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Dl Riata (shaded).
In the 730s, engus fought against Dl Riata whose traditional overlords and protect
ors in Ireland, the Cenl Conaill, were much weakened at this time. A fleet from Dl
Riata fought for Flaithbertach mac Loingsig, chief of the Cenl Conaill, in his w
ar with ed Alln of the Cenl nEgan, and suffered heavy losses in 733.[8][11] Dl Riata
was ruled by Eochaid mac Echdach of the Cenl nGabrin who died in 733, and the king
lists are unclear as to who, if anyone, succeeded him as overking. The Cenl Loai
rn of north Argyll were ruled by Dngal mac Selbaig whom Eochaid had deposed as ov
erking of Dl Riata in the 720s.
Fighting between the Picts, led by engus's son Bridei, and the Dl Riata, led by Ta
lorgan mac Congussa, is recorded in 731. In 733, Dngal mac Selbaig "profaned [the
sanctuary] of Tory Island when he dragged Bridei out of it." Dngal, previously d
eposed as overking of Dl Riata, was overthrown as king of the Cenl Loairn and repl
aced by his first cousin Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig.[12]
In 734 Talorgan mac Congussa was handed over to the Picts by his brother and dro
wned by them.[13] Talorgan son of Drostan was captured near Dn Ollaigh. He appear
s to have been the King of Atholl, and was drowned on engus's order in 739.[k] Dng
al too was a target in this year. He was wounded, the unidentified fortress of Dn
Leithfinn was destroyed, and he "fled into Ireland, to be out of the power of en
gus."[15]
The annals report a second campaign by engus against the Dl Riata in 736. Dngal, wh
o had returned from Ireland, and his brother Feradach, were captured and bound i
n chains. The fortresses of Creic and Dunadd were taken. Muiredach of the Cenl Lo
airn was no more successful, defeated with heavy loss by engus's brother Talorgan
mac Fergusa, perhaps by Loch Awe. A final campaign in 741 saw the Dl Riata again
defeated. This was recorded in the Annals of Ulster as Percutio Dl Riatai la h-en
gus m. Forggusso, the "smiting of Dl Riata by engus son of Fergus".[16] With this
Dl Riata disappears from the record for a generation.[17][18][19][l]
It may be that engus was involved in wars in Ireland, perhaps fighting with ed Alln
, or against him as an ally of Cathal mac Finguine.[20] The evidence for such in
volvement is limited. There is the presence of engus's son Bridei at Tory Island,
on the north-west coast of Donegal in 733, close to the lands of ed Alln's enemy
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig. Less certainly, the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland re
port the presence of a Pictish fleet from Fortriu fighting for Flaithbertach in
733 rather than against him.[8][21][m]
Alt Clut, Northumbria, and Mercia[edit]
In 740, a war between the Picts and the Northumbrians is reported, during which t
helbald, King of Mercia, took advantage of the absence of Eadberht of Northumbri
a to ravage his lands, and perhaps burn York.[22] The reason for the war is uncl
ear, but it has been suggested that it was related to the killing of Earnwine so
n of Eadwulf on Eadberht's orders. Earnwine's father had been an exile in the no
rth after his defeat in the civil war of 705 706, and it may be that engus, or thelb
ald, or both, had tried to place him on the Northumbrian throne.[23]
Escomb Church, County Durham. The stone churches built for Nechtan, and perhaps e
ngus's church at St Andrews, are presumed to have been similar.[24]
Battles between the Picts and the Britons of Alt Clut, or Strathclyde, are recor
ded in 744 and again in 750, when Kyle was taken from Alt Clut by Eadberht of No
rthumbria. The 750 battle between the Britons and the Picts is reported at a pla
ce named Mocetauc (perhaps Mugdock near Milngavie) in which Talorgan mac Fergusa
, engus's brother, was killed.[25][26] Following the defeat in 750, the Annals of
engus, king of the Picts, died. From the beginning of his reign right to the end
he perpetrated bloody crimes, like a tyrannical slaughterer.[46][47][48][49]
The Pictish Chronicle king lists have it that he was succeeded by his brother Br
idei. His son Talorgan was later king, and is the first son of a Pictish king kn
own to have become king.[50][s]
The following 9th-century Irish praise poem from the Book of Leinster is associa
ted with engus:[7]
Good the day when engus took Alba,
hilly Alba with its strong chiefs;
he brought battle to palisaded towns,
with feet, with hands, with broad shields.[7]