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The kings of Munster (Irish: Rí Mumhain) ruled the Kingdom of Munster in Ireland from its establishment during the Irish Iron Age until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the Book of Invasions, the earliest king of Munster was Bodb Derg of the Tuatha Dé Danann. From the Gaelic peoples, an Érainn kindred known as the Dáirine (also known as Corcu Loígde and represented today in seniority by the Ó hEidirsceoil) provided several early monarchs including Cú Roí. In a process in the Cath Maige Mucrama, the Érainn lost their ascendancy in the 2nd century AD to the Deirgtine, ancestors of the Eóganachta. Munster during this period was classified as part of Leath Moga, or the southern-half, while other parts of Ireland were ruled mostly by the Connachta.
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2009) |
Kings of Munster | |
---|---|
Rí Mumhan | |
![]() Map of Munster, c. 10th century. | |
Details | |
Style | Rí Mumhan |
First monarch | Bodb Derg |
Last monarch | Cormac Mac Carthaig |
Formation | Ancient |
Abolition | 1138 or 1194 (claimant) |
Residence | Rock of Cashel |
Appointer | Tanistry |
Pretender(s) | Disputed: Conor Myles John O'Brien (Ó Briain) Liam Trant MacCarthy (Mac Cárthaigh) |
After losing Osraige to the east, Cashel was established as the capital of Munster by the Eóganachta. This kindred ruled without interruption until the 10th century. Although the High Kingship of Ireland was dominated during this time by the Uí Néill, the Eóganachta of Munster did provide Cathal mac Finguine and Fedelmid mac Crimthainn as serious contenders. This great tribe was broken down into different septs or branches, the most successful in terms of royalty being the Eóganacht Chaisil (represented by the Ó Súilleabháin and Mac Cárthaigh), the Eóganacht Glendamnach (represented by the Ó Caoimh), and the Eóganacht Áine (represented by the Ó Ciarmhaic).
Their hold was loosened by the rise of Brian Bóruma of the Dál gCais, who established the Ó Briain as kings of Munster. As well as this, Munster had to contend with the Normans. Finally, the kingdom ended as it was split into Thomond, Desmond and Ormond. The former two came to an end during the 16th century with the birth of the Tudor Kingdom of Ireland, with former rulers joining the Peerage of Ireland. There were a number of Gaelic attempts to reassert their power in Munster, such as that of Fínghin Mac Cárthaigh and Domhnall Cam Ó Súilleabháin Bhéara, but these were not successful.
There were not verifiable Eóganacht overkings of (all or most of) Munster until the early 7th century, after the Corcu Loígde had fallen entirely from power, some time after losing their grip on the Kingdom of Osraige and the support of the Muscraige and others. Thus the earlier kings below are best described as Kings of Cashel, Kings of Iarmuman, or Kings of the Eóganachta. Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib was the first Eóganacht to powerfully project outside Munster, but his Iarmuman relations were a significant rival of Cashel in his time, and not enough is known of many of his successors before Cathal mac Finguine, although the fragmentary nature of the surviving sources can to an extent be blamed.
At this time also flourished the semi-independent Uí Fidgenti and Uí Liatháin, a pair of shadowy sister kingdoms whose official origins appear to have been adjusted in the 8th century in a semi-successful (if ambiguously necessary) attempt to integrate them into the Eóganachta political structure and genealogical scheme. Effective relations and an alliance were achieved with the Uí Fidgenti, to the credit of Eóganacht strength, wealth and finesse, but for unknown reasons the Uí Liatháin remained effective outsiders except to Eóganacht Glendamnach.[citation needed]
Of the Eóganachta, unless noted.
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Corc mac Luigthig – | ![]() | Son of Luigthech mac Ailill Flann Bec | Aimend several children | unknown |
Nad Froích mac Cuirc –453 | ![]() | Son of Corc mac Luigthig | unknown | 453 |
Óengus mac Nad Froích 453–489 | ![]() | Son of Nad Froích mac Cuirc | Eithne Uathach purported to have had twenty-four sons and twenty-four daughters | 489 |
Feidlimid mac Óengusa 489–500 | ![]() | Son of Óengus mac Nad Froích | unknown | 500 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eochaid mac Óengusa 500–522 | ![]() | Son of Óengus mac Nad Froích | unknown | 522 |
Crimthann Srem mac Echado 522–542 | ![]() | Son of Eochaid mac Óengusa | unknown | 542 |
Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn 542–577 | ![]() | Son of Crimthann Srem mac Echado | unknown | 577 |
Feidlimid mac Coirpri Chruimm 577–596 (possible) | ![]() | Son of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn | unknown | 596 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fergus Scandal mac Crimthainn 577–582 | ![]() | Son of Crimthann Srem mac Echado | unknown | 582 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feidlimid mac Tigernaig 582–588 | ![]() | Son of Tighearnach mac Aedh | unknown | 588 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amalgaid mac Éndai 596–601 | ![]() | Son of Éndai | unknown | 601 |
Garbán mac Éndai 596–601 | ![]() | Son of Éndai | unknown | 601 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib 601–618 | ![]() | Son of Áedo Duib | Mór Muman several children | 618 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn 618 | ![]() | Son of Crimthainn mac Cobhtach | unknown | 618 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cathal mac Áedo 618–627 | ![]() | Son of Áed Fland Cathrach | Mór Muman several children | 627 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib 627–639 | ![]() | Son of Áedo Duib | unknown | 639 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cúán mac Amalgado 639–641 | ![]() | Son of Amalgaid mac Éndai | unknown | 641 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Máenach mac Fíngin 641–661 | ![]() | Son of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib and Mór Muman | unknown | 661 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cathal Cú-cen-máthair 661–665 | ![]() | Son of Cathal mac Áedo | several children | 665 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind 665–678 | ![]() | Son of Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib | unknown | 678 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Finguine mac Cathail 678–696 | ![]() | Son of Cathal Cú-cen-máthair | several children | 696 |
Ailill mac Cathail 696–701 | ![]() | Son of Cathal Cú-cen-máthair | unknown | 701 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cormac mac Ailello 701–712 | ![]() | Son of Ailello mac Máenach | unknown | 712 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eterscél mac Máele Umai 712–721 | ![]() | Son of Máel Umai mac Cúán | unknown | 721 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cathal mac Finguine 721–742 | ![]() | Son of Finguine mac Cathail | several children | 742 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cathussach mac Eterscélai 742–769 | ![]() | Son of Eterscél mac Máele Umai | unknown | 769 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Máel Dúin mac Áedo 769–786 | ![]() | Son of Áed Bennán mac Conaing | unknown | 786 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht 786–805[nb 1] | ![]() | Son of Duib-Indrecht | unknown | 805 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Artrí mac Cathail 805–820 | ![]() | Son of Cathal mac Finguine | one son | 820 |
Tnúthgal mac Artrach –[nb 2] (possible) | ![]() | Son of Artrí mac Cathail | unknown | 807 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tnúthgal mac Donngaile 807–820 (possible) | ![]() | Son of Máel Donngaile | unknown | 820 |
Feidlimid mac Cremthanin 820–847 | ![]() | Son of Crimthainn | unknown | 28 August 847 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ólchobar mac Cináeda 847–851 | ![]() | Son of Cináeda | unknown | 851 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Áilgenán mac Donngaile 851–853 | ![]() | Son of Donngaile | unknown | 853 |
Máel Gualae mac Donngaile 853–859 | ![]() | Son of Donngaile | one son | 859 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cenn Fáelad hua Mugthigirn 859–872 | ![]() | Son of Mugthigirn | unknown | 872 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dúnchad mac Duib-dá-Bairenn 872–888 | ![]() | Son of Duib-dá-Bairenn mac Crundmáel | unknown | 888 |
Dub Lachtna mac Máele Gualae 888–895 | ![]() | Son of Máel Gualae mac Donngaile | unknown | 895 |
Finguine Cenn nGécan mac Loégairi 895–902 | ![]() | Son of Loégairi mac Duib-dá-Bairenn | unknown | 902 |
Cormac mac Cuilennáin 902–908 | ![]() | Son of Cuilennáin mac Selbach | unknown | 908 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Flaithbertach mac Inmainén 908–944 | ![]() | Son of Inmainén | unknown | 944 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lorcán mac Coinlígáin 944– | ![]() | Son of Coinlígáin mac Corcrán | unknown | unknown |
Cellachán Caisil –954 | ![]() | Son of Buadacháin mac Lachtnae | one son | 954 |
Máel Fathardaig mac Flann 954–957 | ![]() | Son of Flann mac Donnchad | one son | 957 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fer Gráid mac Clérig 959–961 | ![]() | Son of Clérig mac Áilgenán | unknown | 961 |
Donnchad mac Cellacháin 959–963 | ![]() | Son of Cellachán Caisil | unknown | 963 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Máel Muad mac Brain 959–970 976–978 | ![]() | Son of Brian | one son | 978 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ivar of Limerick 960–977 (de facto) | ![]() | uncertain | several children | 977 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mathgamain mac Cennétig 970–976 | ![]() | Son of Cennétig mac Lorcáin | unknown | 976 |
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig 978–1014 | ![]() | c. 941 Son of Cennétig mac Lorcáin and Bé Binn inion Urchadh | (1) Mór three sons (2) Echrad one son (3) Gormflaith one son | 23 April 1014 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Donnchad mac Briain 1025–1064 | ![]() | Son of Brian Bóruma and Gormflaith ingen Murchada | Cacht ingen Ragnaill Three children | 1064 |
Murchad mac Donnchada 1064–1068 | ![]() | Son of Donnchad mac Briain and Cacht ingen Ragnaill | unknown | 1068 |
Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain 1068–1086 | ![]() | 1009 Son of Tadc mac Briain and Mór | (1) Dubchoblaig One son (2) Derbforgaill Two sons | 1086 |
Muircheartach Ua Briain 1086–1114 1118–1119 | ![]() | 1050 Son of Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain | Derb Forgaill ingen Uí Laidcnén Three children | 1119 |
Diarmait Ua Briain 1114–1118 | ![]() | 1060 Son of Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain | unknown | 1118 |
Brian Ua Briain 1118 | ![]() | Son of Murchad mac Donnchada | unknown | 1118 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cormac Mac Carthaigh 1127–1138 | ![]() | Son of Muireadach Mac Carthaigh | unknown | 1138 |
Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conchobar Ua Briain 1138–1142 (claimant) | ![]() | Son of Diarmait Ua Briain | unknown | 1142 |
Toirdhealbhach mac Diarmada Ua Briain 1142–1167 (claimant) | ![]() | Son of Diarmait Ua Briain | unknown | 1167 |
Muirchertach mac Toirdelbhach Ua Briain 1167–1168 (claimant) | ![]() | Son of Toirdelbhach mac Diarmaida Ua Briain | unknown | 1168 |
Domnall Mór Ua Briain 1168–1194 (claimant) | ![]() | Son of Toirdelbhach mac Diarmaida Ua Briain | Orlacan Ní Murchada Four children | 1194 |
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