Editing Ulaid (section)

==History of the over-kingdom==

===Early history===
[[Ptolemy]]'s ''[[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geographia]]'', written in the 2nd century, places the ''Uoluntii'' or ''Voluntii'' in the southeast of what is now Ulster, somewhere south of the [[River Lagan]] and north of the [[River Boyne]]. To their north were the [[Darini]] and to their south were the [[Eblani]]. [[Muirchú moccu Machtheni|Muirchú]]'s "Life of Patrick", written in the 7th century, also says that the territory of the ''Ulothi'' lay between the Lagan and the Boyne.<ref>Duffy (2005), p.817</ref> In the [[Ulster Cycle]] of [[Irish mythology]]—which survives in texts from the 8th century onward—the pre-historic Ulaid are said to dominate the whole north of Ireland, their southern border stretching from the River Boyne in the east to the [[River Drowes]] in the west, with their capital at [[Emain Macha]] (Navan Fort) near present-day [[Armagh]], [[County Armagh]].<ref name="ANHOI212"/><ref name="Clontarf26"/> According to legend, around 331 AD the [[Three Collas]] invaded Ulaid, destroyed its ancient capital Emain Macha, and restricted Ulaid to the eastern part of its territory: east of the [[River Bann|Lower Bann]] and [[Newry River]].<ref name="OBrien170-1"/><ref name="Schlegel173-4"/> It is said that the territory the Three Collas conquered became the kingdom of [[Airgíalla]].<ref name="OBrien170-1"/> Another tradition that survived until the 11th century dated the fall of Emain Macha to 450 AD—within the time of [[Saint Patrick]]—which may explain why he chose Armagh, near Emain Macha, as the site of his episcopacy, as it would then still be under Ulaid control.<ref name="Schlegel173-4"/> It may also explain why he was buried in eastern Ulster in the restricted territory of the Ulaid rather than at Armagh, as it had by then come under Airgíallan control.<ref name="Schlegel173-4"/> It is likely that the Airgíalla were not settlers in Ulaid territory, but indigenous tribes;<ref>[[Dáibhí Ó Cróinín|Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí]]. ''A New History of Ireland I: Prehistoric and Early Ireland''. Oxford University Press, 2005. p.202</ref> most of whom were [[vassal]]s of the Ulaid before casting off Ulaid overlordship and becoming independent.<ref>Byrne (2001), p.73</ref> It has been suggested that the [[Airthir]]—in whose lands lay Emain Macha—were originally an Ulaid tribe before becoming one of the Airgíalla.<ref>[[David Dumville|Dumville, David]]. ''Saint Patrick''. Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 1999. p. 151</ref>

Towards the end of the 5th century, the Ulaid sub-group [[Dál Riata]], located in the [[Glens of Antrim]], had started settling in modern-day Scotland, forming a cross-channel kingdom.<ref name="Bardon17"/> Their first settlements were in the region of [[Argyll]], which means "eastern province of the Gael".<ref name="Bardon17"/>

It is to these boundaries that Ulaid entered the historic period in Ireland in the 6th century, though the Dál nAraidi still held territory west of the Bann in County Londonderry.<ref name="ANHOI212"/> The emergence of the Dál nAraidi and Dál Fiatach dynasties may have concealed the dominance of earlier tribal groupings.<ref name="ANHOI212"/>

===6th to 7th centuries===
By the mid-6th century, the Dál Riata possessions in Scotland came under serious threat from [[Bridei I]], [[king of the Picts]], resulting in them seeking the Northern Uí Néill's aid.<ref name="Bardon17"/> The king of Dál Riata, [[Áedán mac Gabráin]], had already granted the island of [[Iona]] off the coast of Scotland to the Cenél Conaill prince and saint, [[Columba]], who in turn negotiated an alliance between the Northern Uí Néill and Dál Riata in 575 at Druim Ceit near [[Derry]].<ref name="Bardon17"/> The result of this pact was the removal of Dál Riata from Ulaid's overlordship allowing it to concentrate on extending its Scottish domain.<ref name="Bardon17"/> That same year either before or after the convention of Druim Ceit, the king of Dál Riata was killed in a bloody battle with the Dál nAraidi at Fid Euin.<ref name="FraserMedievalPg317"/>

In 563, according to the Annals of Ulster, an apparent internal struggle amongst the Cruthin resulted in Báetán mac Cinn making a deal with the Northern Uí Néill, promising them the territories of Ard Eólairgg ([[Magilligan peninsula]]) and the Lee, both west of the River Bann.<ref name="ANHOI212"/> As a result, the [[battle of Móin Dairi Lothair]] (modern-day Moneymore) took place between them and an alliance of Cruthin kings, in which the Cruthin suffered a devastating defeat.<ref name="ANHOI212"/> Afterwards the Northern Uí Néill settled their Airgíalla allies in the Cruthin territory of [[Eilne]], which lay between the River Bann and the River Bush.<ref name="ANHOI212"/> The defeated Cruthin alliance meanwhile consolidated themselves on Dál nAraidi.<ref name="ANHOI212"/>

The Dál nAraidi king [[Congal Cáech]] took possession of the overlordship of Ulaid in 626, and in 628 killed the [[High King of Ireland]], [[Suibne Menn]] of the Northern Uí Néill in battle.<ref name="Bardon20-1"/> In 629, Congal led the Dál nAraidi to defeat against the same foes.<ref name="ANHOI212"/> In an attempt to have himself installed as [[High King of Ireland]], Congal made alliances with Dál Riata and [[Kingdom of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]], which resulted in the disastrous [[Battle of Moira]] in 637, in modern-day County Down, which saw Congal slain by High King [[Domnall mac Áedo]] of the Northern Uí Néill and resulted in Dál Riata losing possession of its Scottish lands.<ref name="Bardon20-1"/>

The Annals of Ulster record that in 668, the battle of ''Bellum Fertsi'' (modern-day Belfast) took place between the Ulaid and Cruithin, both terms which then referred to the Dál Fiatach and Dál nAraide respectively.<ref name="ANHOI212"/>

Meanwhile, the Dál nAraidi were still resisting the encroaching Northern Uí Néill and in 681, Dúngal Eilni, king of the Dál nAraidi, and his ally Cenn Fáelad of [[Keenaght (barony)|Ciannachta]] were killed at Dún Cethirinn.<ref name="ANHOI212"/>

===8th to 10th centuries===
By the 8th century the territory of the Ulaid shrunk to east of the Bann into what is now the modern-day counties [[County Antrim|Antrim]], [[County Down|Down]] and [[County Louth|Louth]].<ref name="Clontarf26"/> In either 732 or 735, the Ulaid suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Cenél nEógain led by [[Áed Allán]] in the [[battle of Fochart]] in Magh Muirthemne,<ref name="Wiley19"/> which saw the king of Ulaid, [[Áed Róin]], decapitated.<ref name="MacNiocaill124"/> As a result, the Cenél nEógain brought Conaille Muirthemne under their suzerainty.<ref name="Wiley19"/><ref name="Byrne118"/><ref name="Charles573"/>

The taking over of the Ulaid's ancestral lands by first the Northern Uí Néill and the end of their glory led to a constant antagonism between them.<ref name="Clontarf26"/> It was in the 8th century that the kingdom of Dál Riata was overrun by the Dál nAraidi.<ref name="ANHoI17"/>

The Dál Fiatach dynasty held sway over Ulaid until the battle of Leth Cam in 827, when they attempted to remove Airgíalla from Northern Uí Néill dominance.<ref name="MIaE493"/> The Dál Fiatach may have been distracted by the presence of at least one Viking base along [[Strangford Lough]], and by the end of the century, the Dál nAraidi had risen to dominance over them. However, this only lasted until 972, when Eochaid mac Ardgail restored Dál Fiatach's fortunes.<ref name="MIaE493"/>

During the 9th and 10th centuries, the Vikings had founded several bases in Ulaid, primarily at [[Annagassan]], [[Carlingford Lough]], [[Lough Neagh]], and [[Strangford Lough]].<ref name="ANHoI38"/> There was also a significant port at Ulfreksfjord, located at Latharna, present-day Larne, County Antrim.<ref name="ANHoI38"/> All but Ulfreksfjord were destroyed by the combined efforts of the Ulaid and the Northern Uí Néill, however as a result they deprived themselves of the economic advantages provided by prosperous Viking settlements.<ref name="ANHoI38"/>

===11th century===
In 1000 the Viking [[Kingdom of Dublin|king of Dublin]], [[Sigtrygg Silkbeard]], was expelled by [[Brian Boru]] the [[High King of Ireland]], and was refused sanctuary by the Ulaid.<ref name="Hudson86-7"/> Eventually Sigtrygg was forced to return to Dublin and submitted to Brian.<ref name="Corrain123"/> Sigtrygg didn't forget the Ulaid's refusal,<ref name="Hudson86-7"/> and in 1001 his fleet plundered [[Inch Abbey|Inis Cumhscraigh]] and [[Kilclief|Cill Cleithe]] in Dál Fiatach, taking many prisoners.<ref name="AOFM1001"/> Sigtrygg's forces also served in Brian's campaigns against the Ulaid in 1002 and 1005.<ref name="Hudson86-7"/><ref name="Hudson95"/>

At Craeb Telcha in 1003 the Northern Uí Néill and Ulaid fought a major battle, the Ulaid inauguration site.<ref name="MIaE493"/><ref name="Clontarf26"/><ref name="PlacenamesCraeb"/> Here Eochaid mac Ardgail, and most of Ulaid's nobility were slaughtered, along with the Northern Uí Néill king.<ref name="MIaE493"/><ref name="Clontarf26"/> The result was a bloody succession war amongst the princes of the Dál Fiatach, who also had to war with the Dál nAraidi who eyed the kingship.<ref name="Clontarf138-9"/>

In 1005, Brian Boru, marched north to accept submissions from the Ulaid, and set-up camp at Emain Macha possibly with the intention of exploiting the symbolism it held for the Ulaid.<ref name="Clontarf138-9"/> From here, Boru marched to the Dál nAraidi capital, Ráith Mór, where he received only the submissions of their king and that of the Dál Fiatach.<ref name="Clontarf138-9"/> This however appears to have been the catalyst for a series of attacks by [[Flaithbertach Ua Néill]], king of the Cenél nEógain, to punish the Ulaid.<ref name="Clontarf151-4"/> In 1006, an army led by Flaithbertach marched into [[Lecale|Leth Cathail]] and killed its king, followed by the slaying of the heir of Uí Echach Cobo at [[Loughbrickland]].<ref name="Clontarf151-4"/>

The battle of Craeb Telcha resulted in the inability of the Ulaid to provide any useful aid to Boru, when in 1006 he led an army made up of men from all over Ireland in an attempt to force the submission of the Northern Uí Néill.<ref name="Clontarf26"/><ref name="Clontarf151-4"/> Having marched through the lands of the Cenél Conaill and Cenél nEógain, Boru led his army across the River Bann at Fersat Camsa (Macosquin) and into Ulaid, where he accepted submissions from the Ulaid at Craeb Telcha, before marching south and through the traditional assembly place of the [[Conaille Muirtheimne]] at ''i n-oenach Conaille''.<ref name="Clontarf151-4"/>

Flaithbertach Ua Néill continued his attacks on Ulaid in 1007, attacking the Conaille Muirtheimne.<ref name="Clontarf151-4"/> In 1011, the same year Boru finally achieved hegemony over the entire of Ireland, Flaithbertach launched an invasion of Ulaid, and after destroying Dún Echdach (Duneight, south of Lisburn) and the surrounding settlement, took the submission of the Dál Fiatach, who had the Ulaid kingship, thus removing them from Boru's over-lordship.<ref name="Clontarf168-9"/> The next year, Flaithbertach raided the Ards peninsula and took an uncountable number of spoils.<ref name="Clontarf168-9"/>

At Ulfreksfjord in 1018, a combined force of native Irish, led by a king called Conchobar, and their Norse allies, led by Eyvind Urarhorn, defeated a major Viking expedition launched by the [[Earl of Orkney]], [[Einar Sigurdsson]], who was aiming to re-assert [[Sigurd the Stout|his father's]] lordship over the seaways between Ireland and Scotland.<ref name="Pedersen271"/><ref name="Snorri330"/> In 1022, Niall mac Eochaid, the king of Ulaid, inflicted a major defeat on Sigtrygg's Dublin fleet, decimating it and taking its crew captive.<ref name="Pedersen231"/><ref name="Hudson108-9"/> Niall followed up this victory in 1026 attacking Finn Gall, a Viking settlement just north of Dublin itself.<ref name="Pedersen231"/><ref name="Hudson108-9"/>

Sigtrygg's nephew, [[Ímar mac Arailt|Ivar Haraldsson]], plundered [[Rathlin Island]] just off the north coast of Ulaid in 1038 and again in 1045.<ref name="Hudson136"/> The latter attack saw Ímar kill Ragnall Ua Eochada, the heir-apparent of Ulaid and brother of Niall mac Eochaid, along with three hundred Ulaid nobles.<ref name="Hudson136"/><ref name="Tigernach1045"/><ref name="AOFM1045"/> In retribution Niall again attacked Finn Gall.<ref name="Hudson136"/> In 1087, a son of the king of Ulaid, allied with two grandsons Ragnall, attacked the [[Isle of Man]] in a failed attempt to oust [[Godred Crovan]], king of Dublin and [[kingdom of the Isles|the Isles]].<ref name="Pedersen233"/><ref name="Oram32"/><ref name="AoU1087"/>

At the end of the 11th century, the Ulaid had a final revival under Donn Sléibe mac Echdacha, from whom descended the Mac Dúinn Shléibe—anglicised MacDonlevy—kings that ruled Ulaid in the 12th century, with the Dál Fiatach kingship restricted to their dynasty after 1137.<ref name="Byrne128"/> They developed close ties with the [[kingdom of the Isles]].<ref name="MIaE493"/> The Mac Dúinn Shléibe kings desperately maintained the independence of Ulaid from the Mac Lochlainn rulers of the Northern Uí Néill.<ref name="ANHoI17"/>

===12th century===
By the beginning of the 12th century the Dál nAraidi, ruled by the Ó Loingsigh (O'Lynch), had lost control of most of Antrim to the Ua Flainn (O'Lynn) and became restricted to a stretch of land in south Antrim with their base at Mag Line (Moylinny). The Ua Flainn were the ruling sept of the Airgíallan Uí Thuirtre as well as rulers of Fir Lí, both of which lay west of the River Bann. In a process of gradual infiltration by marital and military alliances as well as growing pressure from the encroaching Cenél nEógain, they moved their power east of the Bann. Once they had come to prominence in Antrim the Ua Flainn styled themselves as king of Dál nAraidi, Dál Riata, and Fir Lí, alongside their own Uí Thuirtre.<ref name="ANHoI17"/>

By 1130, the most southerly part of Ulaid, Conaille Muirtheimne, had been conquered by [[Donnchad Ua Cerbaill]], king of Airgíalla.<ref name="ANHoI16"/> The part of Muirtheimne called Cualigne was subsequently settled by the Airgíallan Uí Méith (from which Omeath derives its name).<ref name="ANHoI16"/>

The earliest Irish land charter to survive is that of the grant in [[1157 in Ireland|1157]] of land to the Cistercians in Newry, which lay in Uí Echach, by the High King [[Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn]].<ref name="ANHoI12"/> This grant was made with the consent of the king of Ulaid, Cú Ulad Mac Dúinn Sléibe, and the king of Uí Echach, Domnall Ua hÁeda.<ref name="ANHoI12"/>

The Annals of Ulster record that in April [[1165 in Ireland|1165]], the Ulaid, ruled by Eochaidh Mac Dúinn Sléibe, turned against Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, and attacked the Uí Méith as well as the Uí Breasail in modern barony [[Oneilland East]], County Armagh (which was also formerly part of Ulaid), and the Dál Riata.<ref name="AoU1165"/> In retaliation Mac Lochlainn led a force consisting of the Northern Uí Néill and Airgíalla into Ulaid killing many and expelling Eochaid from the kingship.<ref name="AoU1165"/> In September Eochaid tried to reclaim the kingship, however was expelled by his own people who feared reprisals from Mac Lochlainn, upon whose command had Eochaid confined by Ua Cerbaill.<ref name="AoU1165"/> The next month Mac Lochlainn led another raid into Ulaid, receiving their hostages along with a large amount of their treasure.<ref name="AoU1165"/> Later that same month Ua Cerbaill along with Eochaid held a meeting with Mac Lochlainn where Eochaid requested the kingship of Ulaid in return for the hostages of all Ulaid, which included the son of every chief along with his own daughter.<ref name="AoU1165"/> Eochaid also gave Mac Lochlainn a considerable amount of treasure along with the territory of [[Bairrche]], and the [[townland]] of Saul.<ref name="ANHoI12"/><ref name="AoU1165"/> In turn, Mac Lochlainn swore an oath to the Bishop of Armagh amongst other nobles for his good behaviour. Mac Lochlainn then give Bairrche to Ua Cerbaill for his part in mediating what turned out to be short-lived reconciliation.<ref name="ANHoI16"/><ref name="AoU1165"/><ref name="Magoo"/> Over the following century, the Airgíallan [[Mourne (barony)|Mughdorna]] would settle Bairrche, and from them derives its present-day name of Mourne.<ref name="ANHoI16"/> Despite his oath, Muirchertach had Eochaid seized and blinded, after which his allies abandoned him, and he was reduced to a handful of followers. With sixteen of these closest associates, he was killed in [[1166 in Ireland|1166]].

In 1170 Eochaid's brother Magnus who had become king of Ulaid expelled the Augustinian canons from [[Saul, County Down|Saul]].<ref name="ANHoI12"/>

===Ulaid and the Normans===
Despite the turmoil amongst the Ulaid, they continued to survive but not for much longer. In 1177 [[Earldom of Ulster#De Courcy's invasion of Ulaid|Ulaid was invaded]] by the [[Normans]] led by [[John de Courcy]], who in a surprise attack captured and held the Dál Fiatach capital, Dún De Lethglaise ([[Downpatrick]]), forcing the Ulaid over-king, Ruaidrí Mac Duinn Sléibe (Rory MacDonleavy), to flee.<ref name="Bardon35"/><ref name="Adamson116"/> A week later, Mac Duinn Sléibe returned with a great host from across Ulaid, and despite heavily outnumbering de Courcy's forces, were defeated.<ref name="Bardon33">Bardon, page 33–5.</ref><ref name="ANHoI115"/> In another attempt to retake Dún De Lethglaise, Mac Duinn Sléibe followed up with an even greater force made up a coalition of Ulster's powers that included the king of the [[Cenél nEógain]], [[Máel Sechnaill Mac Lochlainn]], and the chief prelates in the province such as the archbishop of Armagh and the bishop of Down.<ref name="Bardon33"/><ref name="ANHoI115"/> Once again however the Normans won, capturing the clergy and many of their relics.<ref name="Bardon33"/><ref name="ANHoI115"/>

In 1178, after John de Courcy had retired to Glenree in ''Machaire Conaille'' (another name for Conaille Muirtheimne), Mac Duinn Sléibe, along with the king of Airgíalla, Murchard Ua Cerbaill (Murrough O'Carroll), attacked the Normans, killing around 450, and suffering 100 fatalities themselves.<ref name="AOTFM1178"/>

Despite forming alliances, constant inter-warring amongst the Ulaid and against their Irish neighbours continued oblivious to the threat of the Normans.<ref name="Adamson116"/> De Courcy would take advantage of this instability and over the following years, despite some setbacks, set about conquering the neighbouring districts in Ulaid shifting the focus of power.<ref name="Bardon35"/><ref name="Adamson116"/>

By 1181, Mac Duinn Sléibe and Cú Mide Ua Flainn, the king of Uí Thuirtre and Fir Lí in County Antrim, had come around and served loyally as sub-kings of de Courcy.<ref name="ANHoI116"/> Mac Duinn Sléibe, possibly inspired by the chance to restore Ulaid to its ancient extent, may have encouraged de Courcy to campaign westwards, which saw attacks on Armagh in 1189 and then Derry and the Inishowen peninsula in 1197.<ref name="ANHoI116"/>

De Courcy would style himself as ''princeps Ultoniae'', "master of Ulster", and ruled his conquests like an independent king.<ref name="Adamson116"/> The Uí Echach Coba in central and western Down however escaped conquest.<ref name="Bardon35"/>

In 1199 [[King John I of England]] sent [[Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster|Hugh de Lacy]] to arrest de Courcy and take his possessions. In 1205, de Lacy was made the first Earl of Ulster, founding the [[Earldom of Ulster]], with which he continued the conquest of the Ulaid. The earldom would expand along the northern coast of Ulster all the way to the Cenél nEógain's old power-base of [[Inishowen]].

Until the end of the 13th century, the Dál Fiatach, still led by the Mac Dúinnshléibe, retained a fraction of their power being given the title of ''rex Hibernicorum Ulidiae'', meaning "king of the Irish of Ulaid".<ref name="DownArdsxix"/> The Gaelic title of ''rí Ulad'', meaning "king of Ulster", upon the extinction of Dál Fiatach was usurped by the encroaching Ó Néills of the Cenél nEógain.<ref name="DownArdsxix"/>