Before Christ

10000bc

Ice Age ends

7000bc

First humans in Ireland come from Scandinavia across land bridge from Scotland

3500bc

Neolithic man arrives; farming introduced

1800bc

Early Bronze age

1200bc

Late Bronze age

600bc

Massaliot (Marseillais) Greek explorers discover British Isles

Qreteni (Cruithin or Pretani) dominant population in British Isles

510bc

Himilco the Phoenician visits Sacra (Ireland)

500bc

Iron age people reach Great Britain

350bc

Aristotle writes of the islands Ierne (Ireland) and Albion (Great Britain), which lie beyond the Celts

250bc

La Tène (Iron Age B) Celtae (mainly Veneti of Brittany) land in SW Albion

100bc

Celtic-Germanic Belgae colonise south coast of Albion Unknown date:.

Belgic tribes (Fir Builg) settle in modern Ulster and Munster

55bc

Roman Empire under Julius Caesar invades south-eastern Albion

54bc

South-eastern coast of Albion brought under protection of Rome.

Dumnonii (Veneti or Loegrians) of southwest Albion migrate to Caledonia

27bc

North Iberian Celts surrender to Roman Empire

7bc

Jesus of Nazareth born

1st Century

27

Jesus of Nazareth crucified by Romans

35

Civil war ensues in Roman Albion (Britannia)

43

Emperor Claudius orders suppression of fighting in Britannia; Roman army invades in force

78

Agricola begins full-scale pacification of Great Britain

82

Agricola invades Galloway and Strathclyde; incumbent Damnonian Gamanraid flee to modern Connaught.

Agricola considers invasion of Iverna (Hibernia) Unknown date:.

Loegrians (Lagin) settle in modern Leinster

Ireland partitioned into four ``Parts'' - the Parts of the Iverni (or Erainn, a Belgic tribe), the Lagin, Ol Nechnacht (i.e. the Damnonian Gamanraid) and the Uluti (another Belgic tribe). 86Rising in Danubia causes redeployment of Britannic legions; Roman expansion halted

2nd Century

150

Feni from N. Iberia under Tuathal Techtmar invade east coast of Ireland; colony of Midhe created.

Part of the Lagin reduced to vassal state; Ireland now divided into five ``Fifths'' (Cúige).

199

Conn (of the Hundred Battles), grandson of Techtmar (?) becomes King of Midhe?

Unknown date: Eoganachta from N.Iberia or S. Gaul (?) under Mug Nuadat (Eogan) colonise modern Munster; Belgic Erainn submit to Eoganachta rule.

Mug incites other provinces to rise against the Connachta (tribe of Conn); Ireland divided into Leth Cuinn (Conn's half) and Leth Moga (Mug's half)

3rd Century

260

Gallienus becomes ruler of Rome; Empire descends into anarchy

The High Kingdom305Constantine proclaimed Roman Emperor.

Empire stabilises; Christianity becomes official religion Unknown date: Irish Celts (principally Laigin) colonise Anglesey and Lleyn in modern Wales; later driven out.

"Gael" enters common use, describing Iberian Celts and their allies; Gaelic language based on Iberian (Q-Celtic) dialects becomes lingua franca in Ireland.

High Kingdom founded at Tara in Midhe.

4th Century

344

Picts and Irish begin raiding Brittania; Irish christened "Scotti" by Romans.

375

Eochaid Mugmedon becomes King of Midhe? Unknown date: Belgic tribes of Munster migrate to south Wales and Cornwall; Ogham alphabet introduced back into Ireland from colonies.

5th Century

400

Niall (of the Nine Hostages), son of Eochaid Mugmedon, becomes King of Midhe?

Unknown date: Connachta invade Part of Ol Nechnacht and destroy ruling Domnonians; Cúige Connacht founded.

Midhe carves out Airgiallan vassal states from Cúige Ulaid.

Niall's sons, Connall and Eogain, found states (Tír Connall, Inis Eogain and later Tír Eogain) in Cúige Ulaid; incumbent Cruthin and Erainn (Old Scots) driven east of the Bann.
Old Scots colonise Pictish lands around Strathclyde in Caledonia.

427

Niall dies, probably on a raid on Brittania; Loegaire, Niall's son, becomes King of Midhe.

431

Palladius sent by Pope Celestine as first Bishop to Ireland

432

St. Patrick begins mission in Ireland.

444

St.Patrick founds Ard Macha (Armagh) near Emain Macha, capital of Ulster, as ecclesiastical capital of Ireland.

493

St. Patrick dies (?)

6th Century

500

Fergus Mac Erc, King of Dalriada, moves his capital from Dunseverick to Caledonia.

546

St. Columba (Columcille) founds Derry.

555

St. Comgall founds monastery of Bangor.

563

St. Columba leaves Ireland for Iona after being censured by Irish Synod.

Battle of Moin-daire-Lothair; Cruithnic army defeated by force led by the Clan Connall and the Clan Owen.

574

St. Columba crowns Aedan King of Dalriada on Iona.

575

St. Columba holds convention at Gortinanima, near Limavady, to determine future of Scotland (Caledonia).

590

St. Columbanus sails from Bangor and starts mission in France

597

St. Columba dies on Iona.

7th Century

603

St. Comgall dies in Bangor.

608

Aedan, King of Dalriada, dies.

627

Battle of Brae Slieve; Cruithnic dynasty of Coleraine overthrown.

Congal Clane (One-Eye) becomes King of the Old Scots.

628

Congal Clane kills the High King, Suibne Menn of the Clan Owen.

Domnall, son of Hugh, becomes High King.

629

Congal Clane kills King of Dalriada.

Battle of Dun Ceithirnn; O'Neill under Domnall defeat Congal; Congal flees to Scotland.

637

Congal Clane returns with large army, led by Domnall Brecc, grandson of Aedan.

Battle of Moira; Congal killed; Domnall Brecc loses title to his Irish territories.

8th Century

700

Brehon Laws - rights and status of all defined based on tribal hierarchy

774

Last use of the term ``Cruthin'' in Cúige Ulaid.

795

First recorded Viking raid

9th Century

800

Book of Kells illuminated

841

Viking longphort established at Dublin

10th Century

900

Cork, Limerick, Waterford founded by Vikings

902

Dublin longphort abandoned

917

Walled city at Dublin founded by Vikings

964

Dal Cais under Mahon (Mathgamain) seize throne of Cashel

976

Brian Boru becomes King of Dal Cais

984

Brian Boru gains control of all of Southern Ireland

997

Brian Boru and High King Malachy divide Ireland between them

11th Century

1002

Malachy cedes High Kingship to Brian Boru

1014

Brian Boru killed fighting Vikings at Clontarf; Viking power wanes

1066

William (the Conqueror), King of Normandy, invades England

12th Century

Faction Timeframe

1111

Synod of Rathbresail; Ireland divided into 24 Dioceses and 2 Archbishoprics

1132

St Malachy becomes Archbishop of Armagh

1152

Synod of Kells; 36 Dioceses and 4 Archbishoprics created

1154

Pope gives Norman King Henry II of England permission to claim Ireland

1162

Murtough MacLochlainn becomes High King

1164

Teampul More built at Derry

1166

Murtough MacLochlainn blinds captive King Eochaid of Dal Fiatach; killed in subsequent rebellion.

Rory O'Connor becomes High King.

Tiernan O'Rourke invades Leinster to settle score with King Dermot MacMurrough; MacMurrough flees to England.

MacMurrough pledges allegiance to King Henry II; Richard FitzGilbert de Clare (Strongbow), Earl of Pembroke, strikes deal with MacMurrough 1167MacMurrough returns to Leinster with small force

1169

Norman force lands at Bannow Bay; Norse (Viking) settlement of Wexford defeated

1170

Raymond le Gros lands at Baginbun.

Strongbow arrives with troops; captures Waterford from Norsemen.

Strongbow marries Aoife MacMurrough, daughter of Dermot

1171

Dermot MacMurrough dies; Strongbow becomes King of Leinster.

Rory O'Connor besieges Dublin; is defeateed by Normans.

Henry II arrives to keep Strongbow in check; Strongbow submits and is granted Kingdom of Leinster.

Dermot McCarthy, King of Desmond, submits to Henry; southern kings and bishops follow suit

1172

Hugh de Lacy appointed Viceroy; given Kingdom of Meath.

Norman expansion begins

1175

Treaty of Windsor; Rory O'Connor recognised as King of Connacht in return for tribute

1177

John de Courcy sets out from Dublin to conquer Ulster

13th Century

1245

Sligo castle built by Maurice FitzGerald.

1270

Aedh O'Connor, King of Connacht, defeats Normans at Athankip; Norman expansion grinds to halt

1297

Parliament at Dublin passes legislation in attempt to prevent Norman lords going native

14th Century

1314

English defeated at Bannockburn by Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland

1315

Edward Bruce, brother of Robert, lands at Larne; occupies Ulster with the aid of the O'Neills

1316

Bruce declares self High King of Ireland

1317

Robert the Bruce arrives with army

1318

Murtough O'Brien defeats Richard de Clare at Dysert O'Dea; Normans lose control of Thomond.

John de Bermingham defeats Edward Bruce at Faughart; Bruce killed

1361

King Edward III appoints Lionel of Clarence as King's Lieutenant (Justiciar)

1366

Lionel holds Parliament at Kilkenny; imposes draconian Statutes in attempt to ensure English dominance

1394

King Richard II sends army to Ireland

1399

King Richard II sends army to Ireland

15th Century

1477

Garret More Fitzgerald becomes Eighth Earl of Kildare; elected Viceroy (Justiciar).

King Edward IV sends Lord Grey to replace Garrett More; Grey unceremoniously sent back to England

1485

Battle of Bosworth Field in England; Richard III killed.

Henry Tudor (VII) to throne; beginning of Tudor dynasty of English kings

1487

Garret More supports pretender Lambert Simmel; Simmel crowned Edward VI in Dublin

1494

Henry VII sends Sir Edward Poynings to regain control of Ireland.

Poynings holds Parliament at Drogheda; accuses Garret More of treason.

"Poynings' Law" passed : Irish Parliament can only convene with consent of England and all laws must be approved by England in advance

1495

Garret More arrested and taken to Tower of London; reinstated as viceroy by Henry VII

16th Century

1507

Henry VIII to throne

1510

Reformation begins

1513

Garret More dies; Garret Oge Fitzgerald, son of Garret More, becomes viceroy

1534

Garret Oge summoned to London; leaves his son, "Silken" Thomas, Lord Offaly, as Deputy.

Thomas misinformed that Garret Oge has been beheaded; Thomas rebels

1535

Sir William Skeffington captures Thomas's stronghold at Maynooth.

Silken Thomas surrenders

1536

Union of England and Wales.

George Browne appointed Archbishop of Dublin; given task of reforming Irish Church

1537

Silken Thomas and five uncles executed in London.

Henry VIII declared King of Ireland by Irish Parliament.

Land declared ultimately the property of the Crown, to be re-granted with the King's permission

1541

Henry VIII appoints self head of Church of Ireland

1547

Edward VI to throne, aged 10

1549

Book of Common Prayer published in England; beginning of Protestantism in Anglican Church

1553

Mary I to throne; restores Catholicism in England

1556

Offaly and Leix (renamed King's and Queen's Counties) plantation; settlers come from England or the Pale

1558

Elizabeth I to throne

1559

Conn O'Neill, First Earl of Tyrone, dies; Shane O'Neill succeeds him.

Hugh O'Neill, nephew of Shane, taken to England by the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney

1560

Elizabeth restores Protestantism in England.

Irish Parliament acknowledges Elizabeth as head of Irish Church; imposes the Book of Common Prayer; makes Church attendance compulsory

1562

Start of Elizabethan Wars

1565

Shane O'Neill's rising

1567

Death of Shane O'Neill; Hugh O'Neill returns

1569

Catholic rebellion in northern England.

Sir Peter Carew lays claim to Fitzgerald and Butler estates in Desmond.

James Maurice Fitzgerald leads unsuccessful rebellion; escapes to Continent

1579

Fitzgerald returns with force from Italy and Spain; wages unsuccessful war in support of Catholicism.

Land forfeited to Crown for plantation

1585

Hugh O'Neill made Earl of Tyrone

1588

Spanish Armada launched against England; defeated and wrecked on Scottish and Irish coasts.

Elizabeth orders survivors executed; Ulster chiefs disobey

1592

Foundation of University of Dublin

1593

Hugh O'Neill declares himself The O'Neill, heir of the High Kingdom

1594

Ulster chiefs rebel; start of Nine Years' War

1598

O'Neill defeats Sir Henry Bagenal at Yellow Ford.

Uprising in Munster destroys plantation

1599

Earl of Essex arrives with army; outmanoeuvred by O'Neill

1600

Lord Mountjoy assumes control of Crown forces; garrisons Ireland and destroys food stocks.

O'Neill asks for help from Spain

Thanks to Irish History on the Web where this info came from

Information from ``Ireland - A History'' by Robert Kee, ``A Short History of Ireland'' by Martin Wallace, ``The Cruthin'' by Ian Adamson, and other sources.