Political System Change
Above : Another Illustration Picture Of Brian Boru
In this changing political system, the example of Brian’s ” usurpation ” and rule had a great effect. On the one hand he had destroyed that tradition which for over 500 years had recognised the head of the Ui Neill as the chief ruler or Ard Ri in Ireland. On the other hand, he had shown the necessity for an active and undivided headship of the whole country. His energy and capacity in war and peace had made the position of Ard Ri a real one with power and duties. It was no longer to be an empty honour, acknowledged by only part of the island, but an over-lordship whose authority would prevail over all the clans. It was now something that brought power, something worth striving for—and Brian had shown that it was open to all who were willing to strive for it. What Charlemagne had once done in Europe, what Alfred had done for the Saxons, Kenneth in Scotland, and what Canute was to do for the Norse, Brian had proved could be done for Ireland. He had established the principle of political unity for the Gael at least as effectively as Otho had done for the German and Capet for the Frank. In all these nations there took place a struggle to reduce that principle to actual fact. In Germany the emperors had to fight against internal rivals : in France it took centuries to conquer and absorb powerful neighbours ; in Ireland rival claimants fought for supreme power. This struggle for political unity was, in fact, briefer in Ireland than in those countries.
Two powerful influences were accordingly at work to unify the nation. One was the principle, now generally recognised, that the Irish nation, already one in culture, must also be one politically under a single head. The other was the disruption of the old divisions, which made it possible for an ambitious chief to conquer piecemeal where he might have failed against a more compact organisation. The example of Brian aroused the ambition of those who had hitherto been little more than nominal Kings of their federated clans, and taught them to aspire to be effective Kings of all Ireland. The history of the ” Kings with opposition ” (Tti co-fr-eAr-At^A) —as the principal competitors in the struggle are named—is the history of the efforts made by various aspirants to consolidate the sections of the old Kingdoms into one centralised monarchy. In these efforts they were aided by the tendency towards disruption. As each family in turn gained the ascendancy, it partitioned the territories of its opponents between the rival families. Their antagonists were shorn of their supremacy as ” provincial ” Kings, reduced to being rulers over their immediate patrimonies only, and deprived of all authority over the other clans. The most conspicuous exponent of this policy was Turlough O’Connor, who was determined that the omission of Brian was not to be repeated. Finally, with the flight of Diarmuid Mac Murrough, the last ” provincial ” King disappears from Ireland.
Of the seven independent states which are mentioned in ” teADAp nAg-Ce^c,” the representatives of only three made a serious contest for the supremacy. Of the others, tvro—Oirghialla and Ulaidh—were, as we have already seen, weakened by the spread of the Cineal Eoghain , and were completely dominated by their vigorous neighbour. In Meath, the posterity of Malachy II were so torn by fierce dissensions that the Kings of Tara figure only incidentally in this period. In Laighin, there was a keen rivalry between the northern and southern groups of the descendants of Cahir Mor. The former had been in the ascendant for many generations until Maolmdrdha fell at Clontarf. After that battle they were superseded by the southern family or Ui Cinnsealaigh. The latter never won the support of their rivals, yet were able to supply one competitor for the headship of Ireland in Diarmuid Mac Maoil na m-B6, and another conspicuous personage in Diarmuid Mac Murrough. Except these two, however, the struggle was confined to the representatives of the other three dynasties.
Mae Loughlins, O’Briens. O’Connors.—Between three dynasties—those of Aileach, Caiseal and Cruachan—lay, therefore, the contest for the sovereignty of all Ireland. In Aileach we have seen that the Cineal Eoghain had become predominant, and had already laid the foundations of that power in the north, which was eventually to lead to the province of ” Ulster.” Their only rivals were the kindred Cineal Chonaill. Their chief families now were those of Mac Loughlin and O’Neill* Of these the former held the leadership at this time, and upon them devolved the duty of maintaining the great traditions of the Ui Neill. Against those old traditions, however, were family names adopted in the tenth and eleventh centuries by various new clans comprised in the older political clan or ” tribe.”
The table includes only clans wliich figure in later history. The names of clans which at various times were recognised as ” leading clans,” and which, therefore, carried on the tradition of the old ” ruling clans,” are printed in italics : such of them as competed for the High Kingship are printed in Capitals.
The principal clans or septs formed out of the ” ruling clans ” or ” tribes,” as well as some of those from other ” tribes,” are set out under each of the old states. These, however, comprise in all but a very small number of the total clans.
Until the Gaelic system was broken up in the seventeenth century the clans continued to group themselves on the old ” tribal ” traditions and recognised the leadership of the old ” tribal ” leaders:—
* The “O’Neills,” named after Niall Gltlndubh, were but one family of the Cineal Eoghain branch of the ” Ui Neill,” who were all descended from Niall Naoi n-Giallach.