Historical and/or legendary figures who claimed to have lordship over the whole of Ireland
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "High King of Ireland" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
High King of Ireland
Anachronistic depiction of High King Brian Boru
Details
Style
Ardrí na hÉireann Rí Érenn Uile Imperator Scottorum
First monarch
Sláine mac Dela (mythical) Máel Sechnaill I (historical)
Last monarch
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
Formation
9th century AD
Abolition
12th century AD
Residence
Hill of Tara
High kings were traditionally installed on the Hill of Tara. The Lia Fáil (pictured) shouted the rightful king's name when he placed his foot on it, according to tradition.
High King of Ireland (Irish: Ardrí na hÉireann[ˈaːɾˠd̪ˠˌɾˠiːn̪ˠəˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to legendary figures.
Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken line of High Kings, ruling from the Hill of Tara over a hierarchy of lesser kings, stretching back thousands of years. Modern historians believe this scheme was crafted in the 8th century from the various genealogical traditions of powerful dynasties, and intended to justify their status by projecting it far into the past.[1] John T. Koch explains: "Although the kingship of Tara was a special kingship whose occupants had aspirations towards supremacy among the kings of Ireland, in political terms it is unlikely that any king had sufficient authority to dominate the whole island before the 9th century".[2]
The concept of national kingship is first articulated in the 7th century, but only became a political reality in the Viking Age, and even then not a consistent one.[3][4][5] While the High Kings' degree of control varied, they never ruled Ireland as a politically unified state, as the High King was conceived of as an overlord exercising suzerainty over, and receiving tribute from, the independent kingdoms beneath him.[6]
^Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, "Ireland, 400–800", in Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (ed.), A New History of Ireland 1: Prehistoric and Early Ireland, Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 182–234.
^Koch, John (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 1663–1664.
^Koch, John T. (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLO.[page needed]
^Roe, Harry; Ann Dooley (1999). Tales of the Elders of Ireland. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192839183.[page needed]
^Michael Roberts; et al. (1957). Early Irish history and pseudo-history. Bowes & Bowes Michigan University Press.[page needed]
^Francis John Byrne, Irish Kings and High Kings, London, 1973,: pp. 40–47
and 22 Related for: High King of Ireland information
(Middle Irish: Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; modern Irish: Brian Bóramha; c. 941 – 23 April 1014) was an Irishking who ended the domination of the High Kingship...
Republic ofIreland. Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, remains under a monarchical system of government. The office ofHighKingofIreland effectively...
March 1119), son of Toirdelbach Ua Briain and great-grandson of Brian Boru, was Kingof Munster and later self-declared HighKingofIreland. Muirchertach...
A highking is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of emperor. Similar titles include great king and...
following structure of lordship in the 12th century: High-kingofIreland; semi-provincial king, such as Connacht, Ulaid, Desmumu; regional king, such as Dál...
provincial kingships (Cúige "fifth" of the traditional provinces) vying for dominance and the title ofHighKingofIreland. In the late 8th century to early...
(1009 – 14 July 1086), was Kingof Munster and effectively HighKingofIreland. A grandson of Brian Bóruma, Toirdelbach was the son of Tadc mac Briain who was...
dominance, so much so that both became HighKingofIreland. The Kingdom of Connacht collapsed in the 1230s because of civil war within the royal dynasty...
ofIreland (Irish: Tiarnas na hÉireann), sometimes referred to retrospectively as Anglo-Norman Ireland, was the part ofIreland ruled by the Kingof England...
deposed by the HighKingofIreland, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair. To recover his kingdom, Mac Murchada solicited help from King Henry II of England. His issue...
background). These arms have long been Ireland's heraldic emblem. References to them as being the arms of the kingofIreland can be found as early as the 13th...
the 7th century in Ireland. 601 Probable year in which Colmán mac Cobthaig, Uí Fiachrach becomes kingof Connacht. 602 or 604 Death of Áed mac Diarmato...
of Ireland had been created in 854 by Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. His last successor was Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, who had become HighKingof Ireland...
domination ofIreland, often fighting for and against various Irish kings. The great HighKingofIreland, Brian Boru, defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf...
Kingof England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of...
Medieval Irish historical tradition held that Ireland had a HighKing (Ard Rí) based at Tara since ancient times, and compilations like the 11th-century...
first Kingof Munster, taking the throne from the rival Eóganachta. This influence was greatly extended under Brian who became HighKingofIreland, following...
The kings of Munster (Irish: Rí Mumhan) ruled the Kingdom of Munster in Ireland from its establishment during the Irish Iron Age until the High Middle Ages...
Global Information
