Their capital was traditionally at Navan Fort, (Irish Eamhain Mhacha) near Armagh. At their height, Ulaid territory extended south as far as the River Boyne and as far west as County Leitrim. By early Christian times the northern Uí Néill (a branch of the Connachta) has pushed the Ulaid into to eastern County Down where they became known as the Dál Fiatach and the Dál nAraidi.
According to the Annals of the Four Masters, the reduction of the Ulaid began in AD 331, when the Three Collas defeated their king Fergus Foga in the Battle of Achadh Leithdheirg in County Monaghan. They seized all their territory west of the Newry River and Lough Neagh, and burned Emain Macha. After that, Emain was abandoned, and Fergus Foga was the last Ulaid king to rule there.
The Dál Fiatach held on as kings of Ulster against further attacks by the Uí Néill, and were still ruling part of County Down, based at Downpatrick, until they were overwhelmed by the Normans in 1177. The Normans established the short-lived earldom of Ulster which was superseded after 1333 by the Clandeboye O'Neills.
T. F. O'Rahilly believed the Ulaid were a branch of the Érainn. Their ruling dynasty claimed descent from the legendary king Rudraige.
The Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology concerns the heroes of the Ulaid and their wars against Connacht around the time of Christ. However, the name "Connacht" in this context appears to be an anachronism. Connacht is usually supposed to have taken its name from the Connachta, the descendants of Conn Cétchathach, who is supposed to have lived several centuries later than the events of the Ulster Cycle. Cóiced Ol nEchmacht is sometimes given as an earlier name of the province.
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Last updated on Tuesday July 15, 2008 at 03:19:31 PDT (GMT -0700)
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