Reign 1528-1540 Mother Raghnait MacNamara House O'Brien dynasty | Father Turlough O'Brien Died 1540 | |
Predecessor Toirdelbhach Donn MacTadhg Ó Briain Spouse Anabella Burke (m. 2017)Ellice née Baccagh (m. 2017) Issue Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of ThomondSir Donald O'BrienSir Turlogh O'BrienTeige O'BrienMurrough O'BrienMortogh O'Brien Children Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond, Donnell O'Brien Grandchild Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond People also search for Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond, Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond, Annabell Burke Great grandchildren Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond, Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare | ||
Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond (fl. 1528 until his death in 1540) was the second to last King of Thomond.
Contents
Biography
Connor was born the eldest surviving son of Turlogh-Donn inaugurated King of Thomond in 1498 (and grandson of Teige-an-Chomhaid), and Raghnait, daughter of John MacNamara chief of the MacNamara clan.
In 1528, on the death of his father Connor was inaugurated King of Thomond and having reigned for 12 years he died in 1540. His eldest son Donough was a minor when his father died and Connor's brother Murrough gained the estates and title of King of Thomond under tanistry, or popular election (then in general use, but abolished by King James in 1605) whereby the estate and title were to descend, for life, to the eldest and worthiest man of the blood and name of him that died last.
Both parties appealed to Henry VIII and it was agreed that Murrough would become the 1st Earl of Thomond and upon his death the title would pass to Donough, on condition that both men recognised Henry as their lawful king, that they would give up their claims to be King of Thomond and that they would become Anglican. This arrangement was agreed, and with the death of Murrough the title of Earl passed to Donough. However, on the death of Donough in 1551, the rights of his son, Connor, 3rd Earl of Thomond, to the title and estates was challenged by Donnell, his uncle and a brother of his father, who was inaugurated O'Brien and chief of the Dal Cais. Donnell appealed to Queen Mary (a Roman Catholic) to uphold his usurpation. After many years of family and civil strife Connor secured his position and lands in the late 1570s during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
Family
Connor married Anabella, youngest daughter of Ulick De Burgh, (the red) of Clanrickard. They had two children:
Connor's second wife was Ellice, daughter of Maurice née Baccagh, Earl of Desmond. They had four sons: