Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair

Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was king of Connacht from 1156 to 1186 and the last Irish ruler recognized as High King before the Norman invasion. He died in 1198.

Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair: King of Connacht and High King of Ireland who ruled from 1119 until his death in 1156. Ruaidrí inherited Connacht’s kingship from his father, whose campaigns had established the family’s power.
High King of Ireland: A title claimed by powerful Irish kings whose authority over other kingdoms varied across time. Ruaidrí’s high-kingship depended on other rulers’ submission, not a unified state.
Norman invasion of Ireland: The arrival of Anglo-Norman forces in Ireland beginning in 1169, followed by conquest and settlement. The invasion challenged Ruaidrí’s claim to island-wide supremacy and reshaped Irish politics.
Kingdom of Connacht: A medieval Irish kingdom in the west, ruled by the Ua Conchobair dynasty. After losing wider authority, Ruaidrí’s position rested increasingly on his Connacht kingdom.
Connacht: A western province of Ireland, historically ruled by the Ua Conchobair dynasty. Ruaidrí’s authority rested first on this kingdom, which he ruled for three decades.
King of Dublin: The ruler of Dublin, a Norse-Gaelic kingdom and a major power in medieval Ireland. Ruaidrí sought influence over Dublin because its ruler and resources mattered to island-wide supremacy.
Battle of Kells: A 1173 battle in which Norman forces defeated an Irish army associated with Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair. The defeat exposed the difficulty Ruaidrí faced in coordinating resistance to Norman expansion.
Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair: King of Connacht from 1202 to 1224 and a son of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair. His later kingship carried forward the dynasty’s rule after Ruaidrí’s retirement and death.
Ua Conchobair: A Gaelic dynasty that ruled Connacht and supplied several contenders for Ireland’s high-kingship. Ruaidrí’s dynastic standing underpinned his claim to rule beyond Connacht.
Kingdom of Meath: A medieval Irish kingdom centered on the midlands, often contested by neighboring rulers. Control of Meath and its ruler’s allegiance helped determine the reach of Ruaidrí’s authority.

Linked from 2 pages