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The kings of Leinster (Irish: Rí Laighín) ruled from the establishment of Leinster during the Irish Iron Age until the 17th century Early Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history found in works such as the Book of Invasions, Leinster was created during the division of Ireland among the Irish Gaels, descendants of Milesius: Leinster was one of the territories held by the offspring of Heremon. In the 7th century BC, the branch of the Heremonians who would establish Leinster, starting with Úgaine Mór, were also High Kings of Ireland and Kings of Tara. Their ascent to hegemony in Ireland was associated with the decline in influence of their Ulster-based Heremonian kinsmen from the Érainn.
| Kings of Leinster | |
|---|---|
| Rí Laighin | |
 Map of Leinster, c. 10th century. | |
| Details | |
| Style | Rí Laighin |
| First monarch | Úgaine Mór |
| Last monarch | Domhnall Spáinneach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach |
| Formation | Ancient |
| Abolition | 1603 or 1632 (de facto) |
| Residence | Dún Ailinne |
| Appointer | Tanistry |
Apart from Úgaine Mór, other prominent Kings of Leinster from this period who were also High Kings of Ireland were Labraid Loingsech and Cathair Mór. A mythology developed that Labraid Loingsech had horses ears: he spent some time exiled in Transalpine Gaul (dated roughly to the period of the Roman–Gallic wars) where his grandmother was from and returned to Ireland with Gaullish mercenaries. He established a base in the area, which was renamed from "Gailian" to Leinster, in reference to the pointed-spears held by the Gaullish Gaesatae mercenaries who provided the backbone of Labraid Loingsech's powerbase and brought him to the High Kingship. Cathair Mór, who was also a High King of Ireland, is perhaps the most important figure genealogically in Leinster as all of the subsequent kinship groups which ruled Gaelic Leinster claimed descent and legitimacy to rule from one of his ten sons who had offspring.
By the time of Early Christian Ireland, the Laighín had lost their grip on Irish hegemony with the rise of the descendants of Conn of the Hundred Battles (the Connachta and the Uí Néill). The latter pushed down into Leinster and created the Kingdom of Meath based at Uisnech, under the Southern Uí Néill from territories belonging to the Kingdom of Leinster and to the west Osraige was taken from the Laighín by the Corcu Loígde of Munster.
During the 5th to the early 8th centuries, the Kingship of Leinster was contested by various different branches of the Laighín, including the Uí Cheinnselaig (ancestors of the Mac Murchada and Caomhánach), the Uí Dúnlainge (ancestors of the O'Byrnes and the O'Tooles), the Uí Bairrche (ancestors of the Mac Gormáin), the Uí Máil (ancestors of the Ó Conchobhair Uí Failghe) and others.
From the 8th until the 11th century, the kingship of Leinster rotated in a remarkably stable arrangement between three branches of the North Leinster Uí Dúnlainge kinship, namelt the Uí Fáeláin (ancestors of the O'Byrnes), the Uí Muiredaig (ancestors of the O'Tooles) and the Uí Dúnchada (whose descendants became the MacGillaMoCholmóc and later the FitzDermots). In the 9th century, the Laighín also regained control of Osraige but it remained a largely independent realm under the Mac Giolla Phádrag, from the semi-autonomous Uí Failghe kinship group.
The Uí Cheinnselaig in South Leinster took back control of the kingship of Leinster in the 11th century, with Diarmait mac Máel na mBó, who became the first Leinsterman to be High King of Ireland in over a thousand years and claimed to the most senior line of the Laighín. An enemy of the Vikings of Dublin, he gave refuge to the sons of Harold Godwinson after the Normans conquered England. It is from this line that the Mac Murchada family originate and later Diarmait Mac Murchada would be implicated in the 12th century Norman invasion of Ireland after he tried to win back his Leinster throne. The reigning dynasty adopted the surname Caomhánach (Kavanagh) and continued to rule a rump Kingdom of Leinster until the early 17th century, with the last recorded King of Leinster being Domhnall Spáinneach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach. Throughout the centuries after the Norman invasion, several Kings and also leaders from dynasties who had previously held the Kingship of Leinster, continued to resist the invasion and hounded the English Pale periodically from the Wicklow Mountains: including the leaders of the O'Toole and O'Byrne clans (notable examples include Art Óg Mac Murchadha Caomhánach and Fiach McHugh O'Byrne) until the 17th century.
Legendary Kings edit
Kings of Leinster edit
Laigin, classical antiquity edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Úgaine Mór 634–594 BC |
 |
Son of Eochu Buadach | unknown | 594 BCE |
| Lóegaire Lorc 594–592 BC |
|
Son of Úgaine Mór | unknown | 592 BCE |
| Ailill Áine 592–592 BC |
|
Son of Lóegaire Lorc | unknown | 592 BCE |
| Cobthach Cóel Breg 592–542 BC |
|
Son of Úgaine Mór | unknown | 542 BCE |
| Labraid Loingsech 542–523 BC |
|
Son of Ailill Áine mac Lóegaire Lorc | unknown | 523 BCE |
| Cathair Mór 119–122 AD |
|
Son of Fedlimid Fir Urglais mac Cormaic Gealtach | 11 children | 122 AD |
Uí Cheinnselaig, 5th century edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiacha Baicheda mac Cathair Mór – |
 |
Son of Cathair Mór | unknown | 416 |
| Bressal Bélach mac Fiacha Baicheda –436 |
|
Son of Fiacha Baicheda mac Cathair Mór | unknown | 436 |
| Énnae Cennsalach mac Labhradh – |
|
Son of Labhradh mac Bressal Bélach | unknown | unknown |
Uí Bairrche, 5th century edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muiredach Mo Sníthech mac Dáire Barrach – (claimant) |
 |
Son of Dáire Barrach mac Cathair Mór | unknown | unknown |
| Móenach mac Muiredach Mo Sníthech – (claimant) |
|
Son of Muiredach Mo Sníthech mac Dáire Barrach | unknown | unknown |
Uí Enechglaiss, –446 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth –446 |
unknown | Son of Cóelbad | unknown | 446 |
Uí Cheinnselaig, 446–483 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimthann mac Énnai 446–483 |
|
Son of Énnae Cennsalach | unknown | 483 |
Uí Garrchon, 483–495 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fincath mac Garrchu 483–485 |
unknown | Son of Garrchú mac Fothaid | unknown | 485 |
| Fráech mac Finchada 485–495 |
unknown | Son of Fincath mac Garrchu | unknown | 495 |
Uí Dúnlainge, 495–592 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ailill mac Dúnlainge 495–527 |
 |
Son of Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada | Etromma Ui Tellain | 527 |
| Cormac mac Ailillo 527–535 |
|
Son of Ailill mac Dúnlainge | unknown | 535 |
| Coirpre mac Cormaic 535–546 |
|
Son of Cormac mac Ailillo | unknown | 546 |
| Colmán Már mac Coirpre 546–576 |
|
Son of Coirpre mac Cormaic | unknown | 576 |
| Áed Dub mac Colmáin 576–592 |
|
Son of Colmán Már mac Coirpre | unknown | 639 |
Uí Máil, 592–595 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Áed Dibchine 592–595 |
 |
Son of Seanach Diodhach mac Carthann Muadh | unknown | 595 |
Uí Cheinnselaig, 595–624 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandub mac Echach 595–605 |
|
Son of Echu mac Muiredaig | unknown | 605 |
| Rónán mac Colmáin 605–624 |
|
Son of Colmán mac Cormaic | unknown | 624 |
Uí Máil, 624–633 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimthann mac Áedo 624–633 |
|
Son of Áed Dibchine | unknown | 633 |
Uí Dúnlainge, 633–666 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fáelán mac Colmáin 633–656 656–666 |
|
Son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri | unknown | 666 |
Uí Cheinnselaig, 656 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crundmáel Erbuilc 656 |
|
Son of Rónán mac Colmáin | unknown | 656 |
Uí Máil, 666–680 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiannamail mac Máele Tuile 666–680 |
|
Son of Máele Tuile mac Rónán Crach | unknown | 680 |
Uí Dúnlainge, 680–693 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran Mut mac Conaill 680–693 |
|
Son of Conall mac Fáelán | unknown | 693 |
Uí Máil, 693–715 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellach Cualann 693–715 |
|
Son of Gertighe mac Diocolla Dana | unknown | 715 |
Uí Dúnlainge, 715–728 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murchad mac Brain Mut 715–727 |
|
Son of Bran Mut mac Conaill | unknown | 727 |
| Dúnchad mac Murchada 727–728 |
|
Son of Murchad mac Brain Mut | unknown | 728 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 728–738 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fáelán mac Murchada 728–738 |
.png){kind=small} |
Son of Murchad mac Brain Mut | unknown | 738 |
Uí Dúnlainge, 738 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran Becc mac Murchada 738 |
|
Son of Murchad mac Brain Mut | unknown | 738 |
Uí Cheinnselaig, 738 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Áed mac Colggen 738 |
|
Son of Colcú mac Bressail | unknown | 738 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 738–760 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muiredach mac Murchada 738–760 |
|
Son of Murchad mac Brain Mut | unknown | 760 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 760–776 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellach mac Dúnchada 760–776 |
unknown | Son of Dúnchad mac Murchada | unknown | 776 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 776–785 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin 776–785 |
|
Son of Fáelán mac Murchada | unknown | 785 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 785–795 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran Ardchenn 785–795 |
|
Son of Muiredach mac Murchada | unknown | 795 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 795–808 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fínsnechta Cethardec 795–808 |
unknown | Son of Cellach mac Dúnchada | unknown | 808 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 808–818 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muiredach mac Brain 808–818 |
|
Son of Bran Ardchenn | unknown | 818 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 818–829 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muiredach mac Ruadrach 818–829 |
|
Son of Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin | unknown | 829 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 829–834 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellach mac Brain 829–834 |
|
Son of Bran Ardchenn | unknown | 834 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 834–838 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran mac Fáeláin 834–838 |
unknown | Son of Fáelán mac Cellaig | unknown | 838 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 838–854 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorcán mac Cellaig 838–851 |
|
Son of Cellach mac Brain | unknown | unknown |
| Túathal mac Máele-Brigte 851–854 |
|
Son of Muiredach mac Brain | unknown | 854 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 854–862 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruarc mac Brain 854–862 |
unknown | Son of Bran mac Fáeláin | unknown | 862 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 862–863 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muirecán mac Diarmata 862–863 |
|
Son of Diarmata mac Ruadrach | unknown | 863 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 863–871 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig 863–869 |
|
Son of Muiredach mac Brain | unknown | 869 |
| Ailill mac Dúnlainge 869–871 |
|
Son of Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig | unknown | 871 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 871–884 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domnall mac Muirecáin 871–884 |
|
Son of Muirecán mac Diarmata | unknown | 884 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 884–885 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muiredach mac Brain 884–885 |
unknown | Son of Bran mac Fáeláin | unknown | 885 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 885–909 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerball mac Muirecáin 885–909 |
|
Son of Muirecán mac Diarmata | unknown | 909 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 909–917 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augaire mac Aililla 909–917 |
|
Son of Ailill mac Dúnlainge | unknown | 917 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 917–943 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faelan mac Muiredach 917–942 |
unknown | Son of Muiredach mac Brain | unknown | 942 |
| Lorcán mac Fáelán 942–943 |
unknown | Son of Faelan mac Muiredach | unknown | 943 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 943–947 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran Fionn mac Máel Mórda 943–947 |
|
Son of Máel Mórda mac Murchada | unknown | 947 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 947–958 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Túathal mac Úgaire 947–958 |
|
Son of Augaire mac Aililla | unknown | 958 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 958–966 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellach mac Faelan 958–966 |
unknown | Son of Faelan mac Muiredach | unknown | 966 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 966–972 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murchad mac Brain Fionn 966–972 |
|
Son of Bran Fionn mac Máel Mórda | unknown | 972 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 972–978 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Úgaire mac Túathail 972–978 |
|
Son of Túathal mac Úgaire | unknown | 978 |
Uí Dúnchada (Uí Dúnlainge), 978–1003 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domnall Claen 978–984 |
unknown | Son of Lorcán mac Fáelán | unknown | 984 |
| Donnchad mac Domnall Claen 984–1003 |
unknown | Son of Domnall Claen | unknown | unknown |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 1003–1014 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Máel Mórda mac Murchada 1003–1014 |
|
Son of Murchad mac Brain Fionn | unknown | 1014 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 1014–1016 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dúnlaing mac Tuathal 1014 |
|
Son of Túathal mac Úgaire | unknown | 1014 |
| Donncuan mac Dúnlainge 1014–1016 |
|
Son of Dúnlaing mac Tuathal | unknown | 1016 |
Uí Fáeláin (Uí Dúnlainge), 1016–1018 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bran mac Máel Mórda 1016–1018 |
|
Son of Máel Mórda mac Murchada | unknown | 1052 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 1018–1033 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augaire mac Dúnlainge 1018–1024 |
|
Son of Dúnlaing mac Tuathal | unknown | 1024 |
| Donnchad mac Dúnlainge 1024–1033 |
|
Son of Dúnlaing mac Tuathal | unknown | unknown |
Mac Giolla Phádraig (Dál Birn), 1033–1039 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic 1033–1039 |
 |
Son of Gilla Pátraic mac Donnchada | unknown | 1039 |
Uí Muiredaig (Uí Dúnlainge), 1039–1042 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murchad mac Dúnlainge 1039–1042 |
|
Son of Dúnlaing mac Tuathal | unknown | 1042 |
Mac Murchada (Uí Cheinnselaig), 1042–1115 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diarmait mac Máel na mBó 1042–1072 |
|
Son of Donnchad Máel na mBó | Derbforgaill, daughter of Donnchad mac Briain | 7 February 1072 |
| Murchad mac Diarmata 1052–1070 |
|
Son of Diarmait mac Máel na mBó | unknown | 1070 |
| Domnall mac Murchada 1072–1075 |
|
Son of Murchad mac Diarmata | unknown | 1075 |
| Donnchad mac Domnaill Remair 1075–1089 |
|
Son of Domnall Remar mac Máel na mBó | unknown | 1089 |
| Énna mac Diarmata 1089–1092 |
|
Son of Diarmait mac Máel na mBó | unknown | 1092 |
| Diarmait mac Énna 1092–1098 |
|
Son of Énna mac Diarmata | unknown | 1098 |
| Donnchadh mac Murchada 1098–1115 |
|
Son of Murchad mac Diarmata | unknown | 1115 |
Ó Conchobhair Uí Failghe, 1115 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conchobar mac Congalaig 1115 |
|
Son of Congalach Ua Conchobair | unknown | 1115 |
Mac Murchada (Uí Cheinnselaig), 1115–1171 edit
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diarmait mac Énna meic Murchada 1115–1117 |
|
Son of Énna Mac Murchada | unknown | 1117 |
| Énna mac Donnchada mic Murchada 1117–1126 |
|
Son of Donnchadh mac Murchada | unknown | 1126 |
| Diarmait Mac Murchada 1126–1166 1169–1171 |
|
Son of Donnchad mac Murchada | unknown | 1171 |
Caomhánach, 1171–1603 (Uí Cheinnselaig) edit
See also edit
Sources edit
- Book of Leinster, formerly Lebar na Núachongbála, section 26, page 181, Ríg Lagen; http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G800011A/text026.html
- Kings of Leinster Genealogical Tables, pages 288–290,"Irish Kings and High Kings", Francis John Byrne, Dublin, 1973.
- Kings, Saints and Sagas, Alfred. P. Smyth, in Wicklow:History and Society, 1994. ISBN 978-0-906602-30-0
- Kings, the kingship of Leinster and the regnal poems of "laidshencfhas Laigen:a reflection of dynastic politics in Leinster, 650–1150, Edel Bhreathnach, in Seanchas: Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne, ed. Alfred P. Smyth, pp. 299–312, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2000
- Kings of Leinster Genealogical Tables, pages 247–249, "War, Politics and the Irish of Leinster 1156–1606", Emmett O'Bryne, Dublin, 2004.
- Register of Irish Chiefs as compiled by genealogist Sean J. Murphy: http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanjmurphy/chiefs/register.htm
External links edit
- Annals of the Kings of Leinster
- Uí Bairrche by Tracey Clann