Loegaire MacNeill

High King of Eire Loegaire, Son of Niall

Loegaire MacNeill was a High King of Ireland during the 5th Century. He ruled until 458 AD. He was the son of the legendary Neill of the Nine Hostages. During his rule, St. Patrick went on his mission to spread the Christian gospel to Ireland, which Niall tried to oppose.
Author's Note: This is a historical character adapted for the sake of the story. His portrayal is based off the writings of Murchu of Leinster in his Patrick hagiography.

History

Early Life

Loegaire was the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Niall himself was a descendant of the legendary Conn Hundred-Battles and his descendants of the Connachta, whom were the first to become High Kings over Ireland when the Tuatha de Danann and the other seelie Aos Si retreated to Tir na Nog.
Sometime in the early 5th century, when the British Isles were undergoing turmoil from the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Loegaire's father Niall put most of Ireland under his control. Niall died, and his son Loegaire was appointed by the druids of Tara to be his successor as High King over Ireland. Loegaire's first act was to move against the clans of the Leinstermen, who refused to be subjugated by his father Niall. Loegaire swiftly placed them under his control. However, it would be soon after that his rule would be disrupted by turmoil.
One should note, however, that Loegaire did not have true power over the Irishmen. For they were truly ruled by the tyranny of the unseelie Crom Cruach and his serpents.

The Coming of St. Patrick

When St. Patrick came to Ireland, he learned of the snakes that ruled over the people. St. Patrick preached the gospel of Christ, which angered the druids and the snakes of Ireland. Loegaire sought to destroy Patrick. He schemed with Lochru, the head of the druids of Macroom, to force Patrick to apostatize, or die. They arranged a feast on the night before Easter. Then they forced Patrick to attend it. Loegaire declared if Patrick did not begin the feast with a sacrifice to Crom Cruach, he would die. Patrick still refused. Lochru then tried to use his magic powers to kill Patrick. However, as Lochru conjured a lightning storm, he was shocked by a bolt of lightning and broke his neck.
With the clearly supernatural forces at bay that killed Lochru, Loegaire and his queen feared Patrick, and begged him to not kill them as well. Loegaire then lamented him and his subjects would be killed by Crom Cruach without the power of a druid. Patrick, however, calmed the king down, and offered to drive "the snakes out of these lands." Patrick confronted Crom Cruach and defeated him, driving Cruach and the snakes into the sea.
Loegaire began to see his power wane over Ireland in his elder years. For the rest of his life he would persecute St. Patrick. Patrick eventually cursed him, proclaiming he would not see his eldest sons inherit the throne of Ireland. He would die a pagan still, and the throne of the High King would be taken over by his youngest son, Lugaid.

Life

400 AD 458 AD 58 years old

Sex

Male

First Appearance

The Mystical Emerald-Man #9