Kings of Tara
- Kings of Tara
The term King of Tara was a title of authority in ancient Ireland.
Analysis
The title "King of Tara" represented a very old ideal of sacred kingship in Ireland, imbued with mythical aura stretching back deep into the long-forgotten past, even from the perspective of its earliest historical holders. For these reasons holding the title King of Tara invested the incumbent to a powerful status, at least in the northern half of Ireland, perhaps as an almost totally forgotten tradition of a sacred king of kings, barely remembered yet retained by unknowing tradition. Many so-called Irish High Kings were simultaneously Kings of Tara, and in later times actual claimants to this new title (which only emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries) used their initial position as King of Tara 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.Therefore, it should be realised that for much of history, the titles King of Tara and High King of Ireland were distinct and unrelated.
The following is a list of those accorded the title in the Irish annals, which are listed below. It should be noted that the dates and names of the early kings are uncertain and often highly suspect.
Legendary Kings of Tara
Early Historic Kings of Tara
* Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth, died
446 /447
*Tuathal Maelgarb , d.544 /549
*Diarmait mac Cerbaill , before558 -565
* Forgus mac Muirchertaig and Domnall mac Muirchertaig,565 -569 ?
* Báetán mac Muirchertaig and Eochaid mac Domnaill,569 ? -572 /573
* Ainmuire mac Sétnai,572 /573 -575 /576
*Áed mac Ainmuirech ,575 /576 , or592 -598
*Fiachnae mac Báetáin (Fiachnae Lurgan),589 -626
* Colmán Rímid mac Báetáin and Áed Sláine mac Diarmato,598 -604
* Áed Allán mac Domnaill (Áed Uaridnach), "king of Temair",604 - ?Later Kings of Tara
*
Cathal mac Finguine ,713 -742
*Áed Allán ,730 -738
*Cathal mac Finguine , fl.742
*Donnchad Midi mac Murchado,763 -797
*Áed Oirdnide mac Néill,797 -819 [http://www.thepeerage.com/p15012.htm#i150112]
*Conchobar mac Donnchada ,819 -833
*Niall Caille mac Áeda,833 -846
*Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid ,846 -862
*Áed Findliath mac Néill,862 -879
*Flann Sinna mac Máelschnaill,878 -916
*Niall Glúndub ,916 -919
*Donnchad Donn mac Flainn,919 -944
*Ruaidrí Ua Canannáin ,944 - 30 November950
*Congalach Cnogba mac Máelmithig,950 -956
*Domnall ua Néill ,956 -980
*Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill ,980 -1002 ee also
*
Irish kings
*High King of Ireland
*Hill of Tara
*List of High Kings of Ireland References
ources
*"The Vikings and the Kingship of Tara", Bart Jaski, "Perita", 311-351, vol. 9, 1995.
* 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 Fragmentry 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
* Map of Tara - http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/tara/taramap.html
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Hill of Tara — Infobox Mountain Name= Hill of Tara; Teamhair na Rí Location = County Meath, IRL Coordinates = coord|53|34|39|N|6|36|43|W|display=inline,title Range = Elevation= Convert|197|m|ft|0|abbr=on Photo=Tarahill.jpg Caption=Hill of Tara, County Meath… … Wikipedia
Tara (name) — Tara is a given name with multiple meanings in different cultures. It is also sometimes a nickname for Tamara, as an alternative to Tammy. In the Royal Engineers it is a common for a Sergeant Major to be referred to as Tara, after the wrestler… … Wikipedia
Tara — Tara, tara or TARA may refer toPeople*Tara (name), a list of people with the name *Tara (actress), from the Assamese film industryTitles*Baron Tara, Irish title *Viscount Tara, Irish titlePlacesNatural features*Hill of Tara, home of the ancient… … Wikipedia
Kings of Uisnech — The Kings of Uisnech were of the Uí Néill and one of its major southern branches, the Clann Cholmáin. The Hill of Uisnech is located in what is now County Westmeath, and was in early historic Ireland considered as the area where all five… … Wikipedia
Kings of Brega — The Kings of Brega, rulers of a kingdom in medieval Ireland. Contents 1 Overview 2 Kings of Brega 3 Kings of Cnogba/Knowth 4 Kings of Lagore/Deiscert Breg (South B … Wikipedia
Tara Brooch — The Tara Brooch is considered one of the most important extant artifacts of early Christian era Irish Insular art, and is displayed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. [ [http://www.courses.psu.edu/art h/art h302… … Wikipedia
Tara — geographical name village Ireland in County Meath NW of Dublin near Hill of Tara (seat of ancient Irish kings) … New Collegiate Dictionary
Monarchy of Ireland — A monarchical polity has existed in Ireland during three periods of its history, finally ending in 1801. The designation King of Ireland (Irish: Rí na hÉireann) and Queen (regnant) of Ireland was used during these periods. Since 1949, the only… … Wikipedia
Conn of the Hundred Battles — Conn Cétchathach ( of the Hundred Battles , pron. [kɒn ˈkeːdxəθax]), son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his… … Wikipedia
List of High Kings of Ireland — Medieval Irish historical tradition held that Ireland had been ruled by an Ard Rí or High King since ancient times, and compilations like the Lebor Gabála Érenn, followed by early modern works like the Annals of the Four Masters and Geoffrey… … Wikipedia