Advice for kings: an investigation into a subdivision of early Irish wisdom literature

McQuaid, Andrew (2017) Advice for kings: an investigation into a subdivision of early Irish wisdom literature. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis examines a corpus of vernacular wisdom literature from early Ireland that is often referred to as tecosca ríg ‘instructions for kings’, or specula principum ‘mirrors for princes’. It reappraises some of the major theories and perceptions relating to this corpus in an effort to bring scholarly understanding up to date. The thesis begins by examining how and why modern scholars have read this corpus as wisdom literature for kings. It then looks at the development of modern theories of early Irish kingship and kingship ideology in relation to changing perceptions of vernacular literature. Special attention is paid to the concept of sacred kingship, with which this corpus been associated. Finally, this thesis examines the evidence of the tecosca against some of the major themes and debates raised in relation to the perception that these texts constitute advice for kings.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: medieval literature, wisdom, advice, kingship, Old Irish, Middle Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Studies, Medieval Studies.
• Subjects: D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D111 Medieval History; P Language and Literature > PB Modern European Languages > PB1201 Irish Language
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Celtic and Gaelic
• Supervisor's Name: Clancy, Professor Thomas and Parsons, Doctor Geraldine
• Date of Award: 2017
• Depositing User: Mr Andrew McQuaid
• Unique ID: glathesis:2017-8519
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 03 Nov 2017 10:10
• Last Modified: 03 Nov 2017 10:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/8519