Rudraige mac Sithrigi

For other people of the same name, see Rudraige (disambiguation).

Rudraige (Irish: Ruairí; English: Rory), son of Sitric, son of Dub, son of Fomor, son of Airgetmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, Crimthann Coscrach, and ruled for thirty or seventy years, after which he died of plague in Airgetglenn. He was succeeded by Finnat Már, son of Nia Segamain. He is the ancestor of Clanna Rudhraighe.

Time frame

The Lebor Gabála synchronises the start of his reign with that of Ptolemy VIII Physcon (145–116 BC), and his death with that of Ptolemy X Alexander I (110–88 BC) in Egypt. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 184–154 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 289–219 BC.

Issue

Rudraige was particularly associated with the northern part of Ireland: the dynasty of the Dál nAraidi, who ruled eastern Ulster in the early Middle Ages, traced their descent from him, and the Lebor Gabála Érenn names him as the grandfather of the Ulaid hero Conall Cernach. John O'Hart lists the following issue in his Stem of the Irish Nation:

• Bresal Bó-Díbad, High King of Ireland
• Congal Cláiringnech, High King of Ireland
• Conrach (father of Elim mac Conrach)
• Fachtna Fáthach (father of Conchobar mac Nessa)
• Ros Ruadh (father of Fergus mac Róich)
• Cionga (supposed ancestor of Conall Cernach)

External links

• Stem of the Irish Nation, Ir to Feargal by John O'Hart

Preceded by Crimthann Coscrach

High King of Ireland LGE 2nd–1st century BC FFE 184–154 BC AFM 289–219 BC

Succeeded by Finnat Már