High King of Ireland

High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
	Anachronistic depiction of High King Brian Boru
Details
Style	Ardrí na hÉireann; Rí Érenn Uile; Imperator Scottorum
First monarch	Sláine mac Dela (mythical); Máel Sechnaill I (historical)
Last monarch	Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
Formation	9th century AD
Abolition	12th century AD
Residence	Hill of Tara

High King of Ireland (Irish: Ardrí na hÉireann [ˈaːɾˠd̪ˠˌɾˠiː n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to legendary figures.

Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken line of High Kings, ruling from the Hill of Tara over a hierarchy of lesser kings, stretching back thousands of years. Modern historians believe this scheme was crafted in the 8th century from the various genealogical traditions of powerful dynasties, and intended to justify their status by projecting it far into the past.^[1] John T. Koch explains: "Although the kingship of Tara was a special kingship whose occupants had aspirations towards supremacy among the kings of Ireland, in political terms it is unlikely that any king had sufficient authority to dominate the whole island before the 9th century".^[2]

The concept of national kingship is first articulated in the 7th century, but only became a political reality in the Viking Age, and even then not a consistent one.^[3]^[4]^[5] While the High Kings' degree of control varied, they never ruled Ireland as a politically unified state, as the High King was conceived of as an overlord exercising suzerainty over, and receiving tribute from, the independent kingdoms beneath him.^[6]

^ Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, "Ireland, 400–800", in Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (ed.), A New History of Ireland 1: Prehistoric and Early Ireland, Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 182–234.
^ Koch, John (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 1663–1664.
^ Koch, John T. (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLO.^{[page needed]}
^ Roe, Harry; Ann Dooley (1999). Tales of the Elders of Ireland. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192839183.^{[page needed]}
^ Michael Roberts; et al. (1957). Early Irish history and pseudo-history. Bowes & Bowes Michigan University Press.^{[page needed]}
^ Francis John Byrne, Irish Kings and High Kings, London, 1973,^{: pp. 40–47}

[DOC-1] Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, "Ireland, 400–800", in Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (ed.), A New History of Ireland 1: Prehistoric and Early Ireland, Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 182–234.

[Koch-2] Koch, John (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 1663–1664.

[koch-3] Koch, John T. (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLO.^{[page needed]}

[4] Roe, Harry; Ann Dooley (1999). Tales of the Elders of Ireland. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192839183.^{[page needed]}

[5] Michael Roberts; et al. (1957). Early Irish history and pseudo-history. Bowes & Bowes Michigan University Press.^{[page needed]}

[byrne-6] Francis John Byrne, Irish Kings and High Kings, London, 1973,^{: pp. 40–47}

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