List of kings of Munster

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)
Residence Rock of Cashel
Appointer Tanistry
Pretender(s) Disputed:
Conor Myles John O'Brien
(Ó Briain)
Liam Trant MacCarthy
(Mac Cárthaigh)

The kings of Munster (Irish: Rí Mumhan), ruled from the establishment of Munster 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 would lose out 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.

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 were the Eóganacht Chaisil (represented by the Ó Súilleabháin and Mac Cárthaigh), Eóganacht Glendamnach (represented by the Ó Caoimh) and 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 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.

Ancient and Mythological Kings of Munster

Historical Kings of Cashel, Iarmuman, and Munster

These were not true kings of Munster until the late 7th century, when the Corcu Loígde fell entirely from power, some time after losing their grip on the Kingdom of Osraige. Thus approximately the first twenty five kings below are best described as Kings of Cashel, Kings of Iarmuman, or Kings of the Eóganachta. Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib, the only exception, was the first Eóganacht to significantly project outside Munster, but Iarmuman was still a great rival of Cashel in his time, and little is known of his successors before Cathal mac Finguine.

At and before this time also flourished the independent Uí Fidgenti and Uí Liatháin, a pair of shadowy sister kingdoms whose official origins appear to have been tampered with in the 8th century in a semi-successful attempt to integrate them into the Eóganachta political structure and genealogical scheme. Diplomatic relations and an alliance were achieved with the Uí Fidgenti, much to the credit of the Eóganachta, but for unknown reasons the Uí Liatháin remained effective outsiders.

Of the Eóganachta, unless noted.

Eóganacht Chaisil, -500

Name Portrait Birth Marriages 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

Eóganacht Glendamnach, 500-596

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Eochaid mac Óengusa
500–522
Son of Óengus mac Nad Froíchunknown 522
Crimthann Srem mac Echado
522–542
Son of Eochaid mac Óengusaunknown 542
Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn
542–577
Son of Crimthann Srem mac Echadounknown 577
Feidlimid mac Coirpri Chruimm
577–596
(possible)
Son of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainnunknown 596

Eóganacht Airthir Cliach, 577-582

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Fergus Scandal mac Crimthainn
577–582
Son of Crimthann Srem mac Echadounknown 582

Eóganacht Raithlind, 582-588

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Feidlimid mac Tigernaig
582–588
Son of Tighearnach mac Aedhunknown 588

Eóganacht Áine, 596-601

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Amalgaid mac Éndai
596–601
Son of Éndaiunknown 601
Garbán mac Éndai
596–601
Son of Éndaiunknown 601

Eóganacht Chaisil, 601-618

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
601–618
Son of Áedo DuibMór Muman
several children
618

Eóganacht Locha Léin, 618

See also: Ó Cathail
Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn
618
Son of Crimthainn mac Cobhtachunknown 618

Eóganacht Glendamnach, 618-627

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cathal mac Áedo
618–627
Son of Áed Fland CathrachMór Muman
several children
627

Eóganacht Chaisil, 627-639

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib
627–639
Son of Áedo Duibunknown 639

Eóganacht Áine, 639-641

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cúán mac Amalgado
639–641
Son of Amalgaid mac Éndaiunknown 641

Eóganacht Chaisil, 641-661

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Máenach mac Fíngin
641–661
Son of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib and Mór Mumanunknown 661

Eóganacht Glendamnach, 661-665

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cathal Cú-cen-máthair
661–665
Son of Cathal mac Áedoseveral children 665

Eóganacht Chaisil, 665-678

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind
665–678
Son of Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duibunknown 678

Eóganacht Glendamnach, 678-701

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Finguine mac Cathail
678–696
Son of Cathal Cú-cen-máthairseveral children 696
Ailill mac Cathail
696–701
Son of Cathal Cú-cen-máthairunknown 701

Eóganacht Chaisil, 701-712

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cormac mac Ailello
701–712
Son of Ailello mac Máenachunknown 712

Eóganacht Áine, 712-721

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Eterscél mac Máele Umai
712–721
Son of Máel Umai mac Cúánunknown 721

Eóganacht Glendamnach, 721-742

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cathal mac Finguine
721–742
Son of Finguine mac Cathailseveral children 742

Eóganacht Áine, 742-769

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cathussach mac Eterscélai
742–769
Son of Eterscél mac Máele Umaiunknown 769

Eóganacht Locha Léin, 769-786

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Máel Dúin mac Áedo
769–786
Son of Áed Bennán mac Conaing unknown 786

Eóganacht Áine, 786-805

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht
786–805[nb 1]
Son of Duib-Indrechtunknown 805

Eóganacht Glendamnach, 805-820

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Artrí mac Cathail
805–820
Son of Cathal mac Finguineone son 820
Tnúthgal mac Artrach
[nb 2]
(possible)
Son of Artrí mac Cathailunknown 807

Eóganacht Chaisil, 820-847

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Tnúthgal mac Donngaile
807–820
(possible)
Son of Máel Donngaileunknown 820
Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
820–847
Son of Crimthainnunknown 28 August 847

Eóganacht Áine, 847-851

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Ólchobar mac Cináeda
847–851
Son of Cináeda unknown 851

Eóganacht Chaisil, 851-859

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Áilgenán mac Donngaile
851–853
Son of Donngaileunknown 853
Máel Gualae mac Donngaile
853–859
Son of Donngaileone son 859

Eóganacht Áine, 859-872

See also: Abbot of Emly
Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cenn Fáelad hua Mugthigirn
859–872
Son of Mugthigirn unknown 872

Eóganacht Chaisil, 872-908

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Dúnchad mac Duib-dá-Bairenn
872–888
Son of Duib-dá-Bairenn mac Crundmáelunknown 888
Dub Lachtna mac Máele Gualae
888–895
Son of Máel Gualae mac Donngaileunknown 895
Finguine Cenn nGécan mac Loégairi
895–902
Son of Loégairi mac Duib-dá-Bairennunknown 902
Cormac mac Cuilennáin
902–908
Son of Cuilennáin mac Selbachunknown 908

Múscraige, 908-944

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Flaithbertach mac Inmainén
908–944
Son of Inmainénunknown 944

Eóganacht Chaisil, 944-957

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Lorcán mac Coinlígáin
944–
Son of Coinlígáin mac Corcránunknown unknown
Cellachán Caisil
–954
Son of Buadacháin mac Lachtnaeone son 954
Máel Fathardaig mac Flann
954–957
Son of Flann mac Donnchadone son 957

Eóganacht Raithlind, 957-959

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Dub-dá-Bairenn mac Domnaill
957–959
Son of Domnall mac Dub-dá-Bairennunknown 959

Eóganacht Chaisil, 959-963

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Fer Gráid mac Clérig
959–961
Son of Clérig mac Áilgenánunknown 961
Donnchad mac Cellacháin
959–963
Son of Cellachán Caisilunknown 963

Eóganacht Raithlind, 959-978

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Máel Muad mac Brain
959–970
976–978
Son of Brianone son 978

Uí Ímair, 960-977

See also: Uí Ímair
Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Ivar of Limerick
960–977
(de facto)
uncertainseveral children 977

Dál gCais, 970-1014

See also: Dál gCais
Name Portrait Birth Marriages 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

Eóganacht Chaisil, 1014-1025

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Dúngal Hua Donnchada
1014–1025
Son of Máel Fathardaig mac Flannunknown 1025

Ó Briain, 1025-1119

See also: Ó Briain
Name Portrait Birth Marriages 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 Ragnaillunknown 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 Donnchadaunknown 1118

Mac Cárthaigh, 1127-1138

See also: Mac Cárthaigh
Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Cormac Mac Carthaigh
11271138
Son of Muireadach Mac Carthaighunknown 1138

Ó Briain, 1138-1194

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Conchobar Ua Briain
1138–1142
(claimant)
Son of Diarmait Ua Briain unknown 1142
Toirdelbhach mac Diarmaida 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
Three children
1194

See also

Notes

  1. In the Annals of Ulster, Ólchobar mac Flainn of the Uí Fidgenti was confused with Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht of the Eóganacht Áine and claimed to have been a King of Munster. It is very likely that only Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht reigned in actuality (the confusion caused by a decline in Eóganachta fortunes).
  2. Tnúthgal mac Artrach of the Eóganacht Glendamnach is sometimes given as a king of Munster on some kings lists, but not in the Annals of Ireland. He died before his father, so it is possible that he never reigned. It is also possible that Tnúthgal mac Donngaile of the Eóganacht Chaisil has been confused with Tnúthgal mac Artrach.

References

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