Ailill mac Slánuill

Who is Ailill mac Slánuill?

Ailill, son of Slánoll, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland; scholars now believe these kings to be a pseudohistorical construct of the eighth century AD, a projection into the distant past of a political entity which did not become a reality till the Normans. He took power after killing his cousin Berngal. He ruled for twelve, fifteen or sixteen years, according to various versions of the Lebor Gabála Érenn before he was killed by Sírna Sáeglach, a great grandson of Rothechtaid mac Main. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Deioces of the Medes. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 831-815 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1197-1181 BC.