Dál Riata: Map & History
Dál Riata or Dál Riada was a Gaelic kingdom that encompassed the western seaboard of Scotland and northeastern Ireland, on each side of the North Channel.
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Dál Riata or Dál Riada was a Gaelic kingdom that encompassed the western seaboard of Scotland and northeastern Ireland, on each side of the North Channel. At its height in the 6th and 7th centuries, it covered what is now Argyll in Scotland and part of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. After a period of expansion, Dál Riata eventually became associated with the Gaelic Kingdom of Alba.
Modern Countries Once Part of Dál Riata
At its mapped extent, Dál Riata covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Dál Riata's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Dál Riata in Depth
History
The 11th-century Duan Albanach (Song of the Scots) tells that the three sons of Erc—Fergus Mór, Loarn and Óengus—conquered Alba (Scotland) in around 500. The 8th-century writer Bede offers another, and probably older, account wherein Dál Riata was conquered by Irish Gaels led by a certain Reuda. Old Irish dál means 'portion' or 'share', and is usually followed by the name of an eponymous founder. Bede's tale may come from the same root as the Irish tales of Cairpre Riata and his brothers, the Síl Conairi (sons/descendants of Conaire Cóem and Conaire Mór). The story of Dál Riata moves from foundation myth to something nearer to history with the reports of the death of Comgall mac Domangairt around 540 and of his brother Gabrán around 560.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Dál Riata (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Dál Riata: Key Facts
| Founded | 498 CE |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 843 CE |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q111471 (CC0).
Dál Riata Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Dál Riata appears, with the other states of the time.
Dál Riata Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 59,663 km² in 794 CE.
Dál Riata: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Dál Riata exist?
Dál Riata is dated to 540 CE – 899 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Dál Riata?
The capital of Dál Riata was Dunadd.
How large was Dál Riata at its peak?
At its peak in 794 AD Dál Riata covered about 59,663 km².
How did the map of Dál Riata change over time?
Dál Riata appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 600 CE to 750 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
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