though thy brother hath not much esteem for thee today, it is thou that shalt be king. The kings in this country and over Fortrenn shall be from thee for ever.’”163.
10. ↑ Skene, W.F., Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots and other early memorials of Scottish history, Synchronisms of Flann Mainisreach, (H. M. General register house: Edinburgh,1867), citing, “Forty-three years from the coming of Saint Patrick to Erin to the battle of Ocha. Twenty years from the battle of Ocha till the children of Erc, son of Echach Muindremhar, passed over into Alban ; the six sons of Erc, the two Anguses, the two Lorns, and the two Ferguses.Twenty-four [eighty-four] years from the battle of Ocha to the death of Diarmed, son of Fergus Cerbheol (478-565). Five kings over Alban during this time ; viz., Fergus mor, son of Ere. Angus mor, son of Ere. Domangart, son of Fergus. Comgall, son of Domangart.” n17.
11. ↑ Skene, W.F., Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots and other early memorials of Scottish history, Duan Albanach, (H. M. General register house: Edinburgh,1867), citing, “The three sons of Erc son of Eochaidh, the valiant, Three who obtained the blessing of Patrick, Took Alban, exalted their courage, Loarn, Feargus and Aongus. Ten years Loarn, it is known to fame, In the government of Oirir Alban. After the generous courageous Loarn, Seven and twenty years, Feargus. Domangart son of noble Feargus, Numbered five turbulent years. Twenty-four without a battle, To Comgall son of Domangart.” 59
12. ↑ Duncan, A.A.M., Scotland, the Making of the Kingdom, Edinburgh History of Scotland, vol. 1, (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1975), 42, 58, 86.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Lynch, Michael, editor. The Oxford Companion to Scottish History, (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2011), Dál Riata, Kingdom of, 181-182.
14. ↑ Robertson, Eben William. Scotland under her early kings: a history of the kingdom to the close of the thirteenth century. (Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1862), 5.
15. ↑ Chalmers, George, Caledonia, Or an Account, Historical and Topographic, of North Britain, from the Most Ancient to the Present Times, Vol. 1 (Paisley: A. Gardner, 1887), citing, “Fergus did not long survive his brothers, as he died in 506 A.D.” 279
16. ↑ Anderson, Allan Orr. Scottish annals from English chroniclers, A.D. 500 to 1286. London: D. Nutt (1886), [Anderson, Allan Orr. Scottish annals from English chroniclers, A.D. 500 to 1286. London: D. Nutt (1886), citing, 843-858, Chronicle of the Kings of Scotland, version D; Skene’s Picts and Scots, p 151, “Kenneth, Alpin's son, reigned over the Scots for sixteen years, after destroying the Picts ; and he died in Forteviot,1 and was buried in the island of Iona, where the three sons of Ere (Fergus, Loarn, and Angus) were buried.” 289.
17. ↑ Chalmers, George, Caledonia, Or an Account, Historical and Topographic, of North Britain, from the Most Ancient to the Present Times, Vol. 1 (Paisley: A. Gardner, 1887), 275
18. ↑ Bannerman, John, Studies in the History of Dalriada, (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1974),73.
19. ↑ Anderson, Marjorie O., Dál Riata Dalriada, kings of (c. 500–c. 850), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), Dál Riata Dalriada, kings of.
20. ↑ Abernethy, Duncan, Archaeological Background, Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports 27 January (2008), 4 Archaeological Background
21. ↑ Kilmartin Glen: Dunadd Fort, (Edinburgh: Historic Environment Scotland, 2023), Footprints in Stone
22. ↑ O’Reilly, P. J. Notes on the Coronation Stone at Westminster, and the ‘Lia Fail’ at Tara, The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 32, no. 1 (1902): 77–92. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25507190.
23. ↑ Bannerman, John, Studies in the History of Dalriada, (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1974),[120-121].
24. ↑ Anderson, Marjorie Ogilvie, Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland, (Edinburgh: Berlinn, 1973), 137.
25. ↑ Henry Project: The Ancestors of King Henry II of England, Baldwin, Stewart, ed., Farmerie, Todd, ed., Fergus Mór of Dál Riata, (Henry Project, 2001), citing, “One interesting feature is that Fergus is known in some sources by another name, Mac Nisse, a name which is also applied to his son Domangart [see his page]. Thus, in Senchus Fer nAlban, we have the statement that Fergus Mór was another name for Mac Nisse Mór ["Fergus Mór mac Eirc ainm aile do Mac Nisse Mór unum filium habuit .i. Domangart." (Fergus Mór, son of Ercc, another name for Mac Nisse Mór, had one son, i.e., Domangart) Senchus 41, 47], although they had been apparently distinct sons of Ercc in the previous paragraph [see the Commentary section below]. Nisse is apparently the genitive of Ness, a woman's name [Bannerman (1974), 50]. Since Fergus and his son Domangart were obviously not sons of the same woman, the suggestion of Bannerman that Ness was an ancestor deity, and that Mac Nisse should be corrected to Moccu Nisse, meaning (very roughly) of the tribe of Ness, is an attractive explanation for this epithet of Fergus and his son.” Fergus Mór of Dál Riata

See also:

• Anderson, Marjorie Ogilvie, Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland, (Edinburgh: Berlinn, 1973), 9, 32, 35, 64f, 68, 106, 135-138, 158, 164, 174, 200, 212-214, 216, 238, 243, 253, 257, 264, 267, 270, 273, 281-283, 286, 288, 280.
• Clarkson, Tim, Picts, Romans, Gaels and Vikings, (Edinburgh: Berlinn, 2011), 59-60, 86, 88.
• Ferguson, James; Fergusson, Robert Menzies, Records of the Clan and Name Ferguson Fergusson and Fergus, (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1895), 1.
• Kingdom of Dal Riata - Factsheet
• Kilmartin Glen: Dunadd Fort
• Marsden, John, Kings, Mormaers, Rebels, (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2010), 1-2, 5, 7-8, 10, 13, 15-17, 31-33, 36, 38, 81.
• Wikipedia: Dál Riata.
• Wikipedia: Fergus Mór.
• Wikipedia: List of kings of Dál Riata.