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Áedán mac Gabráin

501 – 608

King of Dál Riata

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About Áedán mac Gabráin

Lived 501 – 608 (aged 106–107). Áedán mac Gabráin was a monarch.

Áedán mac Gabráin (; ), also written as Aedan, was a king of Dál Riata from 574 until c. 609 AD. The kingdom of Dál Riata was situated in modern Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and parts of County Antrim, Ireland. Genealogies record that Áedán was a son of Gabrán mac Domangairt.

He was a contemporary of Saint Columba, and much that is recorded of his life and career comes from hagiography such as Adomnán of Iona's Life of Saint Columba. Áedán appears as a character in Old Irish and Middle Irish language works of prose and verse, some now lost.

The Irish annals record Áedán's campaigns against his neighbours, in Ireland, and in northern Britain, including expeditions to the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Man, and the east coast of Scotland. As recorded by Bede, Áedán was decisively defeated by Æthelfrith of Bernicia at the Battle of Degsastan. Áedán may have been deposed, or have abdicated, following this defeat. His date of death is recorded by one source as 17 April 609, in Kilkerran.

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Important facts

Born
501
Birth century
Died
608, Kintyre
Occupation
Nationality
Dál Riata
Positions held
List of kings of Dál Riata
Also known as
Aedan mac Gabrain, Aidan

People in Áedán mac Gabráin's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Áedán mac Gabráin's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Áedán mac Gabráin?

King of Dál Riata

When was Áedán mac Gabráin born?

Áedán mac Gabráin was born in 501.

When did Áedán mac Gabráin die?

Áedán mac Gabráin died in 608 in Kintyre.

What was Áedán mac Gabráin's occupation?

Áedán mac Gabráin was a monarch.

What nationality was Áedán mac Gabráin?

Áedán mac Gabráin's recorded nationality: Dál Riata.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Áedán mac Gabráin

· Wikidata: Q378755

· DBpedia: Áedán mac Gabráin

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Áedán mac Gabráin. https://biography.guide/aedan-mac-gabrain/

MLA: "Áedán mac Gabráin." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/aedan-mac-gabrain/.

Chicago: "Áedán mac Gabráin." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/aedan-mac-gabrain/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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