The Fortúatha were "kingdoms not ruled directly by members of the dominant dynasty of a province". They have also been described as "in effect, people belonging to a different stock from that of the rulers of the territory", T. F. O'Rahilly, ''Early Irish History and Mythology'', p. 27 yet sometimes enjoying a position of favour with the ruling people.

Fortúatha groups

Population-groups classed as ''fortúatha'' included the Calraige, Ciarraige,

Corca Fhir Trí The Corca Fhir Trí were an Irish people located in the kingdom of Gailenga (later the barony of Gallen, County Mayo), Luighne Connacht and Corann (baronies of Leyney and Corann, County Sligo) in Gaelic Ireland. Two kings of the Corca, Dobhai ...

, Delbhna, Déisi, Gailenga, Grecraige, Luighne,

Masraige The Masraige () were a semi-legendary Fir Bolg tribe inhabiting Magh Slécht in County Cavan, Ireland. They were also called Masragii, Masraide, Masraidhe, Masruidhe, Mascraide, Masree, Macraighe or Mascraidhe. The name can be translated as "Be ...

and Setantii. The status of each population-group could differ from one part of the island to another, with some fortúatha being class as aithechtúatha in other regions. In Leinster, some reckoned among the fortúatha had previously held the provincial kingship. These were the

Dál Messin Corb The Dál Messin Corb were a ruling dynasty of Leinster along with the Dál Chormaic. Descended from Chú Chorb's son Messin Corb, they were the last of the Dumnonians. In the fifth and sixth centuries they were ousted and driven from their seat ...

and its principal septs, the Uí Garrchon and the Uí Enechglaiss.

People

Among the early medieval Irish were many notable people whose population-group were classed as fortúatha. They included: * Brigid of Kildare ( 451–525) - of the Fortuatha Laigin * Brendan () - of the Altraige of Ciarraige Luachra * Iarlaithe mac Loga of Tuam (fl. 6th century) - a member of the Conmaicne *

Suibne moccu Fir Thrí Suibne moccu Fir Thrí ''Suibne moccu Urthrí, Suibhne Iwas the sixth abbot of Iona (652–657). His abbacy is obscure, and he appears not to have been from the same kindred, Cenél Conaill, as Columba and most other early Ionan abbots. His abbacy ...

(died 11 January 657) - possibly of the

Neide mac Onchu Neide or ''variant'', may refer to: People * Neide Van-Dúnem (aka ''Neide'', born 1986) female Angolan singer * Neide Barbosa (born 1980) female Angolan handball player * Neide Dias (born 1987) female Angolan runner * Neide Sá (born 1940) fem ...

(fl. 800) - a member of the Conmaicne *

Martan of Clonmacnoise Martan of Clonmacnoise, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, died 868. Martan was a member of the Dartraighe Daimhinsi in what is now County Monaghan, was Abbot of Clonmacnoise Clonmacnoise ( Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery situated i ...

(died 868) - a member of the Dartraighe *

Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig Brian Boru ( mga, Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; modern ga, Brian Bóramha; 23 April 1014) was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill and probably ended Viking invasion/domi ...

, ( 941 – 23 April 1014) -

Dál gCais The Dalcassians ( ga, Dál gCais ) are a Gaelic Irish clan, generally accepted by contemporary scholarship as being a branch of the Déisi Muman, that became very powerful in Ireland during the 10th century. Their genealogies claimed descent fr ...

* Vilbaldr DufÞakrsson (fl. 980) - of the

Osraighe Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory, was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois, corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory. The home of ...

Cúán úa Lothcháin Cúán úa Lothcháin was an Irish poet from Tethba, now in County Meath. He was the Chief Ollam of Ireland and died in 1024. Born in the region of Tethba - part of the kingdom of Mide - Cúán acted as bard and propagandist for High King Máe ...

(died 1024) - of the Gailenga of Tethba * Flann Mainistrech (died 25 November 1056) - of the

Ciannachta The Ciannachta were a population group of early historic Ireland. They claimed descent from the legendary figure Tadc mac Céin. Modern research indicates Saint Cianán and his followers may have been the origin behind the tribal name as it is a ...

Brega Brega , also known as ''Mersa Brega'' or ''Marsa al-Brega'' ( ar, مرسى البريقة , i.e. "Brega Seaport"), is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, ...

Ruaidrí Ó Gadhra Ruaidrí Ó Gadhra (died 1256) was an Irish people, Irish king of Sliabh Lugha and Chief of the Name. During Ruaidrí's lifetime the territory of Sliabh Lugha was conquered by the Sheriff of Connacht, Jordan de Exeter (died 1258), ancestor of the ...

(died 1256) - of the Gailenga of Connacht

Annalistic references

All quotes from the Annals of the Four Masters, unless otherwise stated. * 423: Máel Calland mac Fergal, king of the Fortuatha. ( Fragmentary Annals of Ireland) * 774: ''The battle of Cill Coice, in which Fearghal, son of Dunghal, son of Faelchu, lord of Fortuatha Laighean, was slain by the king Donnchadh.'' * 776: ''The battle of Righ (the Ryewater river) was gained by the men of Breagh over the Leinstermen, on the day of Allhallows (Nov. 1) precisely, wherein were slain Cucongalt (king of Ui Garchon at Arklow), lord of Rath Inbhir, and Fearghal, son of Ailell, lord of Cinel Ucha.'' * 783: ''Domnall son of Ceithernach, king of Uí Garrchon.'' (

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...

) * 825: ''The destruction of Dun Laighen, at Druim, by the Pagans (Vikings), where Conaing, son of Cuchongelt, lord of the Fortuatha, was slain, with many others.'' * 827: ''An encampment of the Laigin was overwhelmed by the heathens, and Conall son of Cú Chongalt, king of the Fortuatha, and countless others fell there.'' (

) * 972: ''Finnsnechta, son of Cinaedh, lord of Fortuatha-Laighean, died.'' * 983: ''Fiachra, son of Finnshneacta, chief of Fortuatha-Laighean.'' * 1014: ''Domhnall, son of Ferghal, king of the Fortuatha.'' ( Chronicon Scotorum) * 1039: ''Domhnall, son of Donnchadh, lord of Ui-Faelain, was slain by Domhnall Ua Fearghaile, lord of the Fortuatha.'' * 1043: ''Domnall ua Fergaile, king of the Fortuatha of Laigin, was killed by the son of Tuathal (his own people).'' ( Chronicon Scotorum) * 1072: ''Gillaphadraig O'Fearghaile, lord of the Fortuatha, was killed.'' * 1095: ''Domnall Dubh Ua Fearghaile, lord of Fortuatha-Laighean, died.'' * 1170: ''Murchadh Ua Fearghail, lord of the Fortuatha, was slain by Ua Fiachrach, lord of Ui-Fineachlais.''

References

* ''Early Christian Ireland'', p. 14, 99, 102, 104, 116, 236, 534, 576, 674, 676, 678, 684, 685, 690, 693, 695, 705, by Thomas Charles-Edwards, Cambridge, 2000. * ''Irish Kings and High Kings'', p. 45, Francis John Byrne, 3rd edition, Dublin, 2001. * ''Early Irish Saints’ Cults and their Constituencies'', pp. 72–102, '' Ériu' 54,

T.M. Charles-Edwards Thomas Mowbray Charles-Edwards (born 11 November 1943) is an emeritus academic at the University of Oxford. He formerly held the post of Jesus Professor of Celtic and is a Professorial Fellow at Jesus College. Biography He was educated at A ...

, 2004. * ''Ireland, 400-800'', Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, pp. 98,in ''A New History of Ireland'', volume one, 2005. * ''Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions'', Paul MacCotter, Four Courts Press, 2008.

External links

* http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/province.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Fortuatha Historical Celtic peoples Gaelic-Irish nations and dynasties History of County Armagh History of County Donegal History of County Kildare History of County Meath History of County Wexford History of County Wicklow Tribes of ancient Ireland