Kings of Osraige
Encyclopedia
The Kings of Osraige reigned over Osraige, which was largely a buffer state between Leinster
and Munster
, in Ireland. Its southern border were the Suir and Barrow rivers, though it originally extended to the sea and its rulers had some influence over the Norse kings of Waterford. In the north it may have once stretched over the Slieve Bloom and reached the River Shannon
, but in the historic era it generally stayed to the south of these mountains, the boundary generally being the river Nore
.
In a clockwise direction (starting at 12:00) it was bordered by the kingdoms or lordships of Ele, Ui Duach, Loigis, Ui Drona, Uí Cheinnselaig
, Desi Mumhain, and Eóganachta
Caisel.
Its main town and dynastic capital was Kilkenny
.
The name Osraige is said to be from the Usdaie, a tribe that Ptolemy
's map of Ireland places in roughly the same area that Osraige would later occupy. Other tribes in the vicinity were the Brigantes
and the Cauci
. The Osraighe themselves claimed to be descended from the Érainn people.
Modern day County Kilkenny
and part of west County Laois
comprise the core area of what was this kingdom.
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
and Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, in Ireland. Its southern border were the Suir and Barrow rivers, though it originally extended to the sea and its rulers had some influence over the Norse kings of Waterford. In the north it may have once stretched over the Slieve Bloom and reached the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
, but in the historic era it generally stayed to the south of these mountains, the boundary generally being the river Nore
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
.
In a clockwise direction (starting at 12:00) it was bordered by the kingdoms or lordships of Ele, Ui Duach, Loigis, Ui Drona, Uí Cheinnselaig
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
, Desi Mumhain, and Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
Caisel.
Its main town and dynastic capital was Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
.
The name Osraige is said to be from the Usdaie, a tribe that Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
's map of Ireland places in roughly the same area that Osraige would later occupy. Other tribes in the vicinity were the Brigantes
Brigantes
The Brigantes were a Celtic tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled the largest section of what would become Northern England, and a significant part of the Midlands. Their kingdom is sometimes called Brigantia, and it was centred in what was later known as Yorkshire...
and the Cauci
Cauci
The Cauci were a people of early Ireland, uniquely documented in Ptolemy's 2nd-century Geography, which locates them roughly in the region of modern County Dublin and County Wicklow...
. The Osraighe themselves claimed to be descended from the Érainn people.
Modern day County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
and part of west County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
comprise the core area of what was this kingdom.
Early Kings of Osraige to 800
- Aenghus Osraigh, founder of Kingdom.
- Feradach Finn mac Duach (died 581), of the Corcu LoígdeCorcu LoígdeThe Corcu Loígde , meaning Gens of the Calf Goddess, also called the Síl Lugdach meic Itha, were a kingdom centered in West County Cork who descended from the proto-historical rulers of Munster, the Dáirine, of whom they were the principal royal sept...
- Colmán mac Feradaig (died 603)
- ...
- Scannlan Mór mac Cinn Fáelad (died 644)
- Fáelán mac Crundmaíl (died 660)
- Tuaim Snámha (died 678)
- Fáelchar Ua Máele ÓdrainFáelchar Ua Máele ÓdrainFáelchar Ua Máele Ódrain or Fáelchar mac Forandla was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny.He is called the grandson of Máel Ódra in the Irish annals. The genealogies state that Máel Ódra was the son of Scannlan Mór mac Colmáin , a previous king of Osraige. The father of Fáelchar is named...
(died 693) - Cú Cherca mac FáeláinCú Cherca mac FáeláinCú Cherca mac Fáeláin was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He was the son of Fáelán mac Crundmaíl , a previous king. The dynasty that ruled over Osraige in the early Christian period was known as the Dál Birn. He ruled from 693 to 712. The Irish annals mention only his death...
(died 712) - Fland mac Congaile
- Ailill mac Fáeláin
- Cellach mac FáelchairCellach mac FáelchairCellach mac Fáelchair or Cellach Raigni was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He was the son of Fáelchar Ua Máele Ódrain , a previous king....
(died 735) - Forbasach mac AilellaForbasach mac AilellaForbasach mac Ailella was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He ruled from 735 to 740.His genealogy is not recorded in Rawlinson Genealogies, however the Book of Leinster king lists name an Ailill mac Fáeláin as king prior to Cellach mac Fáelchair...
(died 740) - Anmchad mac Con ChercaAnmchad mac Con ChercaAnmchad mac Con Cherca was king of Osraige, a kingdom largely situated in modern County Kilkenny and forming part of the kingdom and province of Munster in south and south-west Ireland...
(died circa 761) - Tóim Snáma mac FlainnTóim Snáma mac FlainnTóim Snáma mac Flainn was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He ruled from circa 761 to 770. His exact year of accession is unknown, 761 was the last year his predecessor Anmchad mac Con Cherca was named in the annals....
(died 770) - Dúngal mac CellaigDúngal mac CellaigDúngal mac Cellaig was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He ruled from 770 to 772. He was of the dynasty that ruled over Osraige in the early Christian period known as the Dál Birn and was the son of Cellach mac Fáelchair , a previous king.The Osraige plunged into civil war upon the...
(died 772) - Fáelán mac ForbasaigFáelán mac ForbasaigFáelán mac Forbasaig was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He was of the dynasty that ruled over Osraige in the early Christian period known as the Dál Birn and was the son of Forbasach mac Ailella , a previous king. He ruled from 772 to 786.The Osraige plunged into civil war after the...
(died 786) - Máel Dúin mac Cummascaig
- Fergal mac AnmchadaFergal mac AnmchadaFergal mac Anmchada was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He was of the dynasty that ruled over Osraige in the early Christian period known as the Dál Birn and was the son of Anmchad mac Con Cherca , a previous and aggressive king.The Osraige plunged into civil war upon the death of his...
(died 802)
List of Kings from 842 to 1172
- Dúngal mac Fergaile (died 842) 802-842
- Cerball mac DúnlaingeCerball mac DúnlaingeCerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
842-888 Leading his army, he is recorded as having slaughtered 1,200 Danes at Carn-Brammin (Bramblestown), in Co. Kilkenny in 845 AD. In 847 AD it is proposed that he had "Saint CaniceSaint CaniceSaint Cainnech of Aghaboe , also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth in Scotland, Saint Kenny and in Latin Saint Canicus, was a gaelic abbot, monastic founder, priest and missionary during the early medieval period. Cainnech is one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and preached...
's" Round Tower built. - Riacan mac Dunlainge 888-894
- Diarmait mac Cerbaill 894-905
- Cellach mac Cerbaill 905-908
- Diarmait mac Cerbaill 908-928
- Cuilen mac Cellaig 928-933
- Donnchad mac Cellaig 934-976
- Gilla Patráic mac Donnchada 976-996
- Cellach mac Diarmata 996-1103
- Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic 1003-1039
- Gilla Patráic mac Donnchada 1039-1055
- Muirchertach mac Gilla Patráic ????-1041
- Domnall mac Gilla Patráic 1055-after 1072
- Donnchad mac Domnaill after 1072-1090
- Gilla Patráic Ruad 1090-1103
- Cerball 1103-c.1113
- Domnall mac Donnchada Mac Gilla Patráic ????-1113
- Finn Ua Caellaide ????-????
- Donnchad Balc mac Gilla Patráic Ruaid after 1119-1123
- Donnchad Dub c.1121-c.1121
- Murchad Mac Murchada c.1123-1126
- Conchobar mac Cerbaill 1123-c.1126
- Gilla Patráic mac Domnaill Mac Gilla Patráic c.1126-1146
- Cerball mac Domnaill Mac Gilla Patraic 1146-1163
- Murchad Ua Caellaide ????-????
- Donnchad mac Gilla Patráic Mac Gilla Patráic after 1151-1162
- Domnall Mac Gilla Patráic 1162/63-1165
- Domnall Mac Gilla Patráic 1165-1176
- Diarmait Ua Caellaide 1170-1172