West Breifne

Kingdom of West Breifne
Bréifne Ua Ruairc (Irish)
Client State of England (1585-1605)
←
1256–1605 →
 
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Coat of arms

Motto
Buagh
(English: Victory)
A map of 1450 Ireland showing Breifne O'Rourke
Capital Dromahair
Languages Irish
Religion Roman Catholicism
Government Monarchy
King
 •  1250-1257 Conchobar O'Ruairc
 • 1600–1605 Tadhg O'Rourke
History
 •  Split from Breifne 1256
 • Shired 1583
 •  Dissolved 1605

The Kingdom of West Breifne (Irish Breifne Ua Ruairc) was an historic kingdom of Ireland that existed from 1256 to 1605, located in the area that is now County Leitrim. It took its present boundaries in 1583 when West Breifne was shired and renamed Leitrim, after the village of Leitrim, which was an O'Rourke stronghold. The kingdom came into existence after a battle between the O'Rourke clans and the O'Reillys caused the breakup of the older Kingdom of Breifne and led to the formation of East Breifne and West Breifne. The Kingdom was ruled by the various O'Rourke clans and lasted until the early 17th century, when the Kingdom of England confiscated their lands.[1]

History

Early history

In 1172, Tighearnán Ua Ruairc, the longtime Lord of Breifne and Conmaice, was betrayed and killed at Tlachtgha during negotiations with Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath. Tighearnán was beheaded, and his head and body was conveyed to the Anglo-Normans in Dublin, where it was put on display. The assassination of Tighernán caused a war of succession in Breifne and for the next hundred years there would be no long standing King of Breifne, as rival O'Rourke clans fought for the kingship. This time of turbulence in the kingdom caused a great rift between the various O'Rourke clans, with regular fighting between rival members. This period of instability prompted the O'Reillys in the east of the kingdom to launch a campaign against Connacht and the O'Rourke clans. In 1256 the Battle of Magh Slecht was fought between Connacht and the O'Rourke clans against the O'Reilly and the Norman de Burghs. Despite ending in an O'Rourke victory, they had lost complete control over the eastern half of their kingdom, thus dividing Breifne into East Breifne (O'Reilly) and West Breifne (O'Rourke).[2]

Conflict with Connacht

After the battle, Conchobar O'Ruairc, King of West Breifne, came into conflict with Aedh O'Conor, son of Felim O'Conor, the King of Connacht. According to the Annals of Connacht, the two men "had been good comrades till now". Shortly after this dispute, Conchobar made peace with The Galls without the permission of the king of Connacht, prompting Aedh O'Conor to launch raids on West Breifne. In 1257, after a brief war, Conchobar submitted to O'Conor and signed a peace treaty offering O'Conor any lands of his choice in Breifne. O'Conor obtained the stone-castle on Cherry Island in Garadice Lough and put a garrison into it. Later that year, Conchobar violated the terms of the treaty and forced O'Conor's garrison out of the castle before razing it. Due to this act of betrayal, Aedh O'Conor elected Sitric O'Ruairc to replace Conchobar as king of West Breifne, however Sitric was soon killed by Domnall, Conchobar's son, to avenge his fathers dispossession. This led to Domnall's arrest and imprisonment and Aedh O'Conor resumed raids on West Breifne.[3]

In 1258, with the war against Connacht still ongoing, Conchobar was betrayed and killed by his own men. After his fathers death, Domnall was released from prison and instated as king of West Breifne. However, shortly after his appointment as king, Domnall killed Magrath Mac Tiernan, chieftain of Tellach-Dunchada, which was a clan that held land within Breifne. As a result of this killing, Domnall was deposed as king by the major clans of West Breifne, including Tellach-Dunchada, who executed Domnall's brother Cathal in retaliation. [4]

After Domnall was deposed, Art O'Ruairc was instated as king, but in 1259, he was taken prisoner by Connacht. Aedh O'Conor then met with Domnall and after peace between the two kingdoms was agreed, kingship was returned to Domnall. However, this peace was to be short lived, in 1260 the Tellach-Dunchada killed Domnall and in 1261 Art O'Ruairc escaped from imprisonment and was made king by the chieftains of Breifne upon his return. An attempt by Connacht to depose Art O'Ruairc in 1261 failed when their army was defeated at Drumlahan.[5][6]

The conflict between Connacht and West Breifne ended in 1266, when Aedh O'Conor, now King of Connacht, launched a successful invasion of West Breifne and deposed Art O'Ruairc, instating Conchobar buide, son of King Amlaíb (1257-1258), as the new king. Aedh O'Conor also took hostages from all the major clans of the kingdom. [7]

Wars of Succession

Creevelea Friary was founded by King Eóghan O'Rourke in 1509 and was used as a centre for education and learning.

For most of its history West Breifne saw disputes over kingship, with persistent battles between rival factions. As a result of factions consolidating power in their home regions, three distinct branches of royalty emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries, named after the areas in which they were based. All three branches trace their lineage back to King Ualgarg mór (1316-1346). The O'Rourkes of Dromahair were the main line of kings. The term "O'Rourkes of Dromahair" only came into use after King Tigernán óg (1449-1468), and refers to those based in the capital Dromahair in the west of the kingdom. The O'Rourkes of Carrigallen were descendant from Tadgh na gCoar, Ualgarg mór's son, who reigned from 1352-1376. Due to their strategic location east of Lough Allen and the Iron Mountains, they twice divided the kingdom along east/west lines. The third branch, the O'Rourkes of Carha, based in the northwest, emerged in the mid 15th century with the crowning of King Donnchadh, great-grandson of Ualgarg mór. The kingship of West Breifne during this volatile period largely depended upon the often capricious support of the other clans within the kingdom and the surrounding area, notably the O'Reilly, Mac Raghnaill and Tellach-Dunchada. The rivalry between these branches continued until the 1560s when they united to fight against English attempts to subjugate the area.

The most significant of the rivalries was between the O'Rourkes of Dromahair, those based in the capital, and the O'Rourkes of Carrigallen. This rivalry would see the kingdom split between "East Breifne O'Rourke" (Carrigallen) and "West Breifne O'Rourke" (Dromahair) at least twice. The first from 1419 to 1424, following the death of King Aedh buidhe. Aedh's brother, Tadhg, was chosen to succeed his brother as King, however in southern Leitrim, Art O'Rourke, son of King Tadgh na gcoar (1352-1376), was elected king by his supporters. The division lasted for five years until Art O'Rourke submitted kingship to Tadhg in 1424.[8]

Breifne Region ca. 1500.
Dark green - West Breifne (Cavan baronies of Tullyhunco and Tullyhaw were under O'Rourke dominion at this time.)
Light green - East Breifne
Horizontal green lines - Former Kingdom of Breifne's greatest extent ca. 1200

The second split occurred after King Tadhg's death in 1435. King Tadhg was to be succeeded by his brother Donnchadh bacagh. However, Art O'Rourke's brother, Lochlainn Ó Ruairc, was declared "King of East Breifne O'Rourke" and the kingdom was again divided. Donnchadh bacagh died in 1445 and his nephew Donnchadh, the first of the Carha line, was elected to take his place and ruled until his death in 1449. He was succeeded by his cousin Tigernan óg. The two kingdoms were in a perpetual state of war that would last for 23 years until 1458, when East Breifne O'Rourke was invaded by the Maguires of Fermanagh, Lochlainn Ó Ruairc, now 80 years old, was defeated and the kingship of East Breifne O'Rourke was dissolved. Tigernán óg became king of a united West Breifne.

Following the death of King Tigernán óg in 1468, kingship was again in dispute, this time between Domnall, Tigernán óg's brother, and Donnchadh losc, Tigernán óg's uncle. Domnall was supported by the O'Rourkes of Dromahair and Ruadh O'Donnell, the Lord of Tír Chonaill. Donnchadh losc received support from the O'Rourkes of Carha as well as the people of Carbury and the Clann-Donough. In 1470, Domnall and O'Donnell led an army to "Cruachan", the traditional inauguration site of kings, in an attempt to inaugurate Domnall, however they were stopped at Ballyconnell by the O'Reilly and the English.[9] This dispute caused infighting within West Breifne and left a deepened rivalry between the O'Rourkes of Dromahair and the O'Rourkes of Carha. The dispute ended in a victory for the O'Rourkes of Carha and their allies, who elected King Feidhlimidh mac Donnchadha in 1476. He ruled from his stronghold of Castle Carha for 24 contentious years.

In 1488, Eóghan, son of Tigernán óg (1449-1468), killed King Feidhlimidh mac Donnchadha's son, also called Eoghan. Following the death of Feidhlimidh mac Donnchadha in 1500, Eóghan became king. After Eóghan's death in 1528, Feidhlimidh, son of King Feidhlimidh mac Donnchadha appears to have claimed the throne and ruled from Castle Carha, in contention with Brian Ballach, son of Eóghan. In 1536 Brian Ballach laid siege to Caste Carha and demolished it, re-establishing Dromahair's dominion over the entire kingdom. Feidhlimidh was deposed and died that same year as a prisoner of Brian Ballach.

Following a period of relative calm, a brief power struggle between the sons of Brian Ballach ensued in the 1560's. Between 1564 and 1566 both Aodh Gallda and Aodh Buidhe were murdered by groups intent on getting Brian na Murtha crowned king. According to the annals, Aodh Gallda was murdered in Leitrim "by his own people". The murder of Aodh Buidhe was carried out by the vassals of Tyrconnell in Sligo, as Lord Magnus O'Donnell's daughter was Brian na Murtha's mother.[10] Following Aodh Buidhe's death, Brian na Murtha was elected king (or lord) of West Breifne in 1566.

Nine Years War

Brian O'Rourke's castle was situated at Lough Gill. The tower house was demolished and Parke's Castle was built in its stead in 1610. The outer walls are all that remains of the original castle.

In 1569 West Briefne was subsumed into the Presidency of Connaught, an English government jurisdiction. This governorate was not recognised by the lords of Connacht and the first Lord President of Connaught, Sir Edward Fitton, fought constantly to enforce English rule in the area. Gradually, many of the Irish lords agreed to tentatively work with the English, including Lord Brian na Múrtha Ó Ruairc. West Breifne became a de jure client state of England in 1577 with the first composition of Connacht. As part of this agreement, Brian Ó Ruairc was made a knight of the English realm in 1578. This agreement collapsed following the death of Nicholas Malby, Lord President of Connaught in 1581. He came into continual conflict with both the Lord President of Connaught and the Lord Deputy of Ireland. As part of the policy of surrender and regrant, Ó Ruairc surrendered his lordship in 1585 and was appointed the first High Sheriff of Leitrim. He regarded his agreements with the presidency as non-binding and as such West Breifne's relationship with England remained tense. During the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604), Brian na Múrtha Ó Ruairc assisted at least eighty survivors of the Spanish Armada shipwreck off the Sligo coast to depart the country in the winter of 1588. Among the survivors was Captain Francisco de Cuellar, who kept a detailed account of the events and was hosted in Ó Ruairc's castle at Lough Gill.[11] He continued to resist Lord President Sir Richard Bingham's authority and clashes between his forces and those of the presidency grew violent. In peace talks in 1589, Brian Ó Ruairc did accept the terms of a crown tribute that had been agreed by his grandfather, but resisted the new composition terms of 1585 and refused to allow the formation of a crown administration in the new County Leitrim. Instead of submitting to the presidency's authority, he sought what effectively amounted to full autonomy from the Kingdom of Ireland in Dublin. However, in the wake of the Spanish landings in Ireland, Lord Deputy Sir William FitzWilliam was aggressively trying to curb the powers of the gaelic leadership, even those who had sworn loyalty to the crown, so in the spring of 1590 Sir Richard Bingham led forces into West Breifne and occupied the territory, forcing Ó Ruairc to flee. He fled to Scotland and requested a meeting with King James VI, seeking to raise an army of mercenaries and retake his kingdom. In consultation with the English ambassador, King James VI denied him audience and was pressured by Queen Elizabeth I to arrest him and deliver him to England, citing the agreements made in the Treaty of Berwick. After much debate and controversy, Ó Ruairc was arrested in Glasgow on 3 April 1591 and delivered into English custody. He was kept at the Tower of London and was put on trial and asked to pledge to the crown, accepting all prior agreements, and to denounce his Catholic faith. He refused and was hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason on 3 November 1591.[12][13]

When news of Brian na Múrtha's death reached Breifne, Brian Og na Samhthach, his son, succeeded him as King. The O'Rourke clans had united in the 1560s to fight off English intruders and West Breifne forces were part of the Alliance of Irish clans, led by Hugh O'Neill, during the Nine Years' War. In 1599, Brain Og's forces fought alongside those of "Red" Hugh O'Donnell at the Battle of Curlew Pass.

Decline

After defeat in the Nine Years' War, many O'Rourke nobles, as well as O'Reilly's from neighbouring East Breifne, left Ireland for mainland Europe. The clans throughout Ireland went into a steady decline during this period culminating in The Flight of the Earls in 1607.[14] In 1605 King Tadhg mac Briain na Murtha died aged 28, some suspect he may have been poisoned. Following the death of King Tadhg, his sons Brian and Aedh were declared illegitimate by the English which ultimately caused them to lose their claim to their father's inheritance, effectively ending West Breifne.[15]

Kings (Lords) of Breifne O'Rourke

The following is a list of the kings of West Breifne, an Irish kingdom situated in modern County Leitrim.[16]
Dromahair in italics denotes post Ualgarg mor kings who ruled from the capital Dromahair before the term "O'Rourkes of Dromahair" was in use.

Name Reign Lineage House/Branch Description
Conchobar 1250-1257 son of Tigernán son of Domnall Deposed
Sitric 1257 son of Ualgarg son of Cathal Elected and killed
Amlaíb 1257-1258 son of Art son of Domnall son of Fergal
Domnall O'Ruairc 1258 son of Conchobar son of Tigernán Deposed
Art O'Ruairc 1258-1259 son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh Deposed
Domnall O'Ruairc 1259-1260 son of Conchobar son of Tigernán Killed
Art bec 1260 son of Art son of Domnall son of Fergal
Art O'Ruairc 1261-1266 son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh Deposed
Conchobar buide 1266-1273 son of Amlaíb son of Art
Tigernán 1273-1274 son of Aedh son of Ualgarg son of Cathal
Art O'Ruairc 1275 son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh
Amlaíb O'Ruairc 1275-1307 son of Art son of Cathal riabach
Domnall carrach 1307-1311 son of Amlaíb son of Art
Ualgarg mór 1316-1346 son of Domnall carrach Killed  †
Flaithbheartach 1346-1349 son of Domnall carrach Dromahair Deposed
Aodh bán 1349-1352 son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall Dromahair Killed  †
Flaithbheartach 1352 son of Domnall carrach Dromahair
Tadgh na gcoar 1352-1376 son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall carrach Carrigallen
Tigernán mór 1376-1418 son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall carrach Dromahair
Aodh buidhe 1418-1419 son of Tigernán mór Dromahair
Art O'Rourke 1419-1424 son of Tadhg na gcoar Carrigallen Elected (Kingship Disputed)[n 1]
Tadhg O'Rourke 1419-1424 son of Tigernán mór Dromahair Elected (Kingship Disputed)[n 1]
Tadhg O'Rourke 1424-1435 son of Tigernán mór Dromahair [n 2]
Lochlann O'Rourke 1435-1458 son of Tadhg na gcoar Carrigallen King of East Breifne O'Rourke[n 3]
Donnchadh bacagh 1435-1445 son of Tigernán mór Dromahair King of West Breifne O'Rourke[n 3]
Donnchadh 1445-1449 son of Tigernán oge son of Tigernán mór Carha King of West Breifne O'Rourke[n 3]
Tigernán óg 1449-1468 son of Tadhg son of Tigernán mór Dromahair [n 4]
Domnall 1468-1476 son of Tadhg son of Tigernán mór Dromahair Kingship disputed[n 5]
Donnchadh losc 1468-1476 son of Tigernán mór son of Ualgarg mór Dromahair Kingship disputed[n 5]
Feidhlimidh mac Donnchadha 1476-1500 son of Donnchadh son of Tigernán oge Carha
Eóghan 1500-1528 son of Tigernán óg son of Tadhg Dromahair
Feidhlimidh 1528-1536 son of Feidhlimidh son of Donnchadh Carha Deposed [n 6]
Brian Ballach 1528-1559 son of Eóghan son of Tigernán óg Dromahair
Tadhg 1559-1560 son of Brian ballach Dromahair
Brian Ballach 1560-1562 son of Eóghan son of Tigernán óg Dromahair
Aodh Gallda 1562-1564 son of Brian ballach Dromahair Killed
Aodh Buidhe 1564-1566 son of Brian ballach Dromahair Killed
Brian na Murtha 1566-1591 son of Brian ballach Dromahair Executed[n 7]
Brian Og na Samhthach 1591-1600 son Brian na Murtha son of Briain Bhalliagh Dromahair
Tadhg mac Briain na Murtha 1600-1605 son of Brian na múrtha Dromahair [n 8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Following the death of King Aedh buidhe in 1419, the O'Rourkes in Northern County Leitrim elected Tadhg O'Rourke, Aedh buidhe's brother, as King. In Southern Leitrim, Art O'Rourke, son of King Tadgh na gcoar (1352-1376), was elected King by his supporters. The Kingdom divided into "East Breifne O'Rourke" and "West Breifne O'Rourke" for several years until 1424, when Art O'Rourke submitted kingship to Tadhg O'Rourke.
  2. ↑ King Tadhg reigned from 1419-1424 as King of the western half of West Breifne (the area encompassing modern day County Leitrim west of Lough Allen) From 1424-1435 he ruled over the whole kingdom.
  3. 1 2 3 Following the death of King Tadhg O'Rourke in 1435, kingship was again in dispute between East and West. The Kingdom of West Breifne was divided between East and West for 23 years until 1458, when East Breifne O'Rourke were defeated and their kingdom was dissolved.
  4. ↑ Tigernán óg ruled as King of West Breifne O'Rourke from 1449-1458 and as King of a united West Breifne from 1458-1468.
  5. 1 2 Following the death of King Tigernán óg in 1468, kingship was again in dispute, this time between Domnall, Tigernán óg's brother who was supported by the O'Rourkes of Dromahair (the main line), and Donnchadh losc, son of King Tigernán mór (1376-1418) who was supported by fierce rivals of the main line, the O'Rourkes of Carha. This dispute caused infighting within West Breifne and left a deepened rivalry between the O'Rourkes of Dromahair and the O'Rourkes of Carha. The dispute ended in a victory for the O'Rourkes of Carha and the crowing of King Feidhlimidh in 1476.
  6. ↑ Ruled as de facto king of Carha and its environs until he was defeated and imprisoned by Brian Ballach
  7. ↑ Hanged by the Kingdom of England in London for treason against the Queen's Law in 1591.
  8. ↑ Suspected assassination by poison

References

  1. ↑ Ancestry.com - Kingdom of Bréifne
  2. ↑ O'Reilly Kingdom of Breffni, clanoreilly.com
  3. ↑ Ancestry.com, O'Rourke excerpts from the Annals of the Four Masters
  4. ↑ Annals of Connacht - 1258
  5. ↑ Annals of Connacht - 1259
  6. ↑ Annals of Connacht - 1260
  7. ↑ Annals of Connacht - 1266
  8. ↑ O'Rourkes of Carrigallen
  9. ↑ O'Rourkes of Carha
  10. ↑ O'Rourkes of Dromahair
  11. ↑ UCC, Captain Cuellar's Adventures in Connacht and Ulster
  12. ↑ Ancestry.com, Brian na Murtha
  13. ↑ Brian na Murtha Trial
  14. ↑ O'Rourke Clan History, orourkeclans.com
  15. ↑ O'Rourkes of Dromahair
  16. ↑ List of Breifne Kings

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