Uí Néill
The Uí Néill ( Irish for "descendants of Niall") were an Irish dynasty who declared that they were descended from Níall Noígíallach , a legendary High King of Ireland , who is said to have lived between 378 and 405 according to tradition. A mythical ancestor was the king Tuathal Techtmar , the grandfather of Conn Cétchathach . According to Irish tradition, in 432 it landed on the coast of St. Patrick.
History of the Uí Néill
The Uí Néill , who formed the rí ruireach of Ulster , annexed Tara in the 8th century . The rí (king) of the Uí Néill proclaimed himself king of all Irish. So the idea of a great Irish empire, the High Kingdom of Ireland , arose for the first time . Some Irish kings, mainly from the Uí Néill dynasty, began to claim the title of “King of All Irish”. A fifth, only formally independent kingdom of Meath (Irish: Mide), which was to be the center of Ireland and the seat of the High King, was established. The area that once belonged to Leinster was annexed by the Uí Néills of Ulster (now called northern Uí Néills ) and declared an independent kingdom to legitimize the high kingship. Brian Boru († 1014) defeated Malachy II, the king of the southern Ui Néill. With the king of the northern Ui Néill, Maél Sechnaill in Armagh , he agreed after several skirmishes on a division of Ireland. After the death of Brian Boru, the Uí Néill tried to restore their power. However, the controversy between the Irish kings over hegemony finally led to Diarmait MacMurroughs , the king of Leinster (who had also proclaimed himself high king), asking the English king Henry II for help in 1166 . As a result, the English and Anglo-Normans gained military power over Ireland for the first time. After that, the pursuit of the office of the Hochkönig quickly waned and ended in 1175. The Uí Néill were at least able to maintain their power in Ulster. It was not until 1607 that Aodh Mór Ó Néill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone , fled Ireland from the English.
Family tree of the Uí Néill
Conn Cétchathach
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Art mac Cuinn
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Cormac mac Airt
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Cairbre Lifechair
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Fiachu Sraibtine
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Muiredach Tirech
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Eochaid Mugmedón
+ Mongfind + Cairenn
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Brion Fiachrae Ailill Niall Noigiallach (*378 - †405)
(Die Connachta) |
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Conall Gulban Endae Eogan . Coirpre Lóegaire Maine Conall Cremthainne Fiachu
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Muirdeach . Cormac Caech Lughaid Fergus Cerrbel Ardgal
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Muirchertach . Tuathal Diarmaid
mac Ercae . Maelgarb
(†536) . (†544) (†565)
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(Nördliche Uí Néill) . (Südliche Uí Néill)
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