Kingdom of Breifne

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Kingdom of Breifne Bréifne (Irish)
c. 750–1256
Coat of arms
Motto: Buagh (English: Victory)
Breifne c. 900
Capital	Dromahair
Common languages	Irish
Religion	Christianity
Government	Tanistry / Elective monarchy
King
• 743	Dub Dothra
• 1250–1257	Conchobar Ó Ruairc
History
• Split from Connacht	c. 750
• Dissolution	1256
Preceded by Succeeded by Connacht East Breifne West Breifne
Today part of	Ireland

The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne (Irish: [ˈbʲɾʲeːfʲnʲə]), anglicized as Breffny, was a medieval overkingdom in Gaelic Ireland. It comprised what is now County Leitrim, County Cavan and parts of neighbouring counties, and corresponds roughly to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. It had emerged by the 10th century, as a confederation of túatha headed by an overking drawn from the Uí Briúin Bréifne.

By the 11th century, Bréifne was ruled by the Ua Ruairc (O'Rourke) dynasty. The kingdom reached the height of its power in the 12th century, under Tigernán Ua Ruairc. During the latter part of his reign, Bréifne took part in campaigns against the Norman invasion of Ireland. His assassination by the Anglo-Normans in 1172 was followed by a succession dispute, and a conflict between the Ua Ruairc and Ua Raghallaigh (O'Reilly) dynasties.

Following the Battle of Magh Slecht in 1256, Bréifne split into West Breifne (ruled by the Ua Ruairc) and East Breifne (ruled by the Ua Raghallaigh).

Bréifne was part of the province of Connacht until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In that time it was shired into the modern counties Cavan and Leitrim, Leitrim remaining a part of the province of Connacht while Cavan became part of Ulster.