Kingdom of Meath
 | This article includes alist of references,related reading,orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations.(June 2017) |
Kingdom of Meath | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Meath about the year 900 | |||||||
| Capital | Tara | ||||||
| Religion | Druidism(until 700s)Christianity(700s–1172) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Today part of | Ireland | ||||||
Meath(/miːð/MEEDH;Modern Irish:Mí;Old Irish:Mide[ˈmʲiðʲe]) was akingdom in Irelandfrom the 1st to the 12th century AD. Its name means "middle," denoting its location in the middle of the island.
At its greatest extent, it included all ofCounty Meath(which takes its name from the kingdom), all ofCounty Westmeath,and parts of countiesCavan,Dublin,Kildare,Longford,LouthandOffaly.
History
[edit]Mideoriginally referred to the area around theHill of UisneachinCounty Westmeath,where the festival ofBeltainewas celebrated. The largerprovinceof Meath, between the Irish Sea and the Shannon, is traditionally said to have been created byTúathal Techtmar,an exemplar king, in the first century from parts of the other four provinces. In the fourth and fifth centuries its territories were taken over by theUí NéillfromConnachtand they pushed outLaigintribes. The Uí Néill assumed the ancient titles ofKings of UisnechinMideandKings of TarainBregaand claimed a cattle-tribute, theBóroma Laigen,on the Laigin. TheUí Failge,underFailge Berraide,were finally expelled from the plain of Mide with the battle of Druim Derg in 514. TheUí Enechglaisswere an early paramountdynastyof the Laigin. Anoghamstone found south ofSlanesuggests they controlled theBregaarea in County Meath together withCarbury Hilland the plains of Kildare. During the early 6th century, they were expelled across theWicklow Mountains.
The Uí Failge andUí Bairrchebelonged to the Laigin but may also be associated with theIverni.
Inmedieval Ireland,theKings of Midewere of theClann Cholmáin,a branch of theUí Néill.They came to dominate theirSouthern Uí Néillkindreds, including theSíl nÁedo Sláinein County Meath, the Uí Failghe andUí Faelaintribes of the Laigin and theKingdom of Dublin.Several wereHigh Kings of Ireland.The position alternated with their kindred theNorthern Uí Néillfor many centuries. The kingdom came under pressure in the 11th and 12th century fromother provincial kingsseeking the position ofHigh King of Irelandand theKingdom of BreifneunderTigernán Ua Ruairc.Midewas frequently overrun and partitioned and began to collapse as a coherent kingdom.
Following theNorman invasion of Ireland,in 1172, the kingdom was awarded toHugh de Lacyas theLordship of MeathbyHenry II of Englandin his capacity asLord of Ireland.De Lacy took possession of the kingdom and the dynasty of the Ua Mael Sechlainn or O Melaghlins were forced west and settled on the east bank of theRiver Shannonin the barony ofClonlonan.Bearers of the name were noted as among the Gaelic nobility as late as the 1690s, though they had lost power long before. Melaugh is the more commonly associated name in Ireland today, though it is more often rendered as McLoughlin.
Province and diocese
[edit]Meath is also considered to have been one of fiveProvinces(Irish:cúigemeaning "fifths" ) of Ireland, along with the four current provinces ofConnacht,Leinster,MunsterandUlster.TheDiocese of Meathestablished by theSynod of Ráth Breasailin 1111 had boundaries similar to those of the kingdom.
See also
[edit]Present territories:
References
[edit]- "Clann Cholmain Kings of Mide 766–1184", pp. 195–196 inA New History of Ireland,Vol. IX, ed. Byrne, Martin, Moody, 1984.[ISBN missing]
- "Walsh, Paul (2003).Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages.Four Courts Press.ISBN978-1-85182-543-1.
- "King James II's Irish Army List", D'Alton, 18??
External links
[edit]- Ireland's History in Maps:Ancient Midhe and Brega, the southern Uí Neill
- Ireland's History in Maps:Tribes of Mide & Brega, the Southern Uí Neill, et al: Background on Midhe