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Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin

701 – 788

8th-century Irish monarch

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About Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin

Lived 701 – 788 (aged 86–87).

Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin (died 788) was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Áed Allán (died 743), a high king of Ireland. He ruled from 770 to 788.

His uncle, the high king Niall Frossach (died 778), abdicated in 770 or 772 at which time Máel Dúin became King of Ailech. Expeditions by the new high king, Donnchad Midi (died 797) of Clann Cholmáin of the southern Uí Néill, to assert his authority in the north are recorded in 771 and 772. The killing of his uncle Conchobar in 772 is also recorded.

Authority in the north during the time of Donnchad Midi appears to have been held by the rival Cenél Conaill in the person of Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg (died 804) who had the title King in the North in the annals in 779. In 787 however, Máel Dúin defeated Domnall and the Cenél Conaill in the battle and wrested the overlordship of the north from him. At his death obit in 788, Máel Dúin had the title King of In Fochla or King of the north.

His son Murchad mac Máele Dúin (died 823) was a King of Ailech. He was succeeded as King of Ailech by his cousin Áed Oirdnide (died 819) who became high king in 797.

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Important facts

Born
701
Birth century
Died
788
Also known as
Mael Duin mac Aedo Allain, Maelduin, King of the North

People in Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin?

8th-century Irish monarch

When was Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin born?

Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin was born in 701.

When did Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin die?

Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin died in 788.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin

· Wikidata: Q2946736

· DBpedia: Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin. https://biography.guide/mael-duin-mac-aedo-allain/

MLA: "Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mael-duin-mac-aedo-allain/.

Chicago: "Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mael-duin-mac-aedo-allain/.

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

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