Principalities of Maltropia

The principal administrative division in Maltropia below the national level is the principality (Irish: prionsacht, pl. prionsachtaí). Maltropia is divided into twenty-four principalities, of which sixteen are in mainland Maltropia and eight are in the Maltropian Islands.

Background

Principalities - that is, hereditary lordships with fixed power bases larger than tribal chieftaincies and smaller than the medieval kingdoms of Espin and the Uí Chairbre and Uí Midire - first emerged in Maltropia's late fourth century, as the more powerful local lords in the north and east began to extend their reach with the proliferation of hill forts through which they subjugated their weaker neighbours. These lordships gradually evolved into feudal principalities over the following centuries, acquiring fixed territorial borders rather than shifting spheres of influence associated with the patron-client and overlord systems.

The title associated with the rulers of these states is flaith, now almost invariably translated as 'prince' (or 'chief') despite having a much broader meaning extending to the concept of sovereignty itself. Although the word prionsacht is used for principalities, the princes themselves are flatha.

The modern principalities of Maltropia do not entirely correspond to the states for which they are named, nor to the grade of those states' rulers. Carbery, Tyrmidra and Espin were once each ruled by a lord classed as a ruirí or rí ruirech; this ruler was demoted after submitting to the King of Maltropia between the 17th and 19th centuries. Minor lordships were promoted to the same status as former kingdoms, which contributed to the outbreak of the War of the Kings and Princes in 1737. With the elevation of the Maltropian Islands to equal status with mainland Maltropia in 1801, its eight baronies were also elevated to principality status, and the 1844 Treaty of Taralanos integrated the formerly-independent Kingdom of Espin into Maltropia as its twenty-fourth principality.

List of principalities

This is a list of principalities of Maltropia, sorted alphabetically by their name in Irish. Official names (which may be either in Irish or English) are bolded.

Flag	Map	Name in Irish	Name in English	Capital	Population	Area (km2)	Prince
		An Sord	Swords	Mainnear	14,807,331	41,911.23	Damien Ó Mórda
		An tUillinn	The Angle	Mullach Círe	6,103,296	122,744.86
		Ard Snechtúil	Snowheight	Cnocscélaige	10,428,572	199,395.24
		Argailim	Argalium	Pelarum	14,369,302	116,531.33
		Brú Seaca	Frostbank	Castlefinchy	13,527,817	84,095.57	Bronagh Gilfoyle
		Chetwynd		Argensborough	11,273,054	117,230.47
		Cinn Óir	Keenore	Ros Cuilinn	7,839,128	100,531.03
		Cluain Áed	Clunea	Tallaght	11,539,262	73,613.57
		Corcach Nua	Newmarsh	Corcaigh Nua	19,301,485	64,316.68	Brendan Ua Chorcaigh
		Cruadhach Rois	Montrose	Ivory	26,296,638	111,931.48
		Dál bhFéidhlim	Dalafelma	Felixfort	2,745,521	123,939.17	Joseph Finucane
		Eispean	Espin	Esrium	22,893,147	202,681.37
		Escir	Esker	Moraine	14,026,590	80,107.51
		Fearann Ard	Farranard	Dionn Uillinne	9,638,516	140,419.81
		Heilbhic	Helvick	Groomsbridge	4,298,371	83,078.93	Seán Gearóid Ó Dubhuir
		Imleach Brega	Imilbregia	Sciath Ailbe	14,932,759	130,447.96
		Inis Meala	Inchimala	Calymne	2,873,114	43,201.39
		Mag Gaethe	Moygay	Rathyle	12,492,859	89,053.72	Tigernach Ó Rathaille
		Maigh Oighir	Myre	Ros Cairn	4,581,348	149,938.33	Maelseachlainn Ó Mealláin
		Soirláchan	Surlochna	Dalgyre	7,148,205	77,218.63
		Tír Midire	Tyrmidra	Eochaill	12,293,467	43,211.27
		Tír Roca	Tirucca	Lecan	9,104,256	69,758.10
		Uí Chairbre	Carbery	Ardencross	20,617,843	74,157.03
	File:Location map.png	Unnamed	Ganainm	Parthas Ard	440,364	142,613.32