Ruaidrí na Saide Buide
Encyclopedia
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (anglicised Roderic O'Connor), called Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (Ruaidrí of the Yellow Bitch) was King of Connacht, perhaps twice.
Connacht
in the 11th century was a region not unlike the modern Irish province
. The main difference was that the Kingdom of Breifne
, whose rulers sometimes also ruled over Connacht, extended into parts of southern Ulster
. The kings of Connacht
had, for several hundred years, belong to the Uí Briúin
kindred, who traced their descent from a half-brother, Brion, of Niall of the Nine Hostages
. Connacht and its kings had been associated with the Uí Néill
High Kings of Ireland, descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, but as allies rather than as subjects. With the ending of the era of Uí Néill High Kingship at the death of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
in 1022, a new era began, one in which the various provincial kings in Ireland attempted to impose themselves as kings of Ireland, emulating Brian Bóruma. In the 1070s, Brian Bóruma's grandson Toirdelbach Ua Briain was the leading king in Ireland, and if he was less powerful than his propagandists then and later would claim, he exercised a significant influence over Connacht.
The Uí Briúin were divided into three major groups by the 11th century. First, the Uí Briúin Aí, led by the descendants of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór
, the family of Ua Conchobair (modern O'Connor), whose power-base lay in central Connacht, originally centred on the important royal site of Cruachan
. The second group were the family of Ua Ruairc (modern O'Rourke), the kings of Breifne, who first provided a king of Connacht in the 10th century, Fergal Ua Ruairc
. The third group were the Uí Briúin Seóla, whose leading family was the Ua Flaithbertaig (modern O'Flaherty), who dominated Iarchonnacht.
was a descendant in the 8th generation of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór. Although sons rarely directly followed their fathers as provincial kings, each of Ruaidrí's paternal ancestors as far back as Conchobar (died 882) had been reckoned a king of Connacht. His mother was Caillech Cáemgein. She may have belonged to the Clann Uatach of modern County Roscommon
.
Tadg in Eich Gil
, died 1030.
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Áed in Gai Bernaig, fl. 1046-67. Tadg Dubhsúileach, d. 1009.
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Ruaidrí na Saide Buide Cú Chonnacht Tadg, d. 1062. Murchad Liathnach, d. 1069. Cathal, d. 1082. Niall Odar
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Niall, d. 1093. Tadc, d. 1097. Conchobar, d.1103. Domnall, Dubhchobhlaigh, Tairrdelbach,
d.1118. died 1131. 1088-1156.
call him "overlord of the province of Connacht, valiant steersman of Leth Cuinn" in the report of his death. Ua Ruairc became king of Connacht following this victory.
, Ruaidrí appears to have replaced Ua Ruairc as provincial overking. The Annals of Innisfallen record that he was captured by Toirdelbach Ua Briain, King of Munster, and released for tribute. He appears to have been deposed by Toirdelbach, and Áed Ua Ruairc restored as king of Connacht, in 1079. In that year Ruaidrí disposed of a rival, Áed Ua Flaithbertaig of Iarconnacht being killed.
, defeated Ua Ruairc in battle and again seized the kingship of Connacht. Toirdelbach's son Muirchertach Ua Briain appears to have been as hostile to Ruaidrí as his father had been. In 1088 Ruaidrí recognised Muirchertach's rival Domnall Ua Lochlainn as king of Ireland and the two invaded Munster, burning Muirchertach's town of Limerick
and destroying some part of the Ua Briain's inaugural site at Kincora
. The Chronicon Scotorum
says that in parts of Munster "they hardly left a cow or man undestroyed". Muirchertach retaliated in 1089, and his men succeeded in inflicting insult by felling a sacred tree in County Galway
, but the raid was largely unsuccessful and Ruaidrí retaliated by raiding Munster.
, who seized the kingship of Connacht. Ua Flaitbertaig was killed in 1098 by Ruaidrí's kin and may have been deposed as king before his death. Ruaidrí may have retired to the monastery at Clonmacnoise
. He died there in 1118.
Background
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west 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...
in the 11th century was a region not unlike the modern Irish province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
. The main difference was that the Kingdom of Breifne
Kingdom of Breifne
The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne was the traditional territory for an early Irish tribal group known as the Uí Briúin Bréifne...
, whose rulers sometimes also ruled over Connacht, extended into parts of southern Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. 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...
. The kings of Connacht
Kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...
had, for several hundred years, belong to the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
kindred, who traced their descent from a half-brother, Brion, of Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
. Connacht and its kings had been associated with the Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
High Kings of Ireland, descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, but as allies rather than as subjects. With the ending of the era of Uí Néill High Kingship at the death of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill , also called Máel Sechnaill Mór, Máel Sechnaill II, anglicized Malachy II, was King of Mide and High King of Ireland...
in 1022, a new era began, one in which the various provincial kings in Ireland attempted to impose themselves as kings of Ireland, emulating Brian Bóruma. In the 1070s, Brian Bóruma's grandson Toirdelbach Ua Briain was the leading king in Ireland, and if he was less powerful than his propagandists then and later would claim, he exercised a significant influence over Connacht.
The Uí Briúin were divided into three major groups by the 11th century. First, the Uí Briúin Aí, led by the descendants of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór
Conchobar mac Taidg Mór
Conchobar mac Taidg Mór was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Muirgius mac Tommaltaig , a previous king. His father Tadg Mór had been slain fighting in Muirgius' wars versus the minor tribes of Connacht. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the...
, the family of Ua Conchobair (modern O'Connor), whose power-base lay in central Connacht, originally centred on the important royal site of Cruachan
Cruachan, Ireland
Rathcroghan is a complex of archaeological sites near Tulsk in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is identified as the site of Cruachan, the traditional capital of the Connachta. While it is debatable whether this was a place of residence, it had huge importance as a cemetery and also hosted some of...
. The second group were the family of Ua Ruairc (modern O'Rourke), the kings of Breifne, who first provided a king of Connacht in the 10th century, Fergal Ua Ruairc
Fergal Ua Ruairc
-References:* Leabhar na nGenealach, Dublin, 2004-2005* Annals of the Four Masters, ed. John O'Donovan, Dublin, 1856* Annals of Lough Ce, ed. W.M. Hennessey, London, 1871....
. The third group were the Uí Briúin Seóla, whose leading family was the Ua Flaithbertaig (modern O'Flaherty), who dominated Iarchonnacht.
Family
Ruaidrí belong to the Ua Conchobair family. His father, Áed in Gai BernaigÁed in Gai Bernaig
Áed Ua Conchobair or Áed in Gai Bernaig, King of Connacht, reigned 1046–1067.King Art of Connaught was slain by the Cinel-Conaill in 1046, "the second year after his having plundered Cluain-mic-Nois."...
was a descendant in the 8th generation of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór. Although sons rarely directly followed their fathers as provincial kings, each of Ruaidrí's paternal ancestors as far back as Conchobar (died 882) had been reckoned a king of Connacht. His mother was Caillech Cáemgein. She may have belonged to the Clann Uatach of modern County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Tadg in Eich Gil
Tadg in Eich Gil
-Family tree: Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg, d. 1010. | |__________________________________________________________________________________________________...
, died 1030.
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Áed in Gai Bernaig, fl. 1046-67. Tadg Dubhsúileach, d. 1009.
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Ruaidrí na Saide Buide Cú Chonnacht Tadg, d. 1062. Murchad Liathnach, d. 1069. Cathal, d. 1082. Niall Odar
| d.1105.
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Niall, d. 1093. Tadc, d. 1097. Conchobar, d.1103. Domnall, Dubhchobhlaigh, Tairrdelbach,
d.1118. died 1131. 1088-1156.
Early career
Áed in Gai Bernaig was killed in battle in 1067, fighting against Áed Ua Ruairc of Breifne. The Annals of UlsterAnnals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
call him "overlord of the province of Connacht, valiant steersman of Leth Cuinn" in the report of his death. Ua Ruairc became king of Connacht following this victory.
Ridamna Connachta
By 1076, when he is first mentioned by the Irish annalsIrish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
, Ruaidrí appears to have replaced Ua Ruairc as provincial overking. The Annals of Innisfallen record that he was captured by Toirdelbach Ua Briain, King of Munster, and released for tribute. He appears to have been deposed by Toirdelbach, and Áed Ua Ruairc restored as king of Connacht, in 1079. In that year Ruaidrí disposed of a rival, Áed Ua Flaithbertaig of Iarconnacht being killed.
King of Connachta
In 1087, with Toirdelbach Ua Briain now dead, Ruaidrí, with the aid of the church of ClonmacnoiseClonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
, defeated Ua Ruairc in battle and again seized the kingship of Connacht. Toirdelbach's son Muirchertach Ua Briain appears to have been as hostile to Ruaidrí as his father had been. In 1088 Ruaidrí recognised Muirchertach's rival Domnall Ua Lochlainn as king of Ireland and the two invaded Munster, burning Muirchertach's town of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and destroying some part of the Ua Briain's inaugural site at Kincora
Kincora
Kincora was the palace of Brian Boru, situated on the summit of the hill in Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland.Kincora may also refer to:* Kincora Boys' Home in Belfast, which became notorious because of a child abuse scandal...
. The Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum is a medieval Irish chronicle.According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the 'Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric times to 1150 but with some gaps, closely related to the 'Annals of Tigernach'...
says that in parts of Munster "they hardly left a cow or man undestroyed". Muirchertach retaliated in 1089, and his men succeeded in inflicting insult by felling a sacred tree in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, but the raid was largely unsuccessful and Ruaidrí retaliated by raiding Munster.
Usurped
Ruaidrí again submitted to Ua Lochlainn in 1090, as did the king of Mide and Ua Briain. In 1092 he was blinded by his own foster-son, Flaithbertaigh Ua FlaithbertaighFlaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh
-Biography:Flaithbertaigh was third or fourth chief of the Muintir Murchada since their expulsion from Uí Briúin Seóla by the Ua Conchobair kings of Connacht...
, who seized the kingship of Connacht. Ua Flaitbertaig was killed in 1098 by Ruaidrí's kin and may have been deposed as king before his death. Ruaidrí may have retired to the monastery at Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
. He died there in 1118.