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| The '''Brehon Laws''' were statutes that governed everyday life and politics in the ] until the ] invasion of ]. The laws fell into disuse after Ireland was progressively divided over the years into Norman-controlled zones, one ] |
The '''Brehon Laws''' were statutes that governed everyday life and politics in the ] until the ] invasion of ]. The laws fell into disuse after Ireland was progressively divided over the years into Norman-controlled zones, one ]-controlled zone (]), and native Irish kingdoms. | ||
| Under the Brehon Laws, Ireland had the most sophisticated and democratic legal system of the ]. The rights of women were protected, ] was provided for, the duties of parents towards adopted children were outlined, and a frame work was provided for the operation of government. | Under the Brehon Laws, Ireland had the most sophisticated and democratic legal system of the ]. The rights of women were protected, ] was provided for, the duties of parents towards adopted children were outlined, and a frame work was provided for the operation of government. | ||
Revision as of 23:27, 28 July 2004
The Brehon Laws were statutes that governed everyday life and politics in the Ireland until the Norman invasion of 1171. The laws fell into disuse after Ireland was progressively divided over the years into Norman-controlled zones, one English-controlled zone (The Pale), and native Irish kingdoms.
Under the Brehon Laws, Ireland had the most sophisticated and democratic legal system of the Dark Ages. The rights of women were protected, divorce was provided for, the duties of parents towards adopted children were outlined, and a frame work was provided for the operation of government.
As part of the implementation of the Brehon Laws, Ireland was divided into four provincial kingdoms: Laighin (present day Leinster), Ulaidh (Ulster), Muman (Munster), and Connachta (Connacht). Each province had a king who exercized some power over his provincial domain. However, all Irish (including the kings) were forced to hold allegiance to the High King, who ruled all of Ireland from the country's ancient capital, Tara, located in the "fifth royal province" of Meadh (present day Meath).
Although the Norman barons eventually adopted Irish culture and language and married in with the native Irish, Ireland remained divided between Norman-Irish kingdoms and Gaelic-Irish kingdoms. Due to this, the Brehon Laws would never be readopted on an official basis, although some modernized concepts survive in the laws of the Republic of Ireland.