Brega took its name from Magh Breagh (Breá), meaning "fine plain", in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the Uí Néill kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara, the site where the High King of Ireland was proclaimed. Brega was bounded on the east by the Irish Sea and on the south by the River Liffey. It extended northwards across the River Boyne to include Sliabh Breagha the line of hills in southern County Louth. The western boundary, which separated it from the Kingdom of Mide, was probably quite fluid and is not accurately known.[1]
Brega was annexed in the 6th century by the Uí Néill. By the middle of the 8th century the Síl nÁedo Sláine had split into two hostile branches: Southern Brega, or the Kingdom of Loch Gabhair, which was ruled by the Uí Chernaig; and Northern Brega, or the Kingdom of Cnogba/Knowth, which was ruled by the Uí Chonaing. Despite this, many kings of Brega ruled over both areas, and thus Brega as a whole, until the kingdom's extinction in the early years of the Norman invasion of Ireland. In later centuries Brega was threatened by the rise of the Viking Kingdom of Dublin and came under the suzerainty of the kings of Mide. In the divisions of that kingdom in the twelfth century parts of Brega, or East Mide, came under the control of Tigernán Ua Ruairc of Breifne and Diarmaid mac Murchadha of the Laighin. Donnchad Ua Cerbaill of Airgíalla, the half-brother of Ua Ruairc, took Árd Ciannachta and consolidated his position by donating land from it for Mellifont Abbey.
Persons in bold considered to be High Kings of Ireland.[2]
List incomplete: see Mac Shamhráin, 2004. The Uí Chonaing had earlier been settled around Tailtiu and Ráith Airthir in the valley of the Blackwater; that district was left to another branch of Síl nÁeda Sláne, Síl nDlúthaig upon the conquest of the Ciannachta Breg during the reign of Cináed mac Írgalaig.[3] The title King of Ciannachta is first used by this dynasty in the Annals of Ulster in the year 742 and the use of the title King of Cnogba in 818; prior to this, it was a title used by the Ciannachta themselves. Earlier kings can be considered chiefs of the Uí Chonaing.
List incomplete: see Mac Shamhráin, 2004. The title King of Southern Brega does not appear in the Annals of Tigernach until 729 and in the Annals of Ulster until 751. Earlier rulers can be considered rulers of the Uí Chernaig sept of Síl nÁedo Sláine.
Diarmait mac Etersceili (died 868) (rí Locha Gabor)
Máel Sechnaill mac Néill (died 870) (leth-rí Desceirt Breagh)
Tolarg mac Cellaig (died 888) (leth-rí Desceirt Breagh)
Máel Ograi mac Congalaig (died 908) (rí Locha Gabor)
Fogartach mac Tolairg (died 916) (rí Desceirt Breagh)
Beollán mac Ciarmaic (died 969) (rí Locha Gabor)
Gilla Mo Chonna mac Fogartach mac Ciarmac (rí Deiscert Breg), died 1013
Notesedit
^T. M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland (2000), p. 15; James Henthorn Todd, Cogad Gaedel re Gallaib (1867), p. L.
^This list is based on Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High Kings, Appendix II; T.M.Charles Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, Appendix II; with gaps filled in by the poem Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg found in the Book of Leinster
J.H. Moore, Notices of the town of Navan I, in Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland 23, 1893, pp. 55–63 (parts II and III in JRSAI 1894 and 1895)
S. Ma na Midhe, Some notes on Navan, ancient and modern, Riocht na Midhe 1/1, 1955, pp. 53–60
Byrne, Francis John, Historical note on Cnogba (Knowth), in Excavations at Knowth, Co. Meath, 1962–65 (George Eogan ed.), Proc. RIA C 66, pp. 383–400; Irish Kings and High-Kings, Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN0-7134-5882-8; A nnote on Trim and Sletty, Peritia 3, pp. 316–19
D. O Murchadha, Odhbha and Navan, Riocht na Midhe 8/4, 1992–93, pp. 112–23
Mark Clinton, Settlement Dynamics in Co. Meath:the Kingdom of Loegaire, Peritia 14, pp. 372–401, 2000
Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin, Church and dynasty in Early Christian Brega: Lusk, Inis Pátraic and the cast of Máel-Finnia, king and saint, Table 8.1, Lineages of Síl nÁedo Sláine, p. 127; in The Island of St Patrick: Church and ruling dynasties in Fingal and Meath, 400–1148, (ed.) Mac Shamhráin, Four Courts, 2004.
Edel Bhreathnach, The Medieval Kingdom of Brega in The Kingship and Landscape of Tara, ed. Edel Bhreathnach, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005
Book of Leinster, Flann Mainistrech: "Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg" at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
January 01, 1970
kings, brega, were, rulers, brega, petty, kingdom, north, dublin, medieval, ireland, contents, overview, kings, cnogba, knowth, kings, lagore, deiscert, breg, south, brega, notes, referencesoverview, editbrega, took, name, from, magh, breagh, breá, meaning, fi. The Kings of Brega were rulers of Brega a petty kingdom north of Dublin in medieval Ireland Contents 1 Overview 2 Kings of Cnogba Knowth 3 Kings of Lagore Deiscert Breg South Brega 4 Notes 5 ReferencesOverview editBrega took its name from Magh Breagh Brea meaning fine plain in modern County Meath County Louth and County Dublin Ireland They formed part of the Ui Neill kindred belonging to the Sil nAedo Slaine branch of the southern Ui Neill The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara the site where the High King of Ireland was proclaimed Brega was bounded on the east by the Irish Sea and on the south by the River Liffey It extended northwards across the River Boyne to include Sliabh Breagha the line of hills in southern County Louth The western boundary which separated it from the Kingdom of Mide was probably quite fluid and is not accurately known 1 Brega was annexed in the 6th century by the Ui Neill By the middle of the 8th century the Sil nAedo Slaine had split into two hostile branches Southern Brega or the Kingdom of Loch Gabhair which was ruled by the Ui Chernaig and Northern Brega or the Kingdom of Cnogba Knowth which was ruled by the Ui Chonaing Despite this many kings of Brega ruled over both areas and thus Brega as a whole until the kingdom s extinction in the early years of the Norman invasion of Ireland In later centuries Brega was threatened by the rise of the Viking Kingdom of Dublin and came under the suzerainty of the kings of Mide In the divisions of that kingdom in the twelfth century parts of Brega or East Mide came under the control of Tigernan Ua Ruairc of Breifne and Diarmaid mac Murchadha of the Laighin Donnchad Ua Cerbaill of Airgialla the half brother of Ua Ruairc took Ard Ciannachta and consolidated his position by donating land from it for Mellifont Abbey Persons in bold considered to be High Kings of Ireland 2 Aed Slaine died 604 son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill Conall Laeg Breg mac Aedo Slaine died 612 Congal mac Aedo Slaine died 634 Ailill Cruitire mac Aedo Slaine died 634 Blathmac died 665 and Diarmait died 665 sons of Aed Slaine Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile died 662 Sechnassach died 671 son of Blathmac Cenn Faelad died 675 son of Blathmac Finsnechta Fledach died 695 son of Dunchad son of Aed Slaine Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre died 696 Irgalach mac Conaing Cuirre died 702 Amalgaid mac Congalaig died 718 Conall Grant mac Cernaig died 718 Fogartach died 724 son of Niall son of Cernach Sotal son of Diarmait Cinaed died 728 son of Irgalach Conaing mac Amalgado died 742 Indrechtach mac Dungalaig died 748 Dungal mac Amalgado died 759 Coirpre mac Fogartaig died 771 Congalach mac Conaing died 778 Diarmait mac Conaing died 786 Flann mac Congalaig died 812 Cernach mac Congalaig died 818 Cummascach mac Congalaig died 839 Conaing mac Flainn died 849 Cinaed mac Conaing died 851 Flann mac Conaing died 868 Flannacan mac Cellaig died 896 Mael Finnia mac Flannacain died 903 Mael Mithig mac Flannacain died 919 Kings of Cnogba Knowth editList incomplete see Mac Shamhrain 2004 The Ui Chonaing had earlier been settled around Tailtiu and Raith Airthir in the valley of the Blackwater that district was left to another branch of Sil nAeda Slane Sil nDluthaig upon the conquest of the Ciannachta Breg during the reign of Cinaed mac Irgalaig 3 The title King of Ciannachta is first used by this dynasty in the Annals of Ulster in the year 742 and the use of the title King of Cnogba in 818 prior to this it was a title used by the Ciannachta themselves Earlier kings can be considered chiefs of the Ui Chonaing Congal mac Aedo Slaine died 634 Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile a quo Ui Chonaing died 662 Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre died 696 Irgalach mac Conaing Cuirre died 702 Amalgaid mac Congalaig died 718 Cinaed died 728 son of Irgalach Conaing mac Amalgado died 742 ri Ciannachta Indrechtach mac Dungalaig died 748 ri Ciannachta Dungal mac Amalgado died 759 Congalach mac Conaing died 778 ri Ciannachta Diarmait mac Conaing died 786 Flann mac Congalaig died 812 ri Ciannachta Cernach mac Congalaig died 818 ri Cnodba Cummascach mac Congalaig died 839 ri Ciannachta Conaing mac Flainn died 849 ri Brega Cinaed mac Conaing died 851 ri Ciannachta Flann mac Conaing died 868 ri Brega Flannacan mac Cellach descendant of Congalach died 896 ri Brega Mael Finnia mac Flannacan died 903 ri Brega Mael Mithig mac Flannacan died 919 ri Cnogba Congalach mac Mael Mithig ri Cnogba died 956Kings of Lagore Deiscert Breg South Brega editList incomplete see Mac Shamhrain 2004 The title King of Southern Brega does not appear in the Annals of Tigernach until 729 and in the Annals of Ulster until 751 Earlier rulers can be considered rulers of the Ui Chernaig sept of Sil nAedo Slaine Niall mac Cernaig Sotal died 701 Maine mac Neill died 712 Conall Grant mac Cernaig died 718 Fogartach mac Neill died 724 Cathal mac Neill died 729 Cathal mac Aeda died 737 ri Desceirt Breagh Cernach mac Fogartaig died 738 Fergus mac Fogartaig died 751 ri Desceirt Breagh Coirpre mac Fogartaig died 771 ri Brega Niall mac Conaill died 778 ri Desceirt Breagh Mael Duin mac Fergusa died 785 ri Locha Gabor Fogartach mac Cummascaig died 786 ri Locha Gabor Cummascach mac Fogartaig died 797 ri Deiscert Breg Ailill mac Fergusa died 800 ri Deiscert Breg Cernach mac Fergusa died 805 ri Locha Gabor Conall mac Neill died 815 ri Desceirt Breagh Fogartach mac Cernaig died 815 leth ri Desceirt Breagh oengus mac Maele Duin died 825 ri Locha Gabor Diarmait mac Neill died 826 ri Desceirt Breagh Cairpre mac Maele Duin died 836 ri Locha Gabor Tigernach mac Focartai died 865 ri Locha Gabor lethri Breg Diarmait mac Etersceili died 868 ri Locha Gabor Mael Sechnaill mac Neill died 870 leth ri Desceirt Breagh Tolarg mac Cellaig died 888 leth ri Desceirt Breagh Mael Ograi mac Congalaig died 908 ri Locha Gabor Fogartach mac Tolairg died 916 ri Desceirt Breagh Beollan mac Ciarmaic died 969 ri Locha Gabor Gilla Mo Chonna mac Fogartach mac Ciarmac ri Deiscert Breg died 1013Notes edit T M Charles Edwards Early Christian Ireland 2000 p 15 James Henthorn Todd Cogad Gaedel re Gallaib 1867 p L This list is based on Francis J Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings Appendix II T M Charles Edwards Early Christian Ireland Appendix II with gaps filled in by the poem Sil Aeda Slane Na Sleg found in the Book of Leinster T M Charles Edwards pg 551 553References editJ H Moore Notices of the town of Navan I in Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland 23 1893 pp 55 63 parts II and III in JRSAI 1894 and 1895 Eoin MacNeill Colonisation under early kings of Tara Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 16 3 4 1935 pp 101 24 S Ma na Midhe Some notes on Navan ancient and modern Riocht na Midhe 1 1 1955 pp 53 60 Byrne Francis John Historical note on Cnogba Knowth in Excavations at Knowth Co Meath 1962 65 George Eogan ed Proc RIA C 66 pp 383 400 Irish Kings and High Kings Batsford London 1973 ISBN 0 7134 5882 8 A nnote on Trim and Sletty Peritia 3 pp 316 19 D O Murchadha Odhbha and Navan Riocht na Midhe 8 4 1992 93 pp 112 23 Thomas Charles Edwards Early Christian Ireland Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2000 ISBN 0 521 36395 0 Mark Clinton Settlement Dynamics in Co Meath the Kingdom of Loegaire Peritia 14 pp 372 401 2000 Ailbhe Mac Shamhrain Church and dynasty in Early Christian Brega Lusk Inis Patraic and the cast of Mael Finnia king and saint Table 8 1 Lineages of Sil nAedo Slaine p 127 in The Island of St Patrick Church and ruling dynasties in Fingal and Meath 400 1148 ed Mac Shamhrain Four Courts 2004 Edel Bhreathnach The Medieval Kingdom of Brega in The Kingship and Landscape of Tara ed Edel Bhreathnach Four Courts Press Dublin 2005 Book of Leinster Flann Mainistrech Sil Aeda Slane Na Sleg at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kings of Brega amp oldid 1033050929, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
