Tigerna
Encyclopedia
A tiarna or tighearna (Scottish), both from the Old Irish tigerna, is a lord
in the Gaelic
world and languages. An Ard Tiarna is a "high lord", approximately equal in rank to a count
or earl
, although many of such higher rank still happen to prefer the title on its own.
In later Gaelic sources, for example the Annals of the Four Masters
, the term has also been frequently used to replace the title Rí
(king) in cases where the authors or current tradition no longer regarded earlier regional and local dynasts as proper kings, even when they are styled such in contemporary sources. Thus when encountered the term is not always to be trusted. In fact this was part of a wider change in the understanding of kingship in the later middle ages, and even a living or recently deceased rí might find himself downgraded in certain sources.
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
in the Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
world and languages. An Ard Tiarna is a "high lord", approximately equal in rank to a count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
or earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
, although many of such higher rank still happen to prefer the title on its own.
In later Gaelic sources, for example the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
, the term has also been frequently used to replace the title Rí
Rí
Rí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...
(king) in cases where the authors or current tradition no longer regarded earlier regional and local dynasts as proper kings, even when they are styled such in contemporary sources. Thus when encountered the term is not always to be trusted. In fact this was part of a wider change in the understanding of kingship in the later middle ages, and even a living or recently deceased rí might find himself downgraded in certain sources.
Examples
- James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of CastlehavenJames Tuchet, 3rd Earl of CastlehavenJames Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven was the son of Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven and his first wife, Elizabeth Barnham...
, Irish nobleman of English family, called Tiarna Beag or "Little Lord" because of his small height