The term Kingship of Tara (/ˈtærə/) was a title of authority in ancient Ireland - the title is closely associated with the archaeological complex at the Hill of Tara. The position was considered to be of eminent authority in medieval Irish literature and Irish mythology, although national kingship was never a historical reality in early Ireland. The term also represented a prehistoric and mythical ideal of sacred kingship in Ireland. Holding the title King of Tara invested the incumbent with a powerful status. Many Irish High Kings were simultaneously Kings of Tara. The title emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries. In later times,[when?] actual claimants to this title used their position to promote themselves in status and fact to the High Kingship. Prior to this, various branches of the Uí Néill dynasty appear to have used it to denote overlordship of their kindred and realms. It was associated with Feis Temro (Feast of Tara), a pagan inauguration rite.
The titles King of Tara and High King of Ireland were distinct and unrelated for much of history.
The following is a list of those accorded the title (or at least believed to be seated) in the Irish annals—the kings and legends. The dates and names of the early kings are uncertain and are often highly suspect. Several may be doubles of others, while composite characters may be entirely fictitious. Some may also be assigned to the wrong prehistoric kindred.
^These five early kings belong to the same family in the sources, but their origin is variously asserted, and in any case they belong mostly to the realm of mythology. They were adopted into the medieval genealogies of the later Dál Cuinn (Connachta and Uí Néill), but are mostly entangled with the Érainn and the Ulaid in Irish legend.
^This kindred appear to have early divided themselves into quite discreet septs, and somehow spread themselves in a long belt from Munster through Ulster across to southwestern Scotland with no clear point of radiation. Their other principal sept are believed to have been the famous Ulaid, early rulers of the north of Ireland from Emain Macha in Ulster (the kingship of which may actually have stood above the Tara kingship for some centuries).
^A well-known problem and peculiarity of the Érainn and Dáirine kings is that several appear to have numerous doubles spread out across the Irish mytho-historical landscape, who turn up not only in their own pedigrees but in those of other kindreds as well. In the case of Conaire, he may only be split in two, but the following Dáire and Lugaid each appear to have numerous doubles.
^Scholars have been divided as to whether the Laigin should precede or follow the Érainn. Early legends appear to recall ancient wars fought between the two for control of Tara, Brega and the Midlands. At some point in Irish prehistory the Laigin and related kindreds (Gáileóin and Domnainn) are believed to have arrived from Britain or Gaul to settle in Leinster, to which they gave their name, and from which they would radiate to early rule in Connacht and elsewhere. They would later lose control of the Tara region to the expanding Uí Néill.
^The Dál Cuinn are that kindred whom scholars distinguish to be the immediate ancestors of Conn of the Hundred Battles and his descendants down to Eochaid Mugmedón, after whom they split into the historical Connachta and Uí Néill. Believed to originate among or be identical to the prehistoric groups of Féni, meaning 'warriors', their ultimate origins have been enthusiastically speculated upon but are basically unknown. As a proto-dynasty, they are earliest found in the province of Connacht, to which the later Connachta gave their name, and may be more or less identical with the Connachta known from the Ulster Cycle. T. F. O'Rahilly asserted that they brought the Gaelic language to Ireland from the Continent in relatively late prehistoric times, but this idea has not proven popular with later generations of scholars.[citation needed] The kindred appear to have radiated from within Connacht to dominate that province and then outwards to western Ulster and the Midlands, after which they would virtually monopolize the Tara kingship for several centuries. In some works, the term Dál Cuinn is replaced by the more convenient Connachta and the latter adopts its meaning in addition to its history.
^Supposed son of Feradach Finnfechtnach, and alleged father of Tuathal Techtmar. An actual link between the two dynasties cannot be demonstrated (except in the realm of the medieval genealogies).
Gerard Murphy, "On the Dates of Two Sources Used in Thurneysen's Heldensage: I. Baile Chuind and the date of Cín Dromma Snechtai", in Ériu 16 (1952): 145–51. includes edition and translation.
kingship, tara, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, . This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The term Kingship of Tara ˈ t ae r e was a title of authority in ancient Ireland the title is closely associated with the archaeological complex at the Hill of Tara The position was considered to be of eminent authority in medieval Irish literature and Irish mythology although national kingship was never a historical reality in early Ireland The term also represented a prehistoric and mythical ideal of sacred kingship in Ireland Holding the title King of Tara invested the incumbent with a powerful status Many Irish High Kings were simultaneously Kings of Tara The title emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries In later times when actual claimants to this title used their position to promote themselves in status and fact to the High Kingship Prior to this various branches of the Ui Neill dynasty appear to have used it to denote overlordship of their kindred and realms It was associated with Feis Temro Feast of Tara a pagan inauguration rite The titles King of Tara and High King of Ireland were distinct and unrelated for much of history The following is a list of those accorded the title or at least believed to be seated in the Irish annals the kings and legends The dates and names of the early kings are uncertain and are often highly suspect Several may be doubles of others while composite characters may be entirely fictitious Some may also be assigned to the wrong prehistoric kindred Contents 1 Legendary Kings of Tara 1 1 Prehistoric 1 2 Late Prehistoric 1 3 Early Historic Kings of Tara 1 4 Later Kings of Tara 2 Baile Chuinn Chetchathaig 3 Togail Bruidne Da Derga 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 6 1 Annals 7 External linksLegendary Kings of Tara editPrehistoric edit Mythological 1 Eochu Feidlech Eochu Airem Lugaid Riab nDerg Crimthann Nia Nair Feradach Finnfechtnach Erainn and Dairine Corcu Loigde 2 Eterscel Mor Conaire Mor Conaire Coem 3 Daire Doimthech Mac Con Lugaid Loigde Eochaid Etgudach Laigin 4 Ugaine Mor Loegaire Lorc Cobthach Coel Breg Labraid Loingsech Cairbre Nia Fer Nuadu Necht Cathair Mor Dal Cuinn Connachta and Ui Neill 5 Fiachu Finnolach 6 Tuathal Techtmar Fedlimid Rechtmar Conn of the Hundred Battles Art mac Cuinn Cormac mac Airt Cairbre LifechairLate Prehistoric edit Niall of the Nine Hostages Loegaire mac Neill Coirpre mac Neill Ailill MoltEarly Historic Kings of Tara edit Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth died 546 547 Tuathal Maelgarb d 544 549 Diarmait mac Cerbaill before 558 565 Forggus mac Muirchertaig and Domnall mac Muirchertaig 565 569 Baetan mac Muirchertaig and Eochaid mac Domnaill 569 572 573 Ainmuire mac Setnai 572 573 575 576 Aed mac Ainmuirech 575 576 or 592 598 Fiachnae mac Baetain Fiachnae Lurgan 589 626 Colman Rimid mac Baetain and Aed Slaine mac Diarmato 598 604 Aed Allan mac Domnaill Aed Uaridnach king of Temair 604 Congal Caech died 637Later Kings of Tara edit Cathal mac Finguine 713 742 Aed Allan 730 738 Donnchad Midi mac Murchado 763 797 Aed Oirdnide mac Neill 797 819 1 Conchobar mac Donnchada 819 833 Niall Caille mac Aeda 833 846 Mael Sechnaill mac Maele Ruanaid 846 862 Aed Findliath mac Neill 862 879 Flann Sinna mac Maelschnaill 878 916 Niall Glundub 916 919 Donnchad Donn mac Flainn 919 944 Ruaidri Ua Canannain 944 30 November 950 Congalach Cnogba mac Maelmithig 950 956 Domnall ua Neill 956 980 Mael Sechnaill mac Domnaill 980 1002Baile Chuinn Chetchathaig editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it February 2010 Togail Bruidne Da Derga editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it February 2010 See also editIrish kings High King of Ireland List of High Kings of Ireland Cin Dromma SnechtaiNotes edit These five early kings belong to the same family in the sources but their origin is variously asserted and in any case they belong mostly to the realm of mythology They were adopted into the medieval genealogies of the later Dal Cuinn Connachta and Ui Neill but are mostly entangled with the Erainn and the Ulaid in Irish legend This kindred appear to have early divided themselves into quite discreet septs and somehow spread themselves in a long belt from Munster through Ulster across to southwestern Scotland with no clear point of radiation Their other principal sept are believed to have been the famous Ulaid early rulers of the north of Ireland from Emain Macha in Ulster the kingship of which may actually have stood above the Tara kingship for some centuries A well known problem and peculiarity of the Erainn and Dairine kings is that several appear to have numerous doubles spread out across the Irish mytho historical landscape who turn up not only in their own pedigrees but in those of other kindreds as well In the case of Conaire he may only be split in two but the following Daire and Lugaid each appear to have numerous doubles Scholars have been divided as to whether the Laigin should precede or follow the Erainn Early legends appear to recall ancient wars fought between the two for control of Tara Brega and the Midlands At some point in Irish prehistory the Laigin and related kindreds Gaileoin and Domnainn are believed to have arrived from Britain or Gaul to settle in Leinster to which they gave their name and from which they would radiate to early rule in Connacht and elsewhere They would later lose control of the Tara region to the expanding Ui Neill The Dal Cuinn are that kindred whom scholars distinguish to be the immediate ancestors of Conn of the Hundred Battles and his descendants down to Eochaid Mugmedon after whom they split into the historical Connachta and Ui Neill Believed to originate among or be identical to the prehistoric groups of Feni meaning warriors their ultimate origins have been enthusiastically speculated upon but are basically unknown As a proto dynasty they are earliest found in the province of Connacht to which the later Connachta gave their name and may be more or less identical with the Connachta known from the Ulster Cycle T F O Rahilly asserted that they brought the Gaelic language to Ireland from the Continent in relatively late prehistoric times but this idea has not proven popular with later generations of scholars citation needed The kindred appear to have radiated from within Connacht to dominate that province and then outwards to western Ulster and the Midlands after which they would virtually monopolize the Tara kingship for several centuries In some works the term Dal Cuinn is replaced by the more convenient Connachta and the latter adopts its meaning in addition to its history Supposed son of Feradach Finnfechtnach and alleged father of Tuathal Techtmar An actual link between the two dynasties cannot be demonstrated except in the realm of the medieval genealogies References editEdel Bhreathnach and Kevin Murray Baile Chuinn Chetchathaig Edition in Edel Bhreathnach ed The Kingship and Landscape of Tara Dublin Four Courts Press for The Discovery Programme 2005 pp 73 94 Edel Bhreathnach ed The Kingship and Landscape of Tara Dublin Four Courts Press for The Discovery Programme 2005 Francis John Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings Four Courts Press 2nd revised edition 2001 Thomas Charles Edwards Early Christian Ireland Cambridge University Press 2000 Anne Connon A Prosopography of the Early Queens of Tara in Edel Bhreathnach ed The Kingship and Landscape of Tara Dublin Four Courts Press for The Discovery Programme 2005 pp 225 327 Lucius Gwynn De Sil Chonairi Moir in Eriu 6 1912 130 43 Bart Jaski Early Irish Kingship and Succession Four Courts Press 2000 Bart Jaski The Vikings and the Kingship of Tara in Perita 311 351 vol 9 1995 Ailbhe Mac Shamhrain and Paul Byrne Prosopography I Kings named in Baile Chuinn Chetchathaig and the Airgialla Charter Poem in Edel Bhreathnach ed The Kingship and Landscape of Tara Dublin Four Courts Press for The Discovery Programme 2005 pp 159 224 Gerard Murphy On the Dates of Two Sources Used in Thurneysen s Heldensage I Baile Chuind and the date of Cin Dromma Snechtai in Eriu 16 1952 145 51 includes edition and translation T F O Rahilly Early Irish History and Mythology Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies 1946 Annals edit The Annals of Ulster http www ucc ie celt published T100001A index html The Annals of Inisfallen http www ucc ie celt published T100004 index html Chronicon Scotorum http www ucc ie celt published T100016 index html The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland http www ucc ie celt published T100017 index html Annals of the Four Masters http www ucc ie celt published T100005A index htmlExternal links editMap of Tara Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kingship of Tara amp oldid 1033939745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
