Gaelic Kingdoms

Kings of Connacht (Connaught)

fl 170s

Fedlim

Also king of Meath.

c.170s

Unsuccessfully attacks the Dumbarton Britons of Alt Clut.

1002 - 1014

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1022 - 1106

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1106 - 1156

Toirrdelbach macRuaidrí na Saide Buide ua Conchobair / Turlogh

High King (1121-1135, 1141-1150).

1156 - 1183

Ruaidrí macToirrdelbaig / Rory O'Connor

Son. Last High King (1166-1175). d.1198.

1175

Much of Ireland now falls under the control of the kings of England.

1183 - 1189

Conchobar

1189 - 1200

Cathal

1200

After attacks that begin in 1175, Connacht now falls under the control of the kings of England.

Kings of Leinster / Laigin

From an early date the Laigin had an interest in Tara, the seat of the High Kings, but that probably became a thing of the past when the Southern Ui Neill clan (dominant in Ulster) took over the area known as Brega in which Tara lies, probably in the fifth century. In doing this they apparently pushed back the old Leinster tribe known as the Laigin to the area south of the River Liffey.

Also in the region around the first century AD were the Concani or Gangani, a tribe (or tribes) which appears to have been split between Ireland and Britain. In the latter it was called the Deceangli or Gangani. It seems they may have originated in Ireland and migrated to Wales by the first century AD, as 'Lleyn' seems to be derived from Laigin, the older form of Leinster. They were probably third wave Celtic migrants who had recently arrived by sea on wooden vessels that were far superior to anything the earlier Celtic arrivals would have known.

The '-ster' appendage in the name Leinster is a sign of Danish influence on the later Irish from the Viking kingdom in Dublin.

(Additional information by Edward Dawson, and taken from the BBC documentary series, The Normans, first broadcast 4 August 2010.)

1st century BC

The Concani probably arrive in the Lleyn Peninsula from Ireland around this time. They force out the original inhabitants, who may be related to the Ordovices, and quickly split into two bodies. The first settles in the peninsula where it is known as the Gangani, while the second body, perhaps larger in size, migrates eastwards into the area that is now Clwyd and becomes known as the Deceangli.

AD 78 - 79

Fresh from inflicting a final defeat and almost complete destruction upon the Ordovices, the Roman governor, Julius Agricola, continues his campaign by attacking the warlike Deceangli in Mona (Anglesey). The tribe is duly defeated and for the most part settles down to life under Roman rule. Elements of the tribe apparently flee Britain and find refuge with their possible relatives in Ireland.

fl 902

Cerball

902

The combined forces of Leinster and Brega expel the Vikings of Dublin.

1002 - 1014

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1022 - 1064

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1064 - 1072

Diarmait MacMáil na mBó

High King, and king of Dublin (1070-1072).

Murchad

Died in 1070.

1072 - 1119

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

Donnchad

Died in 1115.

1121 - 1135

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1141 - 1150

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

? - 1166

Dermot Mac Murrough

Throne usurped.

1166 - 1170

The kingdom is under the direct control of the High Kings after Dermot Mac Murrough is forcibly ejected. He flees to Bristol and then Normandy where he gains the support of the English king, Henry II, and Norman allies with which to return to Ireland. The main invasion takes place in 1169 at Bannow Bay with the arrival of the first army of Norman mercenaries to enter Ireland, totalling thirty knights, sixty men-at-arms, and three hundred archers under the Fitzgeralds, marcher lords of Wales.

Leinster is quickly regained following the Battle of Baginbun. A hundred Normans break 3,000 Irish by driving cattle through them to shatter their formation. Then the better armed and equipped Normans slaughter many of the Irish, and take a large number of prisoners from the rest. The Norman commander, Richard de Clare, earl of Pembroke (nicknamed Strongbow), marries Dermot's daughter and is named his heir.

1170 - 1171

Dermot Mac Murrough

Restored. Died the following year.

1171

Richard de Clare 'Strongbow'

Norman son-in-law.

1171

Richard de Clare, earl of Pembroke, or Strongbow, becomes king of Leinster far quicker than expected. This development of Norman lords taking control of Irish kingdoms without being under the authority of the king concerns Henry II of England so much that he arrives to take personal control of what is becoming the invasion of Ireland. He is the first king of England to set foot on Irish shores, arriving with a huge army of 400 ships, 4,000 soldiers, and 5,000 knights. In the event it is a bloodless invasion. The Irish kings know that it is pointless to resist such a vast force. Strongbow also capitulates and his short-lived independence as a Norman king of Leinster is ended. Henry leaves a representative in Ireland to ensure his control and a new colonial mentality is born amongst the Normans. Gerald of Wales subsequently portrays the Irish as being backward and barbaric, ignorant of Christ and of civilisation, thereby justifying the colonisation of Ireland.

1175

Much of Ireland, including Leinster, now falls under the control of the kings of England.

Kings of Meath (Mide)

(Additional information by Rashaan Dozier-Escalante.)

fl 170s

Fedlim

Also king of Connacht.

c.170s

Fedlim unsuccessfully attacks the Dumbarton Britons of Alt Clut.

846 - 862

Máel Sechnaill macMáele Ruanaid O'Néill

High King.

879 - 916

Flann Sionna macMáele Sechnaill O'Néill

High King.

919 - 942

Donnchadh

Son.

979 - 1001

Maelseachlainn

Grandson of Flann Sionna.

1002 - 1014

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1014 - 1022

Maelseachlainn

Restored?

1022 - 1119

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1121 - 1135

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1141 - 1175

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1175

Much of Ireland, including Meath, now falls under the control of the kings of England.

Kings of Munster

Munster was probably home to the second century Erainn, mentioned by Ptolemy in his famous map of the British Isles. This was the name which later came to be used to describe the entire island. By the sixth century they were being replaced by the Eóganachta (pr. 'Owen-achta'). They made Cashel their capital, the name coming from the Latin castrum, or castle, revealing the existence of contacts with Roman Britain. The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig in Irish Gaelic) remained the seat of Munster's kings for centuries until the Norman kings of England conquered Ireland.

c.1500 BC

The earliest signs of habitation on the Rock of Cashel are uncovered by archaeologists in 2011. The site appears to be ceremonial, although further investigation is required to provide more details.

976 - 1014

Brian Bóruma macCennétig / Brian Boru

High King (1002-1014).

1022 - 1064

Donnchad MacBrian

Son. High King (1022-1064).

1064 - 1086

Toirdelbach O'Brien / Turlough

Son. King of Dublin (1072-1074?), and High King (1072-1086).

1086

Toirdelbach O'Brien's death sees Munster divided for his sons, Tadc, Muirchertach and Diarmait. Tadc dies soon afterwards, and Muirchertach banishes Diarmait, claiming the entire kingdom and also the High Kingship.

1086 - 1114

Muirchertach II MacToirdelbaig O'Brien

Son. King of Dublin (1074-1086), and High King (1086-1119?).

1114 - 1118

Muirchertach becomes ill to the point where he is unable to prevent his brother from seizing control of Munster. The king captures Dermot in 1115, but it takes him three more years to regain control of the kingdom.

1114 - 1115

Diarmait / Dermot

Brother.

1118 - 1119?

Muirchertach II MacToirdelbaig O'Brien

Son. King of Dublin (1074-1086), and High King (1086-1119?).

1121 - 1135

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1141 - 1175

Under the direct control of the High Kings.

1175 - 1177

Much of Ireland, including the majority of Munster by 1177, now falls under the control of the kings of England.

Kings of Thomond (North Munster)

1142 - 1167

Turlough

Son of Dermot of Munster.

Donnell More

Died in 1164.

1239 - 1242

Donough Cairbreach

Son.

1242 - 1258

Conor na Suidane

Son.

1258 - 1259

Teige Caeluisce

Son.

Turlough

Died in 1306.

1307 - 1343

Mortogh

Son.

1364 - 1369

Mahon Moinmoy

Son.

1370 - 1399

Brian Catha an Eanaigh

Son.

1446 - 1459

Turlough Bog (the Soft)

1461 - 1466

Teige an Chomard

1499 - 1528

Turlough Don

1540 - 1543

Murrough

Last king of Thomond.

1543

Thomond submits to Henry VIII of England and its ruler is granted an earldom.

Kings of Ulster

The biggest upheaval in Ireland in the period between the fourth to sixth centuries was in the north, where the Ui Neill clan (pr. E-nay-al) rapidly expanded from their homeland in the west of Ireland. One branch moved to Ulster, where they banished the Ulaid from the cult centre of Navan Fort, and set up the kingdoms of Tyrone and Tirconnell (Donegal). Another section of the family, known as the Southern Ui Neill, moved eastwards across the Shannon to capture the sacral kingship of Tara, apparently pushing back the old Leinster tribe known as the Laigin to the area south of the River Liffey.

The kings of Ulster were also traditionally the High Kings of Ireland from the fifth century, especially after taking the region of Brega from the men of Leinster, and are generally not shown here.

379 - 1002

The kings of Ulster form the High Kings of Ireland.

1002 - 1014

Brian Boru of Munster

High King.

1014 - 1022

The High Kings of Ireland.

1022 - 1064

Donnchad MacBrian of Munster

High King.

1064 - 1072

Diarmait MacMáil na mBó of Leinster

High King.

1072 - 1086

Toirdelbach O'Brien of Munster

High King.

1090 - 1121

The High Kings of Ireland.

1121 - 1135

Toirrdelbach macRuaidrí na Saide Buide ua Conchobair / Turlogh of Connacht

High King.

1141 - 1150

Toirrdelbach macRuaidrí na Saide Buide ua Conchobair / Turlogh of Connacht

High King.

1150 - 1166

The High Kings of Ireland.

1166 - 1175

Ruaidrí macToirrdelbaig of Connacht

High King.

1175 - 1177

Much of Ireland, including the majority of Ulster by 1177, now falls under the control of the kings of England.