Four social levels: Kings - Nobles - Freemen - Unfree
King - weakest king politically but at the top of the social structure
- High Kings - over a province/superior kings - no one ruler over all Ireland
- Kings - rulers over simple tuatha, around 200 in number
King was a sacred person - morally and physically unblemished - married to his tuath - always had to be accompanied by a retinue and could never engage in anything considered degrading
Functions: to lead people in war, to preside over the Oenach, to represent people in peace time
- King of a simple tuath was the weakest form of king - in own kingdom, powers were limited
- Very little controlling authority
- Not a judge over his people
- Could not enact laws
As a result, it was convinient for kings to enter into relationship to boost his own profile.
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