The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High KingConn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles). The modern western province of Connacht (IrishCúige Chonnacht, province, literally "fifth", of the Connachta) takes its name from them, although the territories of the Connachta also included at various times parts of southern and western Ulster and northern Leinster. Their traditional capital was Cruachan (modern Rathcroghan, County Roscommon).[1]
The use of the word cúige, earlier cóiced, literally "fifth", to denote a province indicates the existence of a pentarchy in prehistory, whose members are believed to have been population groups the Connachta,[2] the Ulaid (Ulster) and the Laigin (Leinster), the region of Mumu (Munster), and the central kingdom of Mide. This pentarchy appears to have been broken up by the dawn of history in the early 5th century with the reduction of the Ulaid and the founding of new Connachta dynasties which expanded north and east.
Medieval Irish historical tradition traces these dynasties to the four or five sons of Eochaid Mugmedon: Brion, Ailill, Fiachrae, Fergus Caech (perhaps a literary addition), and Niall of the Nine Hostages. Four were ancestors of new Irish dynasties; those of Brión (the Uí Briúin), Fiachrae (the Uí Fiachrach) and Ailill (the Uí Ailello, later replaced by Uí Maine[3]) were known as teóra Connachta, or the historical Three Connachta of the province itself; that of Niall, the Uí Néill, at first surpassed its parent dynasty, establishing or continuing the so-called High Kingship of Ireland at Tara, and became the most powerful dynasty in Ireland down to early modern times.
However David Sproule points out that:
It does not seem that the word "Connacht" can originally have meant 'the descendants of Conn'; it may have meant 'headship' or 'supremacy' from "cond" or "conn", head, and later have been interpreted as meaning "the descendants of Conn", Conn Cetchathach being derived from the word "Connacht" rather than vice versa. ... the name "Eoganacht" and "Ciannacht" were formed in imitation ...[4]
Sproule's hypothesis has been accepted by historians such as Paul Byrne.[5]
The dynasties of the Airgíalla, and through them the Uí Maine, while also counted as belonging to the Connachta by medieval genealogists,[6][7] may not possibly be related, as some have assessed that they descend from other peoples later added to the genealogical scheme.[8] Regardless, the connections to Uí Maine with each of the septs and their defined ancestor have been maintained for well over a millennium.
The Connachta in the Ulster Cycle
In the sagas of the Ulster Cycle, the Connachta, ruled from Cruachan by their king Ailill mac Máta and their formidable queen Medb, are the enemies of the Ulaid, ruled from Emain Macha (Navan Fort, County Armagh) by Conchobar mac Nessa, and their wars, notably the Táin Bó Cúailnge (cattle raid of Cooley), are the setting for most of the stories. These sagas are traditionally set around the time of Christ, which creates an apparent anachronism: the Connachta are supposedly named after Conn Cétchathach, who in the usual chronological scheme established by the Lebor Gabála Érenn, lived in the 2nd century AD.[9] Later texts used the supposedly earlier names of Cóiced Ol nEchmacht (the province of the Fir Ól nÉcmacht, an ancient people of Connacht) and Cóiced Genaind (the province of Genann, a legendary king of the Fir Bolg)[10] for the western province to get around this difficulty. However, the saga tradition is older than the chronological scheme, which is an artificial attempt by Christian monks to synchronise native traditions with classical and biblical history, and it is possible that the Ulster Cycle is based on historical wars between the Ulaid and the Connachta which have been chronologically misplaced.[11]Kenneth H. Jackson estimated that Ulster heroic saga originated in the 4th century.[12]
^The Oxford Companion to Irish History, p.111, Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN0-19-923483-3.
^Francis J. Byrne, Irish Kings and High Kings, Four Courts Press, 2001, p. 86
^Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN0-7134-5882-8
^David Sproule, Origins of the Eoghnachta, , Eiru 35, 1984, pp. 31–37.
^Paul Byrne, Ciannachta Breg before Sil nAeda Slaine, in Seanchas:Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne, (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2000), pp. 121–126.
connachta, group, medieval, irish, dynasties, claimed, descent, from, legendary, high, king, conn, cétchathach, conn, hundred, battles, modern, western, province, connacht, irish, cúige, chonnacht, province, literally, fifth, takes, name, from, them, although,. The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cetchathach Conn of the Hundred Battles The modern western province of Connacht Irish Cuige Chonnacht province literally fifth of the Connachta takes its name from them although the territories of the Connachta also included at various times parts of southern and western Ulster and northern Leinster Their traditional capital was Cruachan modern Rathcroghan County Roscommon 1 ConnachtaParent houseDal CuinnCountryIrelandFounded4th century ADFounderEochaid MugmedonCurrent headO Conor DonTitlesKings of Cruachan Kings of Connacht Kings of Tara High Kings of Ireland Kings of Breifne peerage titles Early peoples and kingdoms of Ireland c 800 Contents 1 Origins 2 The Connachta in the Ulster Cycle 3 Connachta family tree 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOrigins EditThe use of the word cuige earlier coiced literally fifth to denote a province indicates the existence of a pentarchy in prehistory whose members are believed to have been population groups the Connachta 2 the Ulaid Ulster and the Laigin Leinster the region of Mumu Munster and the central kingdom of Mide This pentarchy appears to have been broken up by the dawn of history in the early 5th century with the reduction of the Ulaid and the founding of new Connachta dynasties which expanded north and east Medieval Irish historical tradition traces these dynasties to the four or five sons of Eochaid Mugmedon Brion Ailill Fiachrae Fergus Caech perhaps a literary addition and Niall of the Nine Hostages Four were ancestors of new Irish dynasties those of Brion the Ui Briuin Fiachrae the Ui Fiachrach and Ailill the Ui Ailello later replaced by Ui Maine 3 were known as teora Connachta or the historical Three Connachta of the province itself that of Niall the Ui Neill at first surpassed its parent dynasty establishing or continuing the so called High Kingship of Ireland at Tara and became the most powerful dynasty in Ireland down to early modern times However David Sproule points out that It does not seem that the word Connacht can originally have meant the descendants of Conn it may have meant headship or supremacy from cond or conn head and later have been interpreted as meaning the descendants of Conn Conn Cetchathach being derived from the word Connacht rather than vice versa the name Eoganacht and Ciannacht were formed in imitation 4 Sproule s hypothesis has been accepted by historians such as Paul Byrne 5 The dynasties of the Airgialla and through them the Ui Maine while also counted as belonging to the Connachta by medieval genealogists 6 7 may not possibly be related as some have assessed that they descend from other peoples later added to the genealogical scheme 8 Regardless the connections to Ui Maine with each of the septs and their defined ancestor have been maintained for well over a millennium The Connachta in the Ulster Cycle EditIn the sagas of the Ulster Cycle the Connachta ruled from Cruachan by their king Ailill mac Mata and their formidable queen Medb are the enemies of the Ulaid ruled from Emain Macha Navan Fort County Armagh by Conchobar mac Nessa and their wars notably the Tain Bo Cuailnge cattle raid of Cooley are the setting for most of the stories These sagas are traditionally set around the time of Christ which creates an apparent anachronism the Connachta are supposedly named after Conn Cetchathach who in the usual chronological scheme established by the Lebor Gabala Erenn lived in the 2nd century AD 9 Later texts used the supposedly earlier names of Coiced Ol nEchmacht the province of the Fir ol nEcmacht an ancient people of Connacht and Coiced Genaind the province of Genann a legendary king of the Fir Bolg 10 for the western province to get around this difficulty However the saga tradition is older than the chronological scheme which is an artificial attempt by Christian monks to synchronise native traditions with classical and biblical history and it is possible that the Ulster Cycle is based on historical wars between the Ulaid and the Connachta which have been chronologically misplaced 11 Kenneth H Jackson estimated that Ulster heroic saga originated in the 4th century 12 Connachta family tree EditGenealogy of the ConnachtaTuathal TechtmarFedlimid RechtmarCathair MorConn CetchathachEithne TaebfadaMedb LethdergArt mac CuinnAchtanCormac mac AirtCairbre LifechairFiacha SroiptineEochaid DoimlenMuiredach TirechMongfindEochaid MugmedonCairennBrionFiachraeAilillFergus CaechNiallAirgiallaUi BriuinUi FiachrachUi AilelloUi NeillUi MaineSee also EditKings of Connacht Siol Muireadaigh Cenel Conaill Cenel nEogain Irish nobility Irish royal familiesReferences Edit The Oxford Companion to Irish History p 111 Oxford University Press 1998 ISBN 0 19 923483 3 Francis J Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings Four Courts Press 2001 p 86 Byrne Francis John Irish Kings and High Kings Batsford London 1973 ISBN 0 7134 5882 8 David Sproule Origins of the Eoghnachta Eiru 35 1984 pp 31 37 Paul Byrne Ciannachta Breg before Sil nAeda Slaine in Seanchas Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology History and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne Four Courts Press Dublin 2000 pp 121 126 Byrne 2001 pp 46 85 86 Daibhi o Croinin Ireland 400 800 in Daibhi o Croinin ed A New History of Ireland Vol 1 2005 pp 182 234 Francis J Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings Four Courts Press 2001 R A Stewart Macalister ed amp trans Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V Irish Texts Society 1956 p 331 333 Margaret C Dobs ed amp trans La Bataille de Leitir Ruibhe Revue Celtique 39 1922 pp 1 32 Byrne 2001 p 50 51 Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson The Oldest Irish Tradition a Window on the Iron Age Cambridge University Press 1964External links EditR M222 Haplogroup Project at Family Tree DNA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Connachta amp oldid 1116699896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
