Opening lines of Máel Mura Othna's poem Flann for Érinn (Flann over Ireland), from the Great Book of Lecan (RIA MS 23 P 2), 296v
Reign
879–916
Predecessor
Áed Findliath
Successor
Niall Glúndub
Born
847
Died
25 May 916 (aged 68–69) Lough Ennel, Kingdom of Meath
Spouse
Gormlaith ingen Flainn
Eithne ingen Áeda
Máel Muire ingen Cináeda
Issue
Donnchad Donn
Máel Ruanaid
Óengus
Domnall
Conchobar
Áed
Cerball
Gormlaith
Eithne
Lígach
Muirgel
Father
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid
Mother
Land ingen Dúngaile
Flann mac Máel Sechnaill (847 – 25 May 916), better known as Flann Sinna (lit.'Flann of the Shannon'; Irish: Flann na Sionainne), was the son of Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid of Clann Cholmáin, the leading branch of the Southern Uí Néill. He was King of Mide from 877 onwards and a High King of Ireland. His mother Land ingen Dúngaile was a sister of Cerball mac Dúnlainge, King of Osraige.
Flann was chosen as the High King of Ireland, also known as King of Tara, following the death of his first cousin and stepfather Áed Findliath on 20 November 879. Flann's reign followed the usual pattern of Irish High Kings, beginning by levying hostages and tribute from Leinster and then to wars with Munster, Ulster, and Connacht. Flann was more successful than most kings of Ireland. However, rather than the military and diplomatic successes of his reign, it is his propaganda statements, in the form of monumental high crosses naming him and his father as kings of Ireland, that are exceptional.
Flann may have had the intention of abandoning the traditional succession to the kingship of Tara, whereby the northern and southern branches of the Uí Néill held the kingship alternately, but such plans were thwarted when his favoured son Óengus was killed by his son-in-law and eventual successor Niall Glúndub, son of Áed Findliath, on 7 February 915. Flann's other sons revolted and his authority collapsed.
Flann mac Máel Sechnaill (847 – 25 May 916), better known as FlannSinna (lit. 'Flann of the Shannon'; Irish: Flann na Sionainne), was the son of Máel...
Gormflaith ingen FlannSinna (c. 870–948) was an Irish Queen of Tara, Munster, and Leinster. Gormflaith was the daughter of FlannSinna, High King of Ireland...
704 or 705) Flann mac Lonáin (died 896), Irish poet FlannSinna (died 916), also called Flann mac Maíl Sechnaill, High King of Ireland Flann Mainistrech...
Conaing (died 851) and Flann mac Conaing (died 868), both of whom were Kings of Brega. She was the first wife of FlannSinna, High-King of Ireland, by...
southern Uí Néill. Donnchad was the son of High King FlannSinna by his wife Gormlaith ingen Flann mac Conaing. The date of his birth is not known, but...
Cuilennáin, king of Munster against an alliance comprising the forces of FlannSinna, High King of Ireland, Cerball mac Muirecáin, king of Leinster, Cathal...
particular interest for its surviving inscription, which asks a prayer for FlannSinna, King of Ireland, and Abbot Colmán who commissioned the cross. Both men...
royal consorts and list of British consorts.[citation needed] Doherty, "FlannSinna". Woolf. "View", p. 93. Annals of Clonmacnoise 1014[recte, 1021] Annals...
the River Tyne or River Tees to the Forth in the north. In Ireland, FlannSinna, married to Constantine's aunt Máel Muire, was dominant. The years around...
Donnchad was deceitfully killed by his rival among the Clann Cholmáin, FlannSinna in 877 who then became king. Annals of Ulster AU 877.2 Annals of Ulster...
Máele Ruanaid, High King (846–860) Áed Findliath, High King (861–876) FlannSinna, High King (877–914) Kingdom of Ailech (complete list) – Áed Oirdnide...
Flaithbertach mac Inmainén were able to inflict defeats on High King FlannSinna after the latter had ravaged Munster in 906. As well as his martial prowess...
Lindisfarne, English bishop 912 – Xue Yiju, chancellor of Later Liang 916 – FlannSinna, king of Meath 939 – Yao Yanzhang, general of Chu 986 – Abd al-Rahman...
Peninsula. However, in one of their raids, one of Máel Sechnaill's sons, Flann, was killed when a raiding party he was leading was ambushed by the Norse...
around this time. In 888 Sichfrith routed the forces of the High King FlannSinna (a son of Máel Sechnaill). It has been suggested that the death in 888...
Cholmáin, the dominant branch of the southern Uí Néill, a grandson of FlannSinna and sister's son of his predecessor as High King Donnchad Donn. The Annals...
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