Editing Monarchy of Ireland (section)

====Ruaidrí, King of Ireland====
[[File:Rory O'Connor Stone Carving.jpg|thumb|[[Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair]]]]
Upon the death of [[Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn]] in early 1166, Ruaidrí, [[King of Connacht]], proceeded to [[Dublin]] where he was inaugurated ''King of Ireland'' without opposition. He was arguably the first undisputed full king of Ireland. He was also the last Gaelic one, as the events of the Norman invasion of 1169–1171 brought about the destruction of the high-kingship, and the direct involvement of the [[Kings of England]] in Irish politics.

One of Ruaidrí's first acts as king was the subduing of [[Leinster]], which resulted in the exile of its king, [[Diarmait Mac Murchada]]. Ruaidrí then obtained terms and hostages from all the notable kings and lords. He then celebrated the ''Oenach Tailteann'', a recognised prerogative of the High Kings, and made a number of notable charitable gifts and donations. However, his ''[[caput]]'' remained in his home territory in central Connacht ([[County Galway]]). Ireland's recognised capital, [[Dublin]], was ruled by [[Ascall mac Ragnaill]], who had submitted to Ruaidri.

Only with the arrival of MacMurrough's [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo-Norman]] benefactors in May 1169 did Ruaidrí's position begin to weaken. A series of disastrous defeats and ill-judged treaties lost him much of [[Leinster]], and encouraged uprisings by rebel lords. By the time of the arrival of [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] in 1171, Ruaidrí's position as king of Ireland was increasingly untenable.

Ruaidrí at first remained aloof from engagement with King Henry, though many of the lesser kings and lords welcomed his arrival as they wished to see him curb the territorial gains made by his vassals. Through the intercession of [[Lorcán Ua Tuathail]] (Laurence O'Toole), the [[Archbishop of Dublin]], Ruaidrí and Henry came to terms with the [[Treaty of Windsor 1175|Treaty of Windsor]] in 1175. Ruaidrí agreed to recognise Henry as his lord; in return, Ruaidrí was allowed to keep all Ireland as his personal kingdom outside the petty kingdoms of [[Laigin]] (Leinster) and [[Kingdom of Mide|Mide]] as well as the city of [[Waterford]].

Henry was unwilling or unable to enforce the terms of the treaty on his barons in Ireland, who continued to gain territory in Ireland. A low point came in 1177 with a successful raid into the heart of [[Connacht]] by a party of [[Anglo-Normans]], led by one of Ruaidrí's sons, Prince Muirchertach. They were expelled, Ruaidhrí ordering the blinding of Muirchertach, but over the next six years his rule was increasingly diminished by internal dynastic conflict and external attacks. Finally, in 1183, he abdicated.

He was twice briefly returned to power in 1185 and 1189, but even within his home kingdom of Connacht he had become politically marginalized. He lived quietly on his estates, died at the [[Cong Abbey|monastery of Cong]] in 1198 and was buried at [[Clonmacnoise]]. With the possible exception of the short reign of [[Brian Ua Néill]] (Brian O'Neill) in 1258–1260, no other [[Gaelic people|Gaelic]] king was ever again recognised as king or high king of Ireland.