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 Kings
of Ulaid (Gaels of Ireland)
The biggest upheaval in Ireland in the period between the fourth to sixth
centuries was in the north, where the Uí Neill clan (pronounced 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 Uí Neill, moved eastwards across the
Shannon to capture the sacral kingship of Tara in the region known as Brega,
apparently pushing back the old
Laigin tribe to the area south
of the River Liffey. From that point onwards, the Northern Uí Neill were also
traditionally the high kings of
Ireland.
(Additional information by Edward Dawson.) |
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Northern Uí Neill (Gaels of Ireland) |
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fl 4th century |
Eochaid Mugmedon |
Great-great-great-great-grandson of Conn. |
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Eochaid Mugmedon spawns several dynasties that subsequently rule the provinces of
Connacht,
Mide, and Ulster into the middle ages.
These dynasties are known by the names of Eochaid's four sons, being the Uí Bruin,
Uí Fiachrae, Uí Aillil, and Uí Neill (after Niall Noígillach of the Nine Hostages).
The latter is one of the most powerful Irish kings of this period, and his descendants,
as the kings of Ulster, provide the high kings of
Ireland until 1002. |
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Kings of Ulster (Gaels of Ireland) |
379 - 405 |
Niall Noígillach of the Nine Hostages |
Son. Ruled from Tara. First non-legendary
High King? |
5th century? |
The Laigin interest in Tara, the seat of
the high kings, probably becomes a thing of the past when the Southern Uí Neill clan
(whose northern kin have become dominant in Ulster) take over the area known as Brega
in which Tara lies, probably in this century. In doing this they apparently push back
the old Leinster descent-named tribe known as the Laigin to the area south of the River
Liffey.
At this time the title of high king (if it exists at all outside of later
romantic fiction) is purely a matter of hierarchy. The authority of the
Irish kings is determined by how much they rule. Village chiefs are at the
bottom, followed by clan chiefs, tribal chiefs, rulers of minor kingdoms,
kings of the so-called 'five provinces' (or kingdoms), and finally the high
king himself. He is merely the most powerful warrior of his time, the
biggest chief, but he does not rule a united Ireland except as at the head
of possible coalitions formed in times of need. |
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404/405 |
Attacks on the
south coast of Britain
by Niall are best associated with this year. It is Niall who is in effect the dynasty
founder of the Uí Niell, who use a descent system to describe themselves which appears
in time to be adopted by most of the island. This system replaces the more traditional
tribal system to such an extent that the relationships between the earlier tribes and
the later kingdoms are largely lost. |
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507 - 534 |
Muirchertach macErcae
O'Néill/Muiredach |
High King. His daughter m Sawyl
Penuchel, king of Dunoting. |
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St Madoc, son of Sawyl Penuchel of
The Peak, is educated at
the court of his maternal grandfather, King Muiredach of Ulster. It is there
that he becomes interested in Christianity, and he later studies under St
David (Dewi Sant) at Glyn Rhosyn. After a spell as abbot of Glyn Rhosyn, he
returns to Ireland to found
several monasteries, including Clonmore, Drumlane, and Ferns. |
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572 - 581 |
Báetán macNinnedo O'Néill |
Also known as mac Cairill. High King of
Ireland. |
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623/626 |
The Book of Leinster (190a) makes mention of a tale, now lost, entitled
Sluagad Fiachna maic Báitáin co Dún nGuaire i Saxanaib, 'The Hosting
of Fiachna son of Baitan to Dun Guaire in Saxon-land'. The Fiachna mentioned
in the title is a son of Baetan mac Cairill, king of Ulster (died 581). He is a
famous warrior who is killed in 626. The Dún Guaire mentioned is the Irish form
of the British Din
Guayroi, the native name of Bebbanburch (modern Bamborough), the capital of
Bernicia.
The Annals of Ulster also mention an event for 623, 'expugnatio Ratho
Guali la Fiachna mac Báetáin', 'the storming of Rath Guali by Fiachna son of
Baetan'. The details of the event seem to have been lost, but in general
terms, an Irish raiding party led by Fiachna, son of Báetán seems to have
attempted to storm the Bernician stronghold of Bamborough. Given the fact
that the Bernicians had already weathered half a century of similar attacks
by Britons, it seems a rather foolish expedition, and it results in Fiachna's
death. |
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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. |
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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. |
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