Ulaid

Ulaid
Before 450 – 1177
Map of Ireland's over-kingdoms circa 900 AD.
Map of Ireland's over-kingdoms circa 900 AD.
CapitalVarious
Common languagesIrish
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
• –465
Forga mac Dallán
• 1172–1177
Ruaidrí Mac Duinn Sléibe
History 
• Established
Before 450 
• Disestablished
 1177
ISO 3166 codeIE
 Succeeded by
Airgíalla
Earldom of Ulster
Today part of
Ulaid during the 10th–11th century and its three main sub-kingdoms, along with some of its neighbouring kingdoms. These boundaries would be used as the basis for the dioceses created in the 12th century.

Ulaid (Old Irish, pronounced [ˈuləðʲ]) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, pronounced [ˈʊlˠiː, ˈʊlˠə]) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups.[1] Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid,[2][3][4] and in Cóiced, Irish for 'the Fifth'.[3][5] The king of Ulaid was called the rí Ulad or rí in Chóicid.[5][6][7]

Ulaid also refers to a people of early Ireland, and it is from them that the province of Ulster derives its name.[7] Some of the dynasties in the over-kingdom claimed descent from the Ulaid, but others are cited as being of Cruithin descent. In historical documents, the term Ulaid was used to refer to the population group of which the Dál Fiatach was the ruling dynasty.[7] As such, the title rí Ulad held two meanings: over-king of the Kingdom of Ulaid and king of the Ulaid people, as in the Dál Fiatach.[5][7]

The Ulaid feature prominently in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. According to legend, the ancient territory of Ulaid spanned the whole of the modern province of Ulster, excluding County Cavan, but including County Louth.[1][2] Its southern border was said to stretch from the River Drowes in the west to the River Boyne in the east.[1][2][7] At the onset of the historic period of Irish history in the 6th century, the territory of Ulaid was largely confined to east of the River Bann, as it is said to have lost land to the Airgíalla and the Northern Uí Néill.[1] Ulaid ceased to exist after its conquest in the late 12th century by the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy, and was replaced with the Earldom of Ulster.[1]

An individual from Ulaid was known in Irish as an Ultach, the nominative plural being Ultaigh. This name lives on in the surname McAnulty or McNulty, from mac an Ultaigh ('son of the Ulsterman').[8]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Connolly589 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Hack38 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ANHoI17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tracts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference MacNeill651 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference FraserPage159 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference ANHOI212 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Neafsey, Edward (2002). The Surnames of Ireland: Origins and Numbers of Selected Irish Surnames. Irish Roots. p. 168. ISBN 9780940134973.