List of High Kings of Ireland

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The High Kingship of Ireland was a pseudohistorical construct of the eighth century AD, a projection into the distant past of a political entity that did not become reality until the ninth century. The traditional list of High Kings of Ireland is thus a mixture of fact, fiction and propaganda, the individuals appearing prior to the fifth century AD are generally considered legendary and the application of the title to individuals before the ninth century being anachronistic. The annalists frequently describe later high kings as righ erenn co fressabra ("Kings Irish with Opposition"), which is a reference to the instability of the kingship of Tara from the death of Mael Sechnaill II in 1022, the last Uí Niall king; who had been restored to the throne following the death of Brian Boru in 1014, who had taken the throne from him in 1002. The example of Brian's coup was followed by numerous other families in the century following 1022, which was effectively ended by the Norman quasi-conquest of Ireland in 1171.

[edit] Kings in the Baile Chuind

Name	Presumed identity	Notes
The Baile Chuinn Cétchathaigh (The Frenzy of Conn of the Hundred Battles) of around 700 A.D. contains a list of kings of Tara quite different from that included in Annals of the Four Masters a millennium later. It is presumed that the last four kings named are fictional, dating the list to the lifetime of Fínsnechta Fledach. A number of kings are unidentified, and some are apparently misplaced.
Not named	Conn Cétchathach	The list recounts Conn's vision of the kings who will follow him
Art	Art mac Cuinn
Mac Con moccu Lugde Loígde	Lugaid mac Con
Corbmac	Cormac mac Airt
Corpre	Cairbre Lifechair
Fiechri
Dáire Drechlethan
Fécho
Muiredach Tirech	Muiredach Tírech
Crimthand	Crimthann mac Fidaig
Níell	Niall Noigíallach
Loígaire	Lóegaire mac Néill
Corpri	Coirpre mac Néill	died circa 463
Ailill	Ailill Molt	died c. 482
Lugid	Lughaid mac Loeguire	died c. 507
Mac Ercéni	Muirchertach mac Ercae	died c. 536
Óengarb	Tuathal Máelgarb	died c. 544
Aíd	probably Áed mac Ainmuirech	died c. 598 and seemingly misplaced
Aíd Olláin	probably Áed Uairidnach (Áed Allán mac Domnaill)	died 612 and seemingly misplaced
Diermait	Diarmait mac Cerbaill	died c. 565
Feáchno	Fiachnae mac Báetáin or perhaps Fiachnae mac Feradaig, father of Suibne Menn	Fiachnae mac Báetáin died c. 626
Suibne	Suibne Menn	died c. 628
Domnall	Domnall mac Áedo	died c. 642
Blathmac and Diarmaid grandson of the other one	Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine and Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine	both died c. 665
Snechta Fína	Fínsnechta Fledach	died c. 695, the list compiled in his reign; four fictional kings follow Finsnechta

[edit] Synthetic lists

High Kings of Ireland, 1934 BC - 1186 AD	AFM	FFE
AFM: chronology from the Annals of the Four Masters. FFE: chronology based on reign-lengths given in Seathrún Céitinn's Forus Feasa ar Erinn. Both were compiled ca. 1634 from much the same sources. Cétinn's chronology is considerably shorter than the Four Masters'.
Fir Bolg High Kings	1934-1897 BC	1514-1477 BC
Sláine	1934-1933 BC	1514-1513 BC
Rudraige	1933-1931 BC	1513-1511 BC
Gann and Genann	1931-1927 BC	1511-1507 BC
Sengann	1927-1922 BC	1507-1502 BC
Fiacha Cennfinnán	1922-1917 BC	1502-1497 BC
Rinnal	1917-1911 BC	1497-1491 BC
Fodbgen	1911-1907 BC	1491-1487 BC
Eochaid mac Eirc	1907-1897 BC	1487-1477 BC
Tuatha Dé Danann High Kings	1897-1700 BC	1477-1287 BC
Many if not all of these Kings are, in origin, ancient Irish deities
Bres	1897-1890 BC	1477-1470 BC
Nuada	1890-1870 BC	1470-1447 BC
Lug	1870-1830 BC	1447-1407 BC
Eochaid Ollathair	1830-1750 BC	1407-1337 BC
Delbáeth	1750-1740 BC	1337-1327 BC
Fiacha	1740-1730 BC	1327-1317 BC
Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine	1730-1700 BC	1317-1287 BC
Milesian High Kings	1700 BC - 76 AD	1287 BC - 80 AD
Eber Finn and Eremon	1700 BC	1287-1286 BC
Eremon	1700-1684 BC	1286-1272 BC
Muimne, Luigne and Laigne	1684-1681 BC	1272-1269 BC
Ir, Orba, Fearon and Ferga	1681 BC	1269 BC
Irial Fáith	1681-1671 BC	1269-1259 BC
Eithrial	1671-1651 BC	1259-1239 BC
Conmael	1651-1621 BC	1239-1209 BC
Tigernmas	1621-1544 BC	1209-1159 BC
	interregnum 1544-1537 BC
Eochaid Étgudach	1537-1533 BC	1159-1155 BC
Cearmna Finn and Sobhairce	1533-1493 BC	1155-1115 BC
Eochaid Faebar Glas	1493-1473 BC	1115-1095 BC
Fiacha Labhrainne	1473-1449 BC	1095-1071 BC
Eochaid Mumho	1449-1428 BC	1071-1050 BC
Aengus Olmucada	1428-1410 BC	1050-1032 BC
Enna Airgtheach	1410-1383 BC	1032-1005 BC
Roitheachtaigh (I)	1383-1358 BC	1005-980 BC
Sedna (I)	1358-1353 BC	980-975 BC
Fiacha Finscothach	1353-1333 BC	975-955 BC
Muineamhón	1333-1328 BC	955-950 BC
Faildeargdoid	1328-1318 BC	950-943 BC
Ollamh Fodhla	1318-1278 BC	943-913 BC
Finnachta	1278-1258 BC	913-895 BC
Slanoll	1257-1241 BC	895-880 BC
Gedhe Ollghothach	1241-1231 BC	880-863 BC
Fiacha Finnailches	1231-1209 BC	863-833 BC
Bearnghal	1209-1197 BC	833-831 BC
Ailill mac Slanuill	1197-1181 BC	831-815 BC
Sírna	1181-1031 BC	814-794 BC
Roitheachtaigh (II)	1031-1024 BC	794-787 BC
Elim Oillfinshneachta	1024-1023 BC	787-786 BC
Giallchaidh	1023-1014 BC	786-777 BC
Art Imleach	1014-1002 BC	777-755 BC
Nuadat Finnfail	1002-962 BC	755-735 BC
Breisrigh	962-953 BC	735-726 BC
Eochaid Apthach	953-952 BC	726-725 BC
Fionn mac Brátha	952-930 BC	725-705 BC
Sedna (II)	930-910 BC	705-685 BC
Simeon Breac	910-904 BC	685-679 BC
Duach Finn	904-894 BC	679-674 BC
Muireadach Bolgrach	894-893 BC	674-670 BC
Enda Dearg	893-881 BC	670-658 BC
Lugaid Iardonn	881-872 BC	658-649BC
Sirlám	872-856 BC	649-633 BC
Eochaid Uaircheas	856-844 BC	633-621 BC
Eochaid Fiadmuine and Conaing Begeaglach	844-839 BC	621-616 BC
Lugaid Lámdearg	839-832 BC	616-609 BC
Conaing Begeaglach (restored)	832-812 BC	609-599 BC
Art mac Lugdach	812-806 BC	599-593 BC
Fiacha Tolgrach	806-796 BC	593-586 BC
Ailill Finn	796-785 BC	586-577 BC
Eochaid mac Ailella	785-778 BC	577-570 BC
Airgeatmhar	778-748 BC	570-547 BC
Duach Ladhgrach	748-738 BC	547-537 BC
Lugaid Laigde	738-731 BC	537-530 BC
Áed Ruad	731-724 BC	530-509 BC
Díthorba	724-717 BC	509-488 BC
Cimbáeth	717-710 BC	488-468 BC
Áed Ruad (2nd time)	710-703 BC
Díthorba (2nd time)	703-696 BC
Cimbáeth (2nd time)	696-689 BC
Áed Ruad (3rd time)	689-682 BC
Díthorba (3rd time)	682-675 BC
Cimbáeth (3rd time)	675-668 BC
Cimbáeth and queen Macha	668-661 BC
Queen Macha	661-654 BC	468-461 BC
Rechtaid Rígderg	654-634 BC	461-441 BC
Úgaine Mor	634-594 BC	441-411 BC
Badbchaid	594 BC	411 BC
Lóegaire Lorc	594-592 BC	411-409 BC
Cobthach Cóel Breg	592-542 BC	409-379 BC
Labraid Loingsech	542-523 BC	379-369 BC
Meilge Molbthach	523-506 BC	369-362 BC
Mog Corb	506-499 BC	362-355 BC
Aengus Ollamh	499-481 BC	355-337 BC
Irereo	481-474 BC	337-330 BC
Fer Corb	474-463 BC	330-319 BC
Connla Cáem	463-443 BC	319-315 BC
Ailill Caisfhiaclach	443-418 BC	315-290 BC
Adamair	418-414 BC	290-285 BC
Eochaid Ailtleathan	414-396 BC	285-274 BC
Fergus Fortamail	396-385	274-262 BC
Aengus Tuirmech Temrach	385-326 BC	262-232 BC
Conall Collamrach	326-320 BC	232-226 BC
Nia Segamain	320-313 BC	226-219 BC
Enna Aignech	313-293 BC	219-191 BC
Crimthann Coscrach	293-289 BC	191-184 BC
Rudraige (3)	289-219 BC	184-154 BC
Innatmar	219-210 BC	154-151 BC
Breasal Boidhiobhadh	210-199 BC	151-140 BC
Lugaid Luaigne	199-184 BC	140-135 BC
Congal Clairinech	184-169 BC	135-120 BC
Duach Dallta Dedad	169-159 BC	120-110 BC
Fachtna Fáthach	159-143 BC	110-94 BC
Eochaid Feidlech (father of Queen Medb)	143-131 BC	94-82 BC
Eochaid Airem	131-116 BC	82-70 BC
Ederscel	116-111 BC	70-64 BC
Nuada Necht	111-110 BC	64-63 BC
Conaire Mor	110-40 BC	63-33 BC
	interregnum 40-33 BC
Lugaid Riab nDerg	33-9 BC	33-13 BC
Conchobar Abradruad	9-8 BC	13-12 BC
Crimthann Nia Náir	8 BC - 9 AD	12 BC - 5 AD
	Cairbre Cinnchait 9-14
Feradach Finnfechtnach	14-36	5-25
Fiatach Finn	36-39	25-28
Fiacha Finnfolaidh	39-56	28-55
		Cairbre Cinnchait 55-60
Éllim	56-76	60-80

High Kings	76-458	80-448
Tuathal Teachtmhar	76-106	80-100
Mal	106-110	100-104
Fedlimid Rechtmar	110-119	104-113
Cathair Mor	119-122	113-116
Conn Cétchathach	122-157	116-136
Conaire	157-165	136-143
Art mac Cuinn	165-195	143-173
Lugaid mac Con	195-225	173-203
Fergus Dubdétach	225-226	203-204
Cormac mac Airt	226-266	204-244
Eochaid Gonnat	266-267	244-245
Cairbre Lifechair	267-284	245-272
Fothad Cairpthech and Fothad Airgthech	284-285	272-273
Fiacha Sraibhtine	285-322	273-306
Colla Uais	322-326	306-310
Muiredach Tirech	326-356	310-343
Cáelbad	356-357	343-344
Eochaid Mugmedon	357-365	344-351
Crimthann mac Fidaig	365-376	351-368
Niall Noigiallach	376-405	368-395 (probably traditional dates too early)
Dathí	405-428	395-418 (may not have ruled Tara)
Lóegaire mac Néill	428-458	418-448

High Kings of Ireland	459-831
Ailill Molt	459-478
Lughaid mac Loeguire	479-503
Daui Tenga Uma
Muircheartach	504-527
Tuathal Maelgarb	528-538
Diarmait mac Cerbaill	539-558
Domhnall and Fearghus	559-561
Eochaidh and Baedan	562-563
Ainmire mac Sétnai	564-566
Báetan mac Ninnedo	567
Áed mac Ainmuirech	568-594
Áed Sláine and Colmán Rímid	595-600
Aedh Uairidhnach	601-607
Máel Coba mac Áedo	608-610
Suibne Menn	611-623
Domnall mac Áedo	624-639
Ceallach and Conall Cáel	640-656
Diarmaid and Blathmac	657-664
Seachnasach	665-669
Ceannfaeladh	670-673
Fínsnechta Fledach	674-693
Loingsech mac Óengusso	694-701
Congal of Ceann Maghair	702-708
Fergal mac Máele Dúin	709-718
Fógartach	719
Cináed mac Írgalaig	720-722
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig	723-729
Áed Allán	730-738
Domnall Midi	739-758
Niall Frossach	759-765
Donnchad Midi mac Domnaill	766-792
Aed Oirdnide mac Neill	793-817
Conchobar mac Donnchada	819-833

Kings of Ireland	832-1318
Niall Caille mac Áeda 833-846 (according to [1]) or Feidlimid mac Cremthanin (according to the Annals of Inisfallen)	832-846 836-841
Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid	846-860.
Aed Finliath	861-876.
Flann Sinna	877-914.
Niall Glúndub	915-917.
Donnchad Donn	918-942
Congalach Cnogba	943-954
Domnall ua Néill	955-978
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill	979-1002
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig	1002-1014.
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (restored)	1014-1022.
Corcran Claireach and Conn Ó Lochlain	1022-1024.
Donnchad mac Briain	1024-1064 (with opposition)
Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain	1055-1086 (with opposition)
Domhnall MacLochlainn	1083-1121 (with opposition)
Muircheartach Ua Briain	1101-1119 (with opposition)
Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair	1119-1156
Muirchertach MacLochlainn	1156-1166
Ruaidri mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair	1166-1186
Brian Ua Neill	1258-1260
Edubard a Briuis	1315-1318