This article lists the rulers of Tyrone ( Irish: ''

Tír Eoghain Tír Eoghain (), also known as Tyrone, was a kingdom and later earldom of Gaelic Ireland, comprising parts of present-day County Tyrone, County Armagh, County Londonderry and County Donegal (Raphoe). The kingdom represented the core homeland of ...

'') from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated. Prior to this, the ruling dynasty – the

Cenél nEógain Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history * Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

– were most of the

kings of Ailech The Kings of Ailech were the over-kings of the medieval Irish province of Ailech in north-western Ireland. It encompassed the territories of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill. After the battle of Cloítech in 789 its kings were exclusi ...

. During the tenth and eleventh centuries, two main septs within the dynasty emerged; the

Meic Lochlainn The Mac Lochlainn () were a leading branch of the Cenél nEógain and during the early medieval period, the most powerful clan in the Northern Uí Néill. McGettigan (2005). They descended from Domnall Dabaill (died 915), son of Áed Findliath. A ...

and the

O'Neill The O'Neill dynasty ( Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of the most prominent family of the Nor ...

. The latter family pushed aside the Meic Lochlainn, and from 1241 onwards the kingdom was ruled exclusively by members of the O'Neill family. For the offshoot Clandeboye O'Neill kingdom, distinct from Tyrone, that was ruled by the descendants of Hugh Boy O'Neill, see

List of rulers of Clandeboye This article lists the kings and lords of Clandeboye ( Irish: ''Clann Aodha Buídhe''), a Gaelic ''túath'' of the Cenél nEógain, located in the eastern part of Ulster in the north of Ireland. They are listed from their date of ascension to date ...

Kings of Tyrone, 1185—1607

, - , Domhnall mac Aodha Mac Lochlainn
1185–1186
1187–1188
, , , , Son of Aodh Mac Lochlainn, , ''unknown'', , 1188 , - ,

Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh Roderick O'Flaherty (; 1629–1718 or 1716) was an Irish historian. Biography He was born in County Galway and inherited Moycullen Castle and estate. O'Flaherty was the last ''de jure'' Tigerna, Lord of Iar Connacht, and the last recognised C ...

1186–1187
, , , , Son of Aodh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, , ''unknown'', , 1197 , - , Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn
1188–1196
, , , , Son of

Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn Muircheartach Mac Lochlainn (; ) was king of Tír Eoghain, and High King of Ireland from around 1156 until his death in 1166. He succeeded Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair who died in 1156. Mac Lochlainn survived an attempt by Ruaidrí Ua Con ...

, , ''unknown'', , 1196 , - , Aodh Méith mac Aodha O'Neill
1196–1201
1201–1230
, , , , Son of Aodh an Macaoimh Tóinleasg O'Neill, , Bean-Midhe, , 1230 , - , Conchobhar Beg mac Conchobhair Mac Lochlainn
1201
, , , , Son of Conchobar mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn son of

, , ''unknown'', , 1201 , - , Niall Ruadh mac Aodha O'Neill
1230
, , , , Son of Aodh an Macaoimh Tóinleasg O'Neill, , Nuala O'Connor, , 1235 , - , Domhnall mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn
1230–1232
1235–1238
1239–1241
, , , , Son of Muirchertach Mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn son of

, , ''unknown'', , 1241 , - , Domhnall Óg mac Aodha Méith O'Neill
1232–1235
, , , , Son of Aodh Méith mac Aodha O'Neill, , ''unknown'', , 1235 , - , Brian Chatha an Dúna O'Neill
1238–1239
1241–1260
, , , , Son of Niall Ruadh mac Aodha O'Neill and Nuala O'Connor, , ''unknown'', , 16 May 1260 , - ,

Hugh Boy O'Neill Hugh Boy O'Neill ( Irish: ''Aed Buide Ó Néill'') was the last ruler of the Cenél nEógain to be styled as king of Ailech and was the eponymous ancestor of the Clandeboye O'Neill's in medieval Ireland. The son of Donnell Og O'Neill, he succeede ...

1260–1261
1263–1283
, , , , Son of Domhnall Óg mac Aodha Méith O'Neill , , ''unknown'', , 1283 , - ,

Niall Culanach O'Neill Niall Culanach O'Neill ( Irish: ''Niall Cúlánach Ó Néill'') () was a king of Tyrone in medieval Ireland on three occasions between 1261 and 1291. His nickname ''Culánach'', also anglicised as Culanagh, meant "of the long back hair". The so ...

1261–1263
1286–1290
, , , , Son of Domhnall Óg mac Aodha Méith O'Neill , , ''unknown'', , 1290 , - , Domhnall O'Neill
1283–1286
1290–1291
1295–1325
, , , , Son of Brian O'Neill , , Gormhflaith O'Donnell, , 1325 , - , Brian O'Neill
1291–1295
, , , , Son of

and Eleanor de Angulo , , ''unknown'', , 1295 , - ,

Henry O'Neill Henry O'Neill (August 10, 1891 – May 18, 1961) was an American actor known for playing gray-haired fathers, lawyers, and similarly dignified roles on film during the 1930s and 1940s. Early life Henry O'Neill was born in Orange, New J ...

Also King of Clandeboye.
1325–1345 (Contested)
, , , , Son of Brian O'Neill, , ''unknown'', , 1347 , - , Aodh Reamhair O'Neill
1325–1345 (Contested)
1345–1364
, , , , Son of Domhnall O'Neill and Gormflaith O'Donnell, , ''unknown'', , 1364 , - , Niall Mór mac Aodha Reamhair O'NeillAlso styled as

King of Ulster The King of Ulster (Old Irish: ''Rí Ulad'', Modern Irish: ''Rí Uladh'') also known as the King of Ulaid and King of the Ulaid, was any of the kings of the Irish provincial over-kingdom of Ulaid. The title rí in Chóicid, which means "king of ...

1364.
1364–1397
, , , , Son of Aodh Reamhair O'Neill, , ''unknown'', , 1398 , - , Niall Óg mac Néill O'Neill
1397–1402
, , , , Son of Niall Mór mac Aodha Reamhair O'Neill , , Una O'Neil, , 1403 , - , Brian Óg mac Néill Óg O'Neill
1402–1403
, , , , Son of Niall Óg mac Néill O'Neill and Una O'Neill, , ''unknown'', , 1403 , - , Domhnall mac Éinri Aimhreidh O'Neill
1404–1410
1414–1419
1421–1432
, , , , Son of Éinri Aimhreidh O'Neill son of Niall Mór O'Neill, , ''unknown'' , , 1410 , - , Eoghan mac Néill Óg O'Neill
1410–1414
1419–1421
1432–1455
, , , , Son of Niall Óg mac Néill O'Neill and Una O'Neill, , Catherine MacMahon , , 1456 , - , Éinri mac Eoghain O'Neill
1455–1483
, , , , Son of Eoghan mac Néill Óg O'Neill, , Gormhflaith MacMurrough-Kavanagh , , 1484 , - , Conn Mór mac Éinri O'Neill
1483–1493
, , , , Son of Éinri mac Eoghain O'Neill and Gormhflaith MacMurrough-Kavanagh, , Cumach O'Cahan
Eleanor FitzGerald , , 8 January 1493 , - , Éinri Óg mac Éinri O'Neill
1493–1498
, , , , Son of Éinri mac Eoghain O'Neill and Gormhflaith MacMurrough-Kavanagh, , ''unknown'' , , 21 August 1498 , - , Domhnall Clarach O'Neill
1498–1509
, , , , Son of Éinri mac Eoghain O'Neill and Gormhflaith MacMurrough-Kavanagh, , ''unknown'' , , 6 August 1509 , - , Art mac Aodh O'Neill
1509–1513
, , , , Son of Aodh O'Neill of the Fews son of Eoghan mac Néill Óg O'Neill, , ''unknown'' , , 1513 , - ,

Art Oge O'Neill Art Oge O'Neill ( Irish: ''Art Óg Ó Néill'') was a member of the O'Neill Dynasty of Tír Eoghain, Ulster, in medieval Ireland during the early Tudor era. In 1513 he became head of the O'Neills, holding the position until 1519 when he was succe ...

1513–1519
, , , , 1470
Son of Conn Mór mac Éinri O'Neill and Cumach O'Cahan, , ''unknown'' , , 1519 , - , Conn Bacagh O'Neill
1519–1558
, , , , 1484
Son of Conn Mór mac Éinri O'Neill and Eleanor FitzGerald , , Alice FitzGerald
Sorcha O'Neill , , 16 July 1559 , - , Shane O'Neill
1559–1567
, , MacShane

, , 1530
Son of

Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone Conn may refer to: * Conn (name), a family name and a masculine given name ** Conn, mythological son of Ler (mythology), Ler from the Children of Lir legend ** Conn of the Hundred Battles, a figure from Irish mythology ** Jerome W. Conn, American ...

and Alice FitzGerald , , Catherine McDonnell
Margaret O'Donnell
Catherine MacLean , , 2 June 1567

Cushendun Cushendun () is a small coastal village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits off the A2 coast road between Cushendall and Ballycastle. It has a sheltered harbour and lies at the mouth of the River Dun and Glendun, one of the nine Glen ...

, - ,

Turlough Luineach O'Neill Sir Turlough Lynagh O'Neill (also known as Turlough Luineach) ( Irish: ''An Ridire Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill''; – September 1595) was an Irish Gaelic lord of Tír Eoghain in early modern Ireland. He was inau ...

1567–1593
, , , , 1532
Son of Niall Connellagh O'Neill son of

, ,

Agnes Campbell Lady Agnes Campbell (1526 – in or after 1590) was a Scottish noblewoman and queen consort of Tír Eoghain. She was the mother of Iníon Dubh and the maternal grandmother of Red Hugh O'Donnell. Campbell was a skilled diplomat and political lead ...

, , 10 September 1595 , - , Hugh O'Neill
1593–1607
, , , , 1550
Son of

Matthew O'Neill, 1st Baron Dungannon Matthew O'Neill, 1st Baron Dungannon (alias ''Matthew Kelly'', alias ''Feardorcha Ó Néill''; –1558), was an Irish aristocrat. He was accepted by Conn O'Neill as his natural son. Matthew was challenged by his half-brother Shane O'Neill over ...

(legitimised son of

to Alison Kelly) and Siobhan Maguire , , Katherine O'Neill
Siobhán O'Donnell

Mabel Bagenal Mabel O'Neill, Countess of Tyrone (née Bagenal; – December 1595) was an Anglo-Irish noblewoman best known as the third wife of the prominent Gaelic Irish lord Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. Mabel was born in Newry to British parents. Her fa ...

Katherine Magennis , , 20 July 1616

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, - It could also be argued that Conn Bacach had taken the title

Earl of Tyrone The Earl of Tyrone is a title created three times in the Peerage of Ireland, and once in the Spanish nobility. It was created for the final time in 1746 for Marcus Beresford, 1st Viscount Tyrone, son-in-law of the last de Poer earls. His son wa ...

in 1542, as part of the process of

surrender and regrant During the Tudor conquest of Ireland (c.1540–1603), "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-Feudalism, feudal system under t ...

, and in the process had waived his title. Whether he could waive it without consulting his clan ''

derbfine The derbfine ( ; , from 'real' + 'group of persons of the same family or kindred', thus literally 'true kin'electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language s.vderbḟine/ref>) was a term for patrilineal groups and power structures defined in the fi ...

'' is part of this debate. Conn Bacach's grandson Hugh was not proclaimed king at Tullyhogue in 1593, but assumed the title after arranging to pay Turlough Luineach an annuity.

References

Bibliography

* "Kings of Tír Eógain and Earls of Tyrone, 1185-1616", pages 211-213, "A New History of Ireland", Volume 9: Maps, Genealogies, Lists; A Companion to Irish History Part II", edited by T. W. Moody, F.X. Martin, F.J. Byrne, Oxford, 1984. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kings Of Tyrone Tyrone Meic Lochlainn family O'Neill dynasty

Kings of Tyrone, 1185—1607

See also

References

Bibliography