East Breifne

Kingdom of East Breifne
Bréifne Uí Raghallaigh
1256–1607
Flag of East Bréifne
Banner of arms
Coat of arms of East Bréifne
Coat of arms
Motto: Fortitudine et prudentia
(English: With fortitude and prudence)
A map of 1450 Ireland shows Breifne O'Reilly
A map of 1450 Ireland shows Breifne O'Reilly
CapitalBelturbet (1256 to late 13th century)
Cavan (c. 1300)
Common languagesIrish
English[n 1]
Religion
Roman Catholic
GovernmentElective monarchy
King 
• 1256–1257
Conchobar Uí Raghallaigh
• 1603–1607
Maolmhordha O'Reilly
History 
• Split from Breifne
1256
• Shired
1579
• Disestablished
1607
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Bréifne
Kingdom of Ireland
Today part ofIreland

The Kingdom of East Breifne or Breifne O'Reilly (Old Irish: Muintir-Maelmordha; Irish: Bréifne Uí Raghallaigh, IPA: [ˈbʲɾʲeːfʲnʲə ˈɾˠəil̪ˠiː]) was an historic kingdom of Ireland roughly corresponding to County Cavan that existed from 1256 to 1607. It took its present boundaries in 1579 when East Breifne was renamed Cavan, after Cavan town, and shired into Ulster. Originally part of the older Kingdom of Breifne, East Breifne came into existence following a protracted war between the ruling O'Rourke clan and the ascendant O'Reillys which culminated in the division of the kingdom in 1256. The Kingdom was ruled by the dynasty of the Ó Raghallaigh (O'Reilly) and lasted until the early 17th century.
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