Aed Mac Eochucan, King of Ulster

Kings of Ulster

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The Kings of Ulster were of the Ulaid, and up till about A.D. 450, ruled as over-kings of the ancient cóiced (portion, fifth) of Ulster. Ptolemy's map (compiled about A.D. 150 from many earlier sources) shows them as the Voluntii. In their prime they seem to have being direct rulers of what are now County Monaghan, County Armagh, County Down, County Antrim and much of County Louth. The centre of the province was held by the Airgialla, a loose confederation of tribes of the Cruithin race[citation needed], who were vassals of the Ulaid, and later the Uí Néill. Ptolemy's map lists two tribes further west, the Vennikinii in County Donegal and the Erpitianni along lower and upper Lough Erne; both were probably subject to Ulaid rule.

Map of Ulster

However, in circa A.D. 325 the Ulaid capital of Emain Macha was attacked and destroyed by the three Collas, who came from Connacht. From that point onwards the Ulaid were slowly reduced to being mere kings of their homelands east of the upper and lower Bann, which was Ulaid proper. Yet as late as 1080, King of Ulaid Aed Meranach Ua hEochada attempted to revive the fifth complete with Ulaid over-kingship. Because of such perseverance, the title Rí Ulaid/King of Ulster was never held by any of Niall's descendants but they assumed it from 1364 (see Kings of Tir Eogain). With the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Earldom of Ulster was created in 1205.