List of Irish queens and consorts

See also: List of Irish monarchs

The Queen of Ireland or sometimes Royal Consort of Ireland was the spouse of the rulers and monarch of Ireland.

There have been no native Queens of Ireland since the late 12th century, following the complex sequence of the Norman invasion of Ireland, Treaty of Windsor (1175), and death of the last true High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, in 1198.

From 1542 it was a style if not always a reality of the wife of the foreign Monarch of England and later Great Britain, or that of the Queen of these realms in her own right.

Contents 1 Queens of Ireland 1.1 Semi-historical Queens 1.2 Historical Queens 2 Ladies of Ireland 2.1 House of Plantagenet 2.1.1 Angevins 2.1.2 House of Lancaster 2.1.3 House of York 2.2 House of Tudor 3 Royal consorts of Ireland (Kingdom of Ireland and after) 3.1 House of Tudor 3.2 Disputed consort 3.3 House of Stuart 3.4 House of Hanover 3.5 House of Windsor 4 Notes 5 Sources

Queens of Ireland

Semi-historical Queens

Queen	Husband's Reign	Spouse	Remarks
Brigid ingen Cobthaig [1]	564–566	Ainmuire mac Sétnai	Daughter of Cobthaig of the Uí Cheinnselaig. She was the mother of Cobthaig.
Eithne	595–600	Áed Sláine	She may have been mother to Áed's recorded children: at least six sons, including Diarmait and Blathmac, and a daughter named Rontud.
Findelb ingen Chellaig [1]	665–669	Sechnassach	Probably daughter of Cellach Cualann, king of Leinster (died 715) of the Uí Máil. She was probably the mother of Bé Fáil, Murgal and Mumain, all being daughters.
Muirenn ingen Cellaig	694–701	Loingsech mac Óengusso	Daughter of Cellach Cualann, king of Leinster (died 715) of the Uí Máil. She was the mother of Flaithbertach, was later High King, and Fergal.
? ingen Congal Cendmagair [2]	709–718	Fergal mac Máele Dúin	Daughter of Congal Cennmagair, High King of Ireland (died 710) of the Cenél Conaill. According to Fáistine Fergaile meic Máele Dúin ("Fergal mac Máele Dúin's Prophecy") to have been an illicit union; she was mother of Áed Allán.
? [2]			Of the Ciannachta. According to Fáistine Fergaile meic Máele Dúin ("Fergal mac Máele Dúin's Prophecy"), she was mother of Niall Frossach.
Ailbíne ingen Ailello [3][4]	739–758	Domnall Midi	Daughter of Ailello of Ard Ciannacht, a minor kingdom of the coast north of the River Boyne. Only recorded wife of Domnall Midi.
Dunlaith ingen Flaithbertaich [2]	759–765	Niall Frossach	Daughter of Flaithbertach mac Loingsig, High King of Ireland (died 765) of the Cenél Conaill. She was mother of Áed Oirdnide, and died in 798.
Bé Fáil ingen Cathail [3][4]	766–792	Donnchad Midi	Daughter of Cathal mac Muiredaig, eponym of the Leth Cathail in Ulster. She was mother of Óengus and Máel Ruanaid, and her death in 801 is recorded in the Annals of Ulster: "Be Fáil daughter of Cathal, Donnchad's queen, died.".
Euginis ingen Donnchada [2]	793–817	Áed Oirdnide	Daughter of Donnchad Midi, High King of Ireland (died 797) of the Clann Cholmáin. She died in 802.
Maedhbh ingen Indrechtach [2]			Daughter of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig, King of Connacht (died 723) of the Uí Briúin. Also known simply as Medb. According to the 12th century Banshenchas (Lore of Women), she was mother of Niall Caille, and died in 798.
Gormflaith ingen Donnchada [2]	823–846	Niall Caille	Daughter of Donnchad Midi, High King of Ireland (died 797) of the Clann Cholmáin. She was mother of Áed Findliath, and died in 861 and the notice of her death in the Annals of Ulster calls her "a most charming queen of the Irish".
Queen	Husband's Reign	Spouse	Remarks

Historical Queens

Queen	Husband's Reign	Spouse	Remarks
Gormlaith Rapach ingen Muiredach [2]	855–879	Áed Findliath	Daughter of Muiredach mac Eochada, King of Ulster (died 839) of the Dal Fiatach. Known as "the Harsh". According to the 12th century Banshenchas (Lore of Women), she was mother of Domnall mac Áeda and Eithne ingen Áeda.
Land ingen Dúnlainge [2]			Daughter of Dúngal mac Fergaile, King of Osraige (died 842) and sister of Cerball mac Dúnlainge. She was widow of High King Máel Sechnaill. According to the 12th century Banshenchas (Lore of Women), she was mother of Domnall mac Áeda and Eithne ingen Áeda. She died in 842.
Máel Muire ingen Cináeda [2]			Daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts (died 858) of the House of Alpin. She was mother of Niall Glúndub by her first marriage. According to Annals of Ulster, she died in 913. She remarried after her husband's death.
Gormlaith ingen Flainn [4]	879–916	Flann Sinna	Daughter of Flann mac Conaing, King of Brega (died 868) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. She was mother of Donnchad Donn.[5]
Eithne ingen Áeda [4]			Daughter of Áed Findliath, High King of Ireland (died 879) of the Cenél nEógain. She was mother of Máel Ruanaid. She was also married to Flannácan, King of Brega, by whom she had a son named Máel Mithig, although whether this preceded her marriage to Flann is unclear. It is likely that Flann divorced Eithne in order to follow the tradition of marrying his predecessor's widow, Eithne's stepmother. Eithne died as a nun in 917.[6]
Máel Muire ingen Cináeda [4]			Daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts (died 858) of the House of Alpin. She was mother of Domnall mac Flainn, King of Brega, and Lígach ingen Flainn (died 923). According to Annals of Ulster, she died in 913.
Gormlaith ingen Flainn [2]	916–919	Niall Glúndub	Daughter of Flann Sinna, High King of Ireland (died 879) of the Clann Cholmáin. Was the widow of Cerball mac Muirecáin, the King of Leinster and before that Cormac mac Cuilennáin, the King of Munster. Legend depicted her as a tragic figure; she was resorted to begging from door to door after Niall's death. She was mother of Muirchertach mac Néill. The Annals of Ulster record her death in 948.
Cainnech ingen Canannáin [4]	919–944	Donnchad Donn	Daughter of Canannán mac Flaithbertach, King of the Cenél Conaill of Tír Connaill. She died in 929.
Órlaith ingen Cennétig [4]			Daughter of Cennétig mac Lorcáin, King of the Dál gCais of Thomond. She was killed in 941, apparently on Donnchad's order, perhaps due to a sexual relationship between her and her stepson Óengus.
Dublemna ingen Tigernán [4]			Daughter of a Tigernán, a lord or king of Bréifne of the Ua Ruairc. She died in 943.
Gormflaith ingen Murchada [4]	980–1002	Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill	Daughter of Murchad mac Finn, king of Leinster, and also widow of Olaf Cuaran, the Viking king of Dublin and York. She remarried to Brian Boru.
Mór [7]	1002–1014	Brian Boru	Daughter of Gilla Brigte Ua Maíl Muaid of the Cenél Fiachach. Mother of his successor Murchad mac Brian, who was slain with his father at the Battle of Clontarf.
Echrad [7]			Mother of his successor Donnchad mac Brian.
Gormflaith ingen Murchada [7]			Daughter of Murchad mac Finn, king of Leinster. Widow of Olaf Cuaran, the Viking king of Dublin and York, and former wife of Máel Sechnaill. Mother of his successor Donnchad mac Brian, later King of Munster. She was said to be his true love, having mistakeningly challenged his authority one too many times, they divorced. Though she is said to be the cause of his death, she was also said to be the one to mourn him the most. She died in 1030.
Dub Choblaig [7]			Daughter of a king of Connacht. Mother of Cénnetig mac Briain (Kennedy).
Máel Muire ingen Amlaíb [4]	1014–1022	Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (second reign)	Daughter of Amlaíb Cuarán of the Norse-Irish Uí Ímair, she is the first known Queen of Ireland of Norse descent. Máel Muire died in 1021, a year before her husband, to whom she may have been wed for over two decades. The Annals of Clonmacnoise actually style her Queen of Ireland.[8]
Cacht ingen Ragnaill [7]	died 1064 (with opposition)	Donnchad mac Briain	Possibly sister of Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, king of Dublin, also of the Uí Ímair. The marriage was in 1032.[9] Cacht died in 1054, styled Queen of Ireland.[10]
Derbforgaill ingen Donnchad [11]	died 1072 (with opposition)	Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó	Daughter of Donnchad mac Briain, king of Munster of the Dál gCais.
Dubchoblaig of the Uí Cheinnselaig [7]	died 1086 (with opposition)	Toirdelbach Ua Briain	Of the Uí Cheinnselaig. Mother of Diarmait Ua Briain, perhaps named for her kinsman and Toirdelbach's protector Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó. She died in 1088
Derbforgaill of Osraige [7]			Mother of Tadc and Muirchertach.
Gormlaith of Ua Fógarta [7]			Of the Ua Fógarta.

Ladies of Ireland

The Lordship of Ireland (1171–1541) was a Cambro-Norman state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland (1169–71). While authority over the whole island was claimed, effective control was far less.

House of Plantagenet

This long-lived dynasty is usually divided into three houses: the Angevins, the House of Lancaster, and the House of York.

Angevins

As the leader of the Norman invasion of Ireland Henry II of England created the title of Lord of Ireland for his youngest son John in 1177. The title came to be held by the monarchs of England when John later, and unexpectedly, inherited the English crown in 1199.

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Isabel de Clare [12]	William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester (Fitz Robert)	c.1173	29 August 1189		1199 marriage annulled by the Pope after husband ascended as King	14 October 1217	John
	Isabella of Angoulême [13][14]	Aymer, Count of Angoulême (Taillefer)	c. 1187	24 August 1200		18 or 19 October 1216 husband's death	31 May 1246
	Eleanor of Provence [13][14]	Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence (Barcelona)	c. 1223	14 January 1236		16 November 1272 husband's death	24 June 1291	Henry III
	Eleanor of Castile [13][14]	Ferdinand III of Castile (Anscarids)	1241	1 November 1254	16 November 1272 husband's ascension	28 November 1290		Edward I
	Marguerite of France [13][14]	Philip III of France (Capet)	1282	8/10 September 1299		7 July 1307 husband's death	14 February 1317
	Isabella of France [13][14]	Philip IV of France (Capet)	between 1288 and 1296	25 January 1308		20 January 1327 husband's deposition	22 August 1358	Edward II
	Philippa of Hainault [13][14]	William I, Count of Hainaut (Avesnes)	24 June 1314	24 January 1328		15 August 1369		Edward III
	Anne of Bohemia [13]	Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (Luxembourg)	11 May 1366	20 January 1383 (?)		7 June 1394		Richard II
	Isabella of Valois [13]	Charles VI of France (Valois)	9 November 1387	31 October or 1 November 1396		30 September 1399 husband's deposition	13 September 1409

House of Lancaster

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Joanna of Navarre [13]	Charles II of Navarre (Évreux)	c. 1370	7 February 1403		20 March 1413 husband's death	9 July 1437	Henry IV
	Catherine of Valois [13]	Charles VI of France (Valois)	27 October 1401	2 June 1420		31 August 1422 husband's death	3 January 1437	Henry V
	Margaret of Anjou [13]	René of Anjou (Valois-Anjou)	23 March 1430	23 April 1445		21 May 1471 husband's death[15]	25 August 1482	Henry VI

House of York

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Elizabeth Woodville [13]	Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers	c. 1437	1 May 1464[16]		9 April 1483 husband's death	8 June 1492	Edward IV
	Anne Neville [13]	Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick (Neville)	11 June 1456	12 July 1472	26 June 1483 husband's ascension	16 March 1485		Richard III

House of Tudor

The Tudors were of partial Welsh ancestry, and in 1536 Wales was fully incorporated into the English state (having been under English control since 1284). With Henry VIII's break from the Roman Catholic Church the monarch became the Supreme Head of the Church of Ireland.

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Elizabeth of York [13]	Edward IV of England (York)	11 February 1466	18 January 1486		11 February 1503		Henry VII
	Catherine of Aragon [13]	Ferdinand II of Aragon (Trastámara)	16 December 1485	11 June 1509		23 May 1533 marriage annulled	7 January 1536	Henry VIII
	Anne Boleyn [13]	Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire	between 1501 and 1507	28 May 1533		17 May 1536 marriage annulled	19 May 1536 (executed)
	Jane Seymour [13]	Sir John Seymour (Seymour)	between 1507 and 1509	30 May 1536		24 October 1537
	Anne of Cleves [13]	John III, Duke of Cleves (La Marck)	22 September 1515	6 January 1540		9 July 1540 marriage annulled	16 July 1557
	Catherine Howard [13]	Lord Edmund Howard (Howard)	between 1520 and 1525	28 July 1540		1541 became queen	13 February 1542

Royal consorts of Ireland (Kingdom of Ireland and after)

In 1542 the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 was passed in the Parliament of Ireland, stating that Henry VIII of England and his successors would also be Kings of Ireland. This was not recognized in Europe until circa 1555, by which time Henry was dead. More importantly, Gaelic Ireland, with its many overkings and sub-kings, was not completely brought under control until after the so-called Flight of the Earls in 1607, following the Nine Years' War. From 1555 to 1603 the quasi-official monarchs of Ireland, or at least a large part of it, were the Tudors, Mary I of England and Elizabeth I of England.

House of Tudor

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Catherine Parr [13]	Sir Thomas Parr	between 1512 and 1517	12 July 1543		28 January 1547 husband's death	5 September 1548	Henry VIII

Disputed consort

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Guilford Dudley [13][17]	John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland	1536	15 May 1553	10 July 1553 wife's ascension	19 July 1553 wife's deposition	12 February 1554	Jane

House of Stuart

Following the death of Elizabeth I in 1603 without issue, the Scottish king, James VI, succeeded to the English throne as James I in what became known as the Union of the Crowns. In 1604 he adopted the title King of Great Britain, although the kingdoms remained separate.

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Anne of Denmark [13][18]	Frederick II of Denmark (Oldenburg)	14 October 1574	23 November 1589	24 March 1603 husband's accession	4 March 1619		James I
	Henrietta Maria of France [13][18]	Henry IV of France (Bourbon)	25 November 1609	11 May 1625 (by proxy) 13 June 1625		30 January 1649 husband's death	10 September 1669	Charles I
	Catherine of Braganza [13][18]	John IV of Portugal (Braganza)	25 November 1638	21 May 1662		6 February 1685 husband's death	30 November 1705	Charles II
	Mary of Modena [13][18]	Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena (Este)	5 October 1658	30 September 1673 (by proxy)	6 February 1685 husband's accession	12 February 1689 husband's deposition	7 May 1718	James II
	Prince George of Denmark [13][18][19]	Frederick III of Denmark (Oldenburg)	2 April 1653	28 July 1683	8 March 1702 wife's accession	28 October 1708		Anne

House of Hanover

The Hanoverian succession came about as a result of the Act of Settlement 1701, passed by the English Parliament. In return for access to the economically alluring plantations in North America, the Hanoverian succession and ultimately the Union was ratified by the English Parliament and subsequently the Scottish Parliament in 1707.

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Caroline of Ansbach [19][20][21][22]	John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (Hohenzollern)	1 March 1683	22 August 1705	11 June 1727 husband's ascension	20 November 1737		George II
	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz [19][20][21][22][23]	Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow (Mecklenburg)	19 May 1744	8 September 1761		1 January 1801 Act of Union	17 November 1818	George III

During George III's reign The Kingdom's of Great Britain and Ireland merged to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Act of Union 1800.

For the queens between 1801 and 1927, go to List of British consorts.

House of Windsor

Following dominion status being conferred on the Irish Free State in 1922, in 1927 the title King of Ireland was re-introduced, and lasted until Ireland became a republic in 1949.

Picture	Name	Father	Birth	Marriage	Became Consort	Ceased to be Consort	Death	Spouse
	Mary of Teck [23][24][25]	Francis, Duke of Teck (Teck)	26 May 1867	6 July 1893	1927 reintroduction of royal titles	20 January 1936 husband's death	24 March 1953	George V
	Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon [23][24][25]	Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (Bowes-Lyon)	4 August 1900	26 April 1923	11 December 1936 husband's ascension	28 April 1949 republic declared	30 March 2002	George VI

For the queens of Northern Ireland, go to List of British consorts.

Notes

Sources

• IRELAND