Mal, son of Rochraide, a descendant of the legendary hero Conall Cernach, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a king of the Ulaid and later a High King of Ireland. He took the High Kingship after he killed Tuathal Techtmar at Mag Line (Moylinny near Larne, County Antrim), and ruled for four years, at the end of which he was killed by Tuathal's son Fedlimid Rechtmar. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161). [1] The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 100–104, [2] that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 106–110. [3] His son was Tipraiti Tireach.
Eochaid or Eochu Étgudach or Etgedach ("negligent"?), son of Dáire Doimthech, son of Conghal, son of Eadaman, son of Mal, son of Lugaid, son of Íth, son of Breogán, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn he was chosen as king by the remaining quarter of the men of Ireland after the other three-quarters had died with the former king, Tigernmas, while worshipping the deity Crom Cruach. He introduced a system whereby the number of colours a man could wear in his clothes depended on his social rank, from one colour for a slave to seven for a king or queen. He ruled for four years, until he was killed in battle at Tara by Cermna Finn, who succeeded to the throne jointly with his brother Sobairce. His reign is synchronised with that of Eupales in Assyria. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 1159–1155 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1537–1533 BC.
Eochaid Faebar Glas, son of Conmáel, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. His epithet means "blue-green sharp edge". According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn and the Annals of the Four Masters, he came to power after killing the joint High King, Cermna Finn, in battle at Dún Cermna, and Cermna's brother and colleague Sobairce was killed by Eochaid Menn of the Fomorians. He killed Smirgoll, grandson of Tigernmas, in the battle of Druimm Liatháin. He ruled for twenty years, until he was killed by Smirgoll's son Fiacha Labrainne in the battle of Carman. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Piritiades in Assyria. Keating's chronology dates his reign to 1115–1095 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1493–1473 BC.
Eochu Mumu, son of Mofebis, son of Eochaid Faebar Glas, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn he came to power after killing the previous incumbent, Fíachu Labrainne, who had killed his father in battle. The province of Munster is named after him. He ruled for 21 years, fighting many battles against the descendants of Érimón, before he was killed by Fíachu's son Óengus Olmucaid in the battle of Clíu. He would later be avenged by his own son Enna Airgdech.
Nuadu Finn Fáil, son of Gíallchad, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, who took power after he killed his predecessor, and his father's killer, Art Imlech. The Lebor Gabála Érenn says he ruled for either sixty or forty years before being killed by Art's son Bres Rí. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Cyaxares of the Medes. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 755–735 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1002–962 BC. His son was Áedan Glas, whose son was Siomón Brecc mac Aedan. In turn, Siomón's son was Muiredach Bolgrach.
Finn, son of Blath, son of Labraid Condelg, son of Cairpre, son of Ollom Fotla, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after he killed the previous High King, Eochu Apthach, whose disastrous year on the throne had been characterised by constant plague. He ruled for twenty, or twenty-two, or thirty years, depending on the source consulted, until he was killed by Sétna Innarraid, son of Bres Rí. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Darius the Great of Persia. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 725–705 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 952–930 BC.
Sírlám, son of Finn mac Blatha, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, Lugaid Íardonn, in Ráth Clochair. His name means "long hand" or "long arm", and it is said his arms reached the ground when was standing up. He ruled for thirteen years according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, or sixteen according to Geoffrey Keating and the Four Masters. He drove Lugaid's son Eochu Uairches into exile, but after twelve years overseas Eochu returned and killed him with an arrow. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Artaxerxes I of Persia. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 649–633 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 872–856 BC.
Fíachu Tolgrach, son of Muiredach Bolgrach, was a legendary High King of Ireland, according to some medieval and early modern Irish sources. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn he is not a High King: he kills the former High King Art mac Lugdach, but during the reign of Art's son Ailill Finn he is killed in battle against Airgetmar. His son Dui Ladrach later becomes High King. However, in Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn and the Annals of the Four Masters he succeeds Art as High King and rules for seven or ten years, until he is killed by Ailill Finn, who succeeds him. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 593–586 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 806–796 BC.
Ailill Finn, son of Art mac Lugdach, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn, he succeeded to the throne when his father was killed by Fíachu Tolgrach and his son Dui Ladrach. He ruled for nine years. Two years into his reign, Fíachu Tolgrach was killed in battle against Airgetmar, son of Sírlám. The men of Munster, led by Ailill's son Eochu and Lugaid, son of Eochu Fíadmuine, then drove Airgetmar into exile overseas. After seven years Airgetmar returned to Ireland and killed Ailill with the help of Dui Ladrach and his son Fíachu, but was unable to seize the throne, which was taken by Eochu.
Airgetmar, son of Sirlám, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. The Lebor Gabála Érenn says that, during the reign of Ailill Finn, he killed Fíachu Tolgrach in battle, but was forced into exile overseas by Ailill's son Eochu, Lugaid son of Eochu Fíadmuine, and the men of Munster. He returned to Ireland after seven years, and, with the help of Dui Ladrach, killed Ailill. Eochu became king, but Airgetmar and Dui soon killed him as well, and Airgetmar took power.
Badbchaid, son of Eochu Buadach, son of Dui Ladrach, was, according to late sources, briefly a High King of Ireland. The Lebor Gabála Érenn says Bodbchad murdered his brother, the High King Úgaine Mór, who was succeeded directly by his son Lóegaire Lorc. However, Geoffrey Keating and the Annals of the Four Masters agree that, after killing Úgaine, Bodbchad took the throne for a day and a half, after which Lóegaire killed him. The Lebor Gabála synchronises Úgaine's reign to that of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates Bodbchad's reign to 411 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 594 BC.
Óengus Tuirmech Temrach, son of Eochaid Ailtlethan, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Fergus Fortamail. His sons included Énna Aignech and Fiacha Fer Mara. Énna later became High King himself and was the ancestor of Conn of the Hundred Battles and thus the Connachta and Uí Néill High Kings, while Fiacha was the ancestor of Ailill Érann and the Clanna Dedad.
Finnat Már son of Nia Segamain, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He succeeded to the throne after the death of Rudraige mac Sithrigi of plague, but after a reign of one, three or nine years he was killed by Rudraige's son Bresal Bó-Díbad. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy X Alexander I in Egypt. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 154–151 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 219–210 BC.
Lugaid Luaigne, son of Finnat Már, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Bresal Bó-Díbad, and ruled for five or fifteen years, before he was killed by Congal Cláiringnech. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy X Alexander I in Egypt. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 140–135 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 199–184 BC.
Dui Dallta Dedad, son of Cairpre Lusc, son of Lugaid Luaigne, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his grandfather's killer, Congal Cláiringnech, and ruled for ten years, at the end of which he was killed by Fachtna Fáthach in the battle of Árd Brestine. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy XII Auletes in Egypt and the civil war between Pompey and Caesar in Rome. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 120–110 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 169–159 BC.
Cairbre Cinnchait or Caitchenn was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. There is considerable differences in the sources over his ancestry and his place in the traditional sequence of High Kings.
Feradach Finnfechtnach, son of Crimthann Nia Náir, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. There is some disagreement in the sources over his position in the traditional sequence of High Kings.
Fiacha Finnolach, son of Feradach Finnfechtnach, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, Fíatach Finn. He ruled for fifteen, seventeen, or twenty-seven years, depending on the source consulted, after which he, and the freemen of Ireland, were killed in an uprising of aithech-tuatha or "subject peoples", led, according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn and the Annals of the Four Masters, by Elim mac Conrach, or by Cairbre Cinnchait according to Geoffrey Keating. His wife Eithne, daughter of the king of Alba (Scotland), who was pregnant, fled home to Alba, where she gave birth to Fíachu's son, Tuathal Techtmar, who would ultimately return to Ireland to claim the throne. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperor Nerva (AD 96–98). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to AD 28–55, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to AD 39–56.
Elim, son of Conrai, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland.
Fedlimid Rechtmar or Rechtaid, son of Tuathal Techtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. His mother was Báine, daughter of Scál. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Mal mac Rochride.
Cáelbad, son of Cronn Badhraoi, a descendant of Mal mac Rochride, was, according to Lebor Gabála Érenn, a High King of Ireland for a period of one year. Inneacht daughter of Lughaidh was the mother of Caolbhaidh son of Cronn Badhraoi; and he was slain by Eochaid Mugmedon. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 343–344, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 356–357.