Fortuatha

The Fortuatha were a Medieval Irish people.

Definition

In Irish Kings and High Kings, Francis John Byrne defines Fortuatha as "kingdoms not ruled directly by members of the dominant dynasty of a province" (p. 45). T. F. O'Rahilly in Early Irish History and Mythology states Fortuatha "means in effect people belonging to a different stock from that of the rulers of the territory" (p. 27), yet sometimes enjoying a position of favour with the ruling people.

Fortuatha groups

Population-groups termed fortuatha included the Calraige, Ciarraige, Corca Fhir Trí, Delbhna, Déisi, Gailenga, Grecraige, Luighne, Masraige and Setantii.

The status of each population-group could differ from one part of the island to another, with some fortuatha being class as Aithechthúatha in other regions.

In Leinster, some reckoned among the Fortuatha had previously held the provincial kingship. This was the Dál Messin Corb and its principal septs, the Uí Garrchon and the Uí Enechglaiss.

The Fortuatha

The Fothairt are referenced in Leabhar Ua Maine. Their genealogies are preserved in Leabhar na nGenealach, the Great Book of Lecan, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502, and/or Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 512.

History

Dáibhí Ó Cróinín writes that "The Fothairt were the original population group around the site of Bridgit's monastery at Kildare" (p. 197), further stating that the Uí Ercáin, a branch of the Uí Meic Cruaich (a sub-sept of the Fothairt) "are remembered in the 'Vita Tripartia' as having been specially favoured by Patrick, who blessed them (Dobert Pátraic bendachtain ... for Uu hErcá huili) and their king, Fergnae mac Cobthaig, who is also mentioned in the life of Fintan/Munnu of Tagmon, where he encounters the saint in campo Lyffi ('in the Liffy plain')." (p. 197).

The kingship of Leinster was held from the mid-8th century to 1042 by the Uí Dúnlainge, who bolstered their early gains "by means of political marriage with Sárnat, daughter of Eochu mac Baíth of the Fothairt" (p. 197). A branch of the Forthairt, the Uí Brigti, explicitly claimed a connection with Bridgit (p. 198). In addition, two kings of Forthairt, Fergus mac Móenaig and Dub dá Chrich mac aui Cellaig mec Triein, "as well as 'many others, omitted for the sake of brevity'", were killed at the battle of Ath Senaig (Ballyshannon, near Kilcullen, County Kildare) in 738 as supporters of King Áed of Leinster (p. 200).

Despite their political eclipse, the Fothairt "continued to supply leading clergy to Kildare. To Ui Chúlduib ... belonged the two abbesses, Muirenn (d. 918) and Eithne (d. 1016); to the obscure Forthair Airbrech belonged the earlier abess, Sebdann (d. 732) and another Kildare ecclesiastic (d. 750); while two further abbesses, Coblaith (d. 916) and Muirenn (d. 964), belonged to an ecclesiastical branch of Forthairt Fea. And it is highly probable that many other Kildare clerics, whose origins cannot be established with certainty, belonged to Fotharta." (p. 586, NHI) Indeed, the Uí Ercáin were noted in the 'Tripartite Life' as being blessed by Saint Patrick, who promised them that not only would they never be subjects of an "outside" king, but that "they [would] have their own brithemnas, capacity of judging and being judged, in their own territory. *(p. 873, NHI)

People

Among the early medieval Irish were many notable people whose population-group were classed as Fortuatha. They included:

Annalistic references

All quotes from the Annals of the Four Masters, unless otherwise stated.

  • 284: After Cairbre Liffeachair had been seventeen years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he fell in the battle of Gabhra Aichle, by the hand of Semeon, son of Cearb, one of the Fotharta.
  • 423: Máel Calland mac Fergal, king of the Fortuatha. (Fragmentary Annals of Ireland)
  • 663: Cearnach Sotal, son of Diarmaid, son of Aedh Slaine, died, together with the aforesaid persons, of a mortality which arose in Ireland, on the Calends of the August of this year, in Magh Itha, in Fotharta.
  • 733: Fearghus, son of Maenach, and Dubhdacrich [mac h-úi Cellaigh, maic Trena], two lords of Fotharta, fell at the battle of Ath Seanaith.
  • 749/54: The devastation of Fotharta Fea (Fothairt Fedha) by the men of Osraighe (Ossory).
  • 774: The battle of Cill Coice, in which Fearghal, son of Dunghal, son of Faelchu, lord of Fortuatha Laighean, was slain by the king Donnchadh.
  • 776: The battle of Righ (the Ryewater river) was gained by the men of Breagh over the Leinstermen, on the day of Allhallows (Nov. 1) precisely, wherein were slain Cucongalt (king of Ui Garchon at Arklow), lord of Rath Inbhir, and Fearghal, son of Ailell, lord of Cinel Ucha.
  • 783: Domnall son of Ceithernach, king of Uí Garrchon. (Annals of Ulster)
  • 813: Ainbhcheallach, son of Daelghus, lord of Ui Fothaidh Tire, died.
  • 825: The destruction of Dun Laighen, at Druim, by the Pagans (Vikings), where Conaing, son of Cuchongelt, lord of the Fortuatha, was slain, with many others.
  • 827: An encampment of the Laigin was overwhelmed by the heathens, and Conall son of Cú Chongalt, king of the Fortuatha, and countless others fell there. (Annals of Ulster)
  • 845/47: Cathal, son of Cosgrach, lord of Fotharta, was slain by the Ui Neill.
  • 849: Flannchadh, son of Aenghus, lord of Ui Fothadh Tire, died.
  • 854: Dunlang, son of Dubhduin, lord of Fotharta Tire, died.
  • 863: Colman, son of Dunlang, lord of Fotharta Tire, was slain by his own children.
  • 897: Fogartach, son of Flann, Abbot of Laithreach Briuin, and lord of Fotharta Airthir Life, died.
  • 937: Oillill mic Aengusa, tighearna Ua Fothaidh.
  • 966: Ruaidhri, mac Maol Martain, tigherna Fothart, was slain.
  • 972: Finnsnechta, son of Cinaedh, lord of Fortuatha-Laighean, died.
  • 983: Fiachra, son of Finnshneacta, chief of Fortuatha-Laighean.
  • 1014: Domhnall, son of Ferghal, king of the Fortuatha. (Chronicon Scotorum)
  • 1017: Muiredhach, mac Muirchertaigh, tigherna Fothart, was slain.
  • 1018: Ruaidhri, mac Faoláin, tigherna Fothart, was slain.
  • 1022: Domhnall, mac Ceallaigh, flaith Fothart, was slain.
  • 1133: Eochaidh Ua Nualláin, tigherna Fothart.
  • 1039: Domhnall, son of Donnchadh, lord of Ui-Faelain, was slain by Domhnall Ua Fearghaile, lord of the Fortuatha.
  • 1043: Domnall ua Fergaile, king of the Fortuatha of Laigin, was killed by the son of Tuathal (his own people). (Chronicon Scotorum)
  • 1072: Gillaphadraig O'Fearghaile, lord of the Fortuatha, was killed.
  • 1095: Domnall Dubh Ua Fearghaile, lord of Fortuatha-Laighean, died.
  • 1141: Creach-shluaighedh lá Toirrdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair i f-Fothartaibh Airbhreach, & ro oircc dream d'Feraibh Midhe, & d'Fhothartaibh, & regles h-Uí Dhúnáin.
  • 1170: Murchadh Ua Fearghail, lord of the Fortuatha, was slain by Ua Fiachrach, lord of Ui-Fineachlais.
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References
  • Early Christian Ireland, p. 14, 99, 102, 104, 116, 236, 534, 576, 674, 676, 678, 684, 685, 690, 693, 695, 705, by Thomas Charles-Edwards, Cambridge, 2000.
  • Irish Kings and High Kings, p. 45, Francis John Byrne, 3rd edition, Dublin, 2001.
  • Early Irish Saints’ Cults and their Constituencies, pp. 72–102, Ériu' 54, T.M. Charles-Edwards, 2004.
  • Ireland, 400-800, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, pp. 98,in A New History of Ireland, volume one, 2005. ISBN 0-19-821737-4
  • Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions, Paul MacCotter, Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84682-098-4
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