kingdom · British Isles

Kingdom of Mide

550 CE – 1173 CE (approx.) · capital Uisnech

The midland kingdom around the sacred hill of Uisnech, ruled by the Clann Cholmain kings who often held the kingship of Tara.

Origins

Mide formed in the 6th century as the southern Ui Neill dynasties established themselves in the Irish midlands. The Clann Cholmain branch, descended from Colman Mor, emerged as its dominant line by the 8th century, ruling in what is now Westmeath with Uisnech as its symbolic centre.

Rule and society

Clann Cholmain kings alternated the kingship of Tara with the northern Ui Neill. Mael Sechnaill mac Maele Ruanaid and Mael Sechnaill mac Domnaill were among the most powerful kings in Ireland. The kingdom contained great monasteries such as Durrow and Clonard, and royal sites at Lough Ennell.

Decline and legacy

After Brian Boru's rise, Mide was repeatedly partitioned by rival provincial kings. In 1172 Henry II granted it to Hugh de Lacy, creating the Lordship of Meath, and the native line survived only as minor lords.

Lineage

Kingdom of Brega 600 CE – 1100 CEKingdom of MideLordship of Meath 1172 CE – 1241 CE

Connections (1)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Kingdom of Mide. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-mide
MLA
“Kingdom of Mide.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-mide. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Kingdom of Mide.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-mide.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Kingdom of Mide’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-mide (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻