Kingdom of Meath

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Kingdom of Meath
Druidism (until 700s) Christianity
(700s–1172)
 Succeeded by
Lordship of Meath
Today part ofIreland

Meath (

Old Irish: Mide [ˈmʲiðʲe]) 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 of County Meath (which takes its name from the kingdom), all of County Westmeath, and parts of counties Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly.

History

Mide originally referred to the area around the

Failge Berraide, were finally expelled from the plain of Mide with the battle of Druim Derg in 514. The Uí Enechglaiss were an early paramount dynasty of the Laigin. An ogham stone found south of Slane suggests they controlled the Brega area in County Meath together with Carbury Hill and the plains of Kildare. During the early 6th century, they were expelled across the Wicklow Mountains
.

The Uí Failge and Uí Bairrche belonged to the Laigin but may also be associated with the Iverni.

In

Uí Faelain tribes of the Laigin and the Kingdom of Dublin. Several were High Kings of Ireland. The position alternated with their kindred the Northern Uí Néill for many centuries. The kingdom came under pressure in the 11th and 12th century from other provincial kings seeking the position of High King of Ireland and the Kingdom of Breifne under Tigernán Ua Ruairc
. Mide was frequently overrun and partitioned and began to collapse as a coherent kingdom.

Following the

Norman invasion of Ireland, in 1172, the kingdom was awarded to Hugh de Lacy as the Lordship of Meath by Henry II of England in his capacity as Lord 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 the River Shannon in the barony of Clonlonan
. 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

Meath is also considered to have been one of five Provinces (Irish: cúige meaning "fifths") of Ireland, along with the four current provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The Diocese of Meath established by the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 had boundaries similar to those of the kingdom.

See also

Present territories:

References

  • "Clann Cholmain Kings of Mide 766–1184", pp. 195–196 in A 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.
    ISBN 978-1-85182-543-1
    .
  • "King James II's Irish Army List", D'Alton, 18??

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kingdom_of_Meath&oldid=1185415845"