Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameSelbach , King of Lorne and Dalriada 
Death730
FatherFerchar Fota “the Tall” , King of Lorne and Dalriada (-697)
Misc. Notes
Selbach (Scottish Gaelic: Selbach mac Ferchair) was king of the Cenél Loairn (House of Lorne) and of Dál Riata. Selbach's existence is certain, he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals. He was king of the Cenél Loairn from around 698 until his abdication in 723, but it may be that he was undisputed ruler of Dál Riata only in the final years of his reign.
He is known to have had two sons, Dungal and Feredach. Selbach's father, brother, son and nephew are included among the predecessors of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada (Malcolm III) of Scotland in the Duan Albanach praise poem, but Selbach is not. This may be a form of Damnatio memoriae.
Although Selbach is first mentioned after the death of Fiannamail mac Conaill (d. 700), it seems likely that he had deposed his brother Ainbcellach in 698. In 701 he destroyed Dún Olaigh, but whether this was in a war against Ainbcellach, against a king of the rival Cenél nGabráin, or some other enemies, is unknown. A number of battles involving Dál Riada are recorded in the time of Selbach, a defeat in "Glen Lemnae" in 704, and victories over the Britons at "Lorg Ecclet" in 711 and again at "the rock called Minuirc" in 717, but Selbach is not named in these reports. In 712 Selbach besieged Aberte (Dunaverty, near Southend, Kintyre, in the lands of the Cenél nGabráin) and rebuilt Dún Olaigh in 714.
In September 719 Selbach fought against his brother Ainbcellach at Finnglen (perhaps near Loch Fyne). Ainbcellach was killed in the battle. A month later he faced the Cenél nGabráin, led by their king Dúnchad Becc, also called king of Cenn Tíre (Kintyre), in a sea battle off Ard Nesbi. Selbach was defeated, but Dúnchad Becc died in 721, which may have left Selbach as the unchallenged king of Dál Riata.
In 723 Selbach abdicated and retired to a monastery, at which time one annalist calls him lord of Dál Riada. He was probably succeeded by his son Dungal, who was replaced by Eochaid mac Eochada in 726. Selbach is found in 727 fighting against the supporters of Eochaid at Irros Foichnae.
Selbach died in 730.
He is known to have had two sons, Dungal and Feredach. Selbach's father, brother, son and nephew are included among the predecessors of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada (Malcolm III) of Scotland in the Duan Albanach praise poem, but Selbach is not. This may be a form of Damnatio memoriae.
Although Selbach is first mentioned after the death of Fiannamail mac Conaill (d. 700), it seems likely that he had deposed his brother Ainbcellach in 698. In 701 he destroyed Dún Olaigh, but whether this was in a war against Ainbcellach, against a king of the rival Cenél nGabráin, or some other enemies, is unknown. A number of battles involving Dál Riada are recorded in the time of Selbach, a defeat in "Glen Lemnae" in 704, and victories over the Britons at "Lorg Ecclet" in 711 and again at "the rock called Minuirc" in 717, but Selbach is not named in these reports. In 712 Selbach besieged Aberte (Dunaverty, near Southend, Kintyre, in the lands of the Cenél nGabráin) and rebuilt Dún Olaigh in 714.
In September 719 Selbach fought against his brother Ainbcellach at Finnglen (perhaps near Loch Fyne). Ainbcellach was killed in the battle. A month later he faced the Cenél nGabráin, led by their king Dúnchad Becc, also called king of Cenn Tíre (Kintyre), in a sea battle off Ard Nesbi. Selbach was defeated, but Dúnchad Becc died in 721, which may have left Selbach as the unchallenged king of Dál Riata.
In 723 Selbach abdicated and retired to a monastery, at which time one annalist calls him lord of Dál Riada. He was probably succeeded by his son Dungal, who was replaced by Eochaid mac Eochada in 726. Selbach is found in 727 fighting against the supporters of Eochaid at Irros Foichnae.
Selbach died in 730.