Kingdom of Mide

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The Flag of Mide
The Flag of Mide

Mide (Old Irish pronunciation [miðe]; English pronunciation [mið], also anglicised Meath) was a medieval kingdom in Ireland. It existed as a kingdom from at least the early historic era. Its name means "middle", denoting the fact that it was situated in the very centre of Ireland; it included all of the current County Meath (which takes its name from the kingdom) as well as all of Westmeath and parts of Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly.

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[edit] History

Tradition states that it was created around the first century AD by Tuathal Teachtmhar. Its early kings may have been of Uí Enechglaiss, who—along with the Uí Failge and Uí Bairrche—were said to be of the Érainn/Fir Bolg; one of this race's divisions, the Fir Domnann, are listed on Ptolemy's map of Ireland as the Domnainn with a capital at Rheba.[1]

However, from the 490s they were driven away from their original homeland in Kildare and over the Wicklow Mountains by the Uí Néill, whose sept, the Clann Cholmáin, took their place. The Uí Enechglaiss were based in and around Arklow well into the historic period, and its ruling dynasty later took the surname O'Feary.

In medieval Ireland, the Kings of Mide were of the Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the Uí Néill. Several were High Kings of Ireland. After the collapse of the kingdom in the 12th century its dynasty, the Ua Mael Sechlainn or O Melaghlins, were forced west and settled on the east bank of the Shannon. Bearers of the name were still noted as among the Gaelic nobility till as late as the 1690s, though they had lost any real power long before. Melaugh is the more common name associated today in Ireland.

[edit] Province and diocese

Meath is also considered to have been one of five Provinces (Irish cúige "fifths") of Ireland, along with the four current provinces of Munster, Connacht, Ulster and Leinster. The Diocese of Meath established by the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 had boundaries similar to the kingdom's.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Walsh, Dennis. Ireland's History in Maps: Ptolemy's Ireland. rootsweb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.

[edit] References

  • "Clann Cholmain Kings of Mide 766–1184", page 195–196 in "A New History of Ireland", Vol. IX, ed. Byrne, Martin, Moody, 1984.
  • "Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages", Paul Walsh; ed. O Muraile, 2004.
  • "King James II's Irish Army List", D'Alton, 18??
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