The Kings of Brega were rulers of Brega, a

petty kingdom A petty kingdom is a kingdom described as minor or "petty" (from the French 'petit' meaning small) by contrast to an empire or unified kingdom that either preceded or succeeded it (e.g. the numerous kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England unified into ...

north of

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 ...

in medieval Ireland.

Overview

Brega took its name from ' ('), meaning "fine plain", in modern

County Meath County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the ...

County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of County Meath, M ...

and

County Dublin "Action to match our speech" , image_map = Island_of_Ireland_location_map_Dublin.svg , map_alt = map showing County Dublin as a small area of darker green on the east coast within the lighter green background of ...

, Ireland. They formed part of the

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into t ...

kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the

Hill of Tara The Hill of Tara ( ga, Teamhair or ) is a hill and ancient ceremonial and burial site near Skryne in County Meath, Ireland. Tradition identifies the hill as the inauguration place and seat of the High Kings of Ireland; it also appears in I ...

, the site where the

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned an ...

was proclaimed. Brega was bounded on the east by the

Irish Sea The Irish Sea or , gv, Y Keayn Yernagh, sco, Erse Sie, gd, Muir Èireann , Ulster-Scots: ''Airish Sea'', cy, Môr Iwerddon . is an extensive body of water that separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is linked to the C ...

and on the south by the

River Liffey The River Liffey ( Irish: ''An Life'', historically ''An Ruirthe(a)ch'') is a river in eastern Ireland that ultimately flows through the centre of Dublin to its mouth within Dublin Bay. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the Riv ...

. It extended northwards across the

River Boyne The River Boyne ( ga, An Bhóinn or ''Abhainn na Bóinne'') is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newberry Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through C ...

to include Sliabh Breagha the line of hills in southern

. The western boundary, which separated it from the

Kingdom of Mide Meath (; Old Irish: ''Mide'' ; spelt ''Mí'' in Modern Irish) was a kingdom in Ireland from 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 o ...

, was probably quite fluid and is not accurately known. 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 Loch Gabhair (Lagore), meaning "Lake of the Goats", is an area in the barony of Ratoath, County Meath, Ireland. It is located between the villages of Ratoath and Dunshaughlin and is the namesake of the townlands of Lagore Big (Loch Gabhar Mór) ...

, 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 The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland took place during the late 12th century, when Anglo-Normans gradually conquered and acquired large swathes of land from the Irish, over which the kings of England then claimed sovereignty, all allegedly san ...

. In later centuries Brega was threatened by the rise of the Viking

Kingdom of Dublin Vikings invaded the territory around Dublin in the 9th century, establishing the Norsemen, Norse Kingdom of Dublin, the earliest and longest-lasting Norse kingdom in Ireland. Its territory corresponded to most of present-day County Dublin. The N ...

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 Tighearnán Mór Ua Ruairc (older spelling: Tigernán Mór Ua Ruairc), anglicised as Tiernan O'Rourke (fl. 1124– 1172) ruled the kingdom of Breifne as the 19th king in its Ua Ruairc (later O'Rourke) dynasty (964–1605 CE), a branch of the ...

of Breifne and

Diarmaid mac Murchadha Diarmait Mac Murchada (Modern Irish: Diarmaid Mac Murchadha), anglicised as Dermot MacMurrough, Dermod MacMurrough, or Dermot MacMorrogh (c. 1110 – c. 1 May 1171), was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deposed by the High Ki ...

of the

Laighin The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinster ...

Donnchad Ua Cerbaill Donnchad Ua Cerbaill or Donnchadh Ó Cearbhaill, king of Airgíalla, fl. –1168. Ua Cerbaill was a supporter of the Irish religious reform movement of the 12th century. He was a close associate of Saint Malachy, and with him founded Mellifont A ...

Airgíalla Airgíalla ( Modern Irish: Oirialla, English: Oriel, Latin: ''Ergallia'') was a medieval Irish over-kingdom and the collective name for the confederation of tribes that formed it. The confederation consisted of nine minor kingdoms, all independ ...

, the half-brother of Ua Ruairc, took Árd Ciannachta and consolidated his position by donating land from it for

Mellifont Abbey Mellifont Abbey ( ga, An Mhainistir Mhór, literally 'the Big Monastery'), was a Cistercian abbey located close to Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland. It was the first abbey of the order to be built in Ireland. In 1152, it hosted the Synod of Ke ...

. :Persons in bold considered to be High Kings of Ireland. #

Áed Sláine Áed mac Diarmato (died 604), called Áed Sláine (Áed of Slane), was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death. His descendants, the Síl nÁedo Sláine—th ...

(died 604) son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill # Conall Laeg Breg mac Áedo Sláine (died

612 __NOTOC__ Year 612 ( DCXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 612 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era be ...

) # Congal mac Áedo Sláine (died 634) # Ailill Cruitire mac Áedo Sláine (died 634) # Blathmac (died 665) and

Diarmait Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Irish pronunciation: ) or Diarmid O'Dyna, also known as Diarmuid of the Love Spot, was a demigod, son of Donn and one of the Fianna in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology (traditionally set in the 2nd to 4th century). He ...

(died 665), sons of Áed Sláine # Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile (died

662 Year 662 ( DCLXII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 662 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became ...

) #

Sechnassach Sechnassach mac Blathmaic (died 671) followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) and uncle Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) as High King of Ireland and King of Brega. He belonged to the Síl nÁedo Sláine kindred of the sout ...

(died 671) son of Blathmac # Cenn Fáelad (died 675) son of Blathmac # Finsnechta Fledach (died

695 __NOTOC__ Year 695 ( DCXCV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 695 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era b ...

) son of Dúnchad son of Áed Sláine # Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696) # Irgalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 702) #

Amalgaid mac Congalaig Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696). He ruled in north Brega fro ...

(died 718) # Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) # Fogartach (died

724 __NOTOC__ Year 724 ( DCCXXIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 724 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar er ...

) son of Niall son of Cernach Sotal son of Diarmait # Cináed (died 728) son of Irgalach #

Conaing mac Amalgado Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718), a previous king. He ruled from ...

(died 742) # Indrechtach mac Dungalaig (died

748 __NOTOC__ Year 748 ( DCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 748 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calenda ...

) #

Dúngal mac Amalgado Dúngal mac Amalgado (or Dúngal Cnogba) (died 759) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718) and brother of C ...

(died 759) ## - Coirpre mac Fogartaig (died

771 __NOTOC__ The year 771 ( DCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 771 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calend ...

) #

Congalach mac Conaing Congalach mac Conaing (died 778) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742), a previous king. He is listed as t ...

(died

778 __NOTOC__ Year 778 ( DCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 778 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method ...

) #

Diarmait mac Conaing Diarmait mac Conaing (died 786) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742) and brother of Congalach mac Conaing ...

(died 786) # Flann mac Congalaig (died 812) # Cernach mac Congalaig (died 818) # Cummascach mac Congalaig (died 839) # Conaing mac Flainn (died 849) #

Cináed mac Conaing Cináed mac Conaing (died 851) was King of Knowth in the medieval Irish province of Mide, succeeding his father Conaing mac Flainn in 849. Cináed's family belonged to the Knowth, or Uí Chonaing, branch of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, part of the ...

(died 851) # Flann mac Conaing (died 868) # Flannacán mac Cellaig (died 896) # Máel Finnia mac Flannacain (died 903) # Máel Mithig mac Flannacain (died 919)

Kings of Cnogba/Knowth

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.T.M. Charles-Edwards, pg.551–553 The title King of

Ciannachta The Ciannachta were a population group of early historic Ireland. They claimed descent from the legendary figure Tadc mac Céin. Modern research indicates Saint Cianán and his followers may have been the origin behind the tribal name as it is ...

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. * Congal mac Áedo Sláine, (died 634) * Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile (a quo Uí Chonaing), (died

) * Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre, (died 696) * Irgalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 702) *

(died 718) * Cináed (died 728) son of Irgalach *

, (died 742) (''rí Ciannachta'') * Indrechtach mac Dungalaig, (died 748) (''rí Ciannachta'') *

(died 759) *

, died

(''rí Ciannachta'') *

(died 786) * Flann mac Congalaig (died 812) (''rí Ciannachta'') * Cernach mac Congalaig (died 818) (''rí Cnodba'') * Cummascach mac Congalaig (died 839) (''rí Ciannachta'') * Conaing mac Flainn (died 849) (''rí Brega'') *

, died 851 (''rí Ciannachta'') * Flann mac Conaing (died 868) (''rí Brega'') * Flannacan mac Cellach (descendant of Congalach), died 896 (''rí Brega'') * Máel Finnia mac Flannacán, died

903 __NOTOC__ Year 903 ( CMIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * King Berengar I of Italy proceeds to issue concessions and privileges to the Lo ...

(''rí Brega'') * Máel Mithig mac Flannacán, died

919 __NOTOC__ Year 919 ( CMXIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By Place Byzantine Empire * March 25 – Romanos Lekapenos, admiral (''droungarios'') of the Byz ...

(''rí Cnogba'') * Congalach mac Mael Mithig (''rí Cnogba''), died

956 Year 956 ( CMLVI) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Summer – Emperor Constantine VII appoints Nikephoros Phokas to commander of th ...

Kings of Lagore/Deiscert Breg (South Brega)

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. * Niall mac Cernaig Sotal, (died 701) *

Maine mac Néill Maine mac Néill (died 712) was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701) and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 66 ...

, (died 712) * Conall Grant mac Cernaig, (died 718) *

Fogartach mac Néill Fogartach Mac'Artain (died 724), sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Bre ...

, (died 724) * Cathal mac Néill, (died 729) *

Cathal mac Áeda Cathal mac Áeda (before 722–737) was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the son of Áed Laigin mac Néill (died 722) and great-great grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Slái ...

, (died 737) (''rí Desceirt Breagh'') *

Cernach mac Fogartaig Cernach mac Fogartaig (died 738) was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Fogartach mac Néill (died 724). He appears as a leader ...

, (died 738) * Fergus mac Fogartaig, (died 751) (''rí Desceirt Breagh'') * Coirpre mac Fogartaig, (died 771) (''rí Brega'') * Niall mac Conaill, (died 778) (''rí Desceirt Breagh'') * Máel Dúin mac Fergusa, (died 785) (''rí Locha Gabor'') * Fogartach mac Cummascaig (died 786) (''rí Locha Gabor'') * Cummascach mac Fogartaig (died 797) (''rí Deiscert Breg'') * Ailill mac Fergusa, (died 800) (''rí Deiscert Breg'') *

Cernach mac Fergusa Cernach mac Fergusa (died 805) was a King of in South Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the Southern Uí Néill The Southern Uí Néill ( ga, Uí Néill an Deiscirt, IPA: �iːˈnʲeːl̪ʲˈanˠˈdʲ� ...

(died 805) (''rí Locha Gabor'') * Conall mac Néill (died 815) (''rí Desceirt Breagh'') * Fogartach mac Cernaig (died 815) (''leth-rí Desceirt Breagh'') * Óengus mac Máele Dúin (died 825) (''rí Locha Gabor'') * Diarmait mac Néill (died 826) (''rí Desceirt Breagh'') * Cairpre mac Máele Dúin (died 836) (''rí Locha Gabor'') *

Tigernach mac Fócartai Tigernach mac Fócartai (died 865), also called Tigernach of Lagore, was King of Lagore. Background Tigernach belonged to the Uí Chernaig branch of the once-powerful Síl nÁedo Sláine kindred, part of the southern Uí Néill. His great-great- ...

, (died 865) (''rí Locha Gabor'', ''lethrí Breg'') * 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

Notes

References

* 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) *

Eoin MacNeill Eoin MacNeill ( ga, Eoin Mac Néill; born John McNeill; 15 May 1867 – 15 October 1945) was an Irish scholar, Irish language enthusiast, Gaelic revivalist, nationalist and politician who served as Minister for Education from 1922 to 1925, Cea ...

, ''Colonisation under early

kings of Tara The term Kingship of Tara () 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 literatur ...

'', ''Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society'' 16/3-4, 1935, pp. 101–24. * S. Ma na Midhe, ''Some notes on

Navan Navan ( ; , meaning "the Cave") is the county town of County Meath, Ireland. In 2016, it had a population of 30,173, making it the tenth largest settlement in Ireland. It is at the confluence of the River Boyne and Blackwater, around 50&nb ...

, ancient and modern'', ''Riocht na Midhe'' 1/1, 1955, pp. 53–60 * Byrne, Francis John, ''Historical note on Cnogba (

Knowth Knowth (; ga, Cnóbha) is a Neolithic passage grave and an ancient monument of the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne located 8.4 km west of Drogheda in Ireland's valley of the River Boyne. It is the largest passage grave of the Br ...

)'', 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. ; ''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. * Mark Clinton, ''Settlement Dynamics in Co. Meath:the Kingdom of Loegaire'', ''Peritia'' 14, pp. 372–401, 2000 *

Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin (31 August 1954 – 29 June 2011) was an Irish medieval historian and celticist. Career Mac Shamhráin studied at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. He was then a research associate at Scoil an Léinn ...

, ''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 Edel Bhreathnach is an Irish historian and academic and former CEO of the Discovery Programme. Bhreathnach was a Tara Research Fellow for the Discovery Programme from 1992 to 2000. In 2005 she was appointed Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Mícheál � ...

, ''The Medieval Kingdom of Brega'' in ''The Kingship and Landscape of Tara'', ed. Edel Bhreathnach,

Four Courts Press Four Courts Press is an independent Irish academic publishing house, with its office at Malpas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. Founded in 1970 by Michael Adams, who died in February 2009, its early publications were primarily theological, notably t ...

, Dublin, 2005 * ''Book of Leinster'',

Flann Mainistrech Flann Mainistrech (died 25 November 1056) was an Irish poet and historian. Flann was the son of Echthigern mac Óengusso, who had been lector at the monastery of Monasterboice (modern County Louth), in Irish ''Mainistir Buite'', whence Flann's by ...

: "Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg" a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brega, Kings Of Lists of Irish monarchs