CK3-AARs: King Caindelban mac Faelban of Ireland, 1167

In 1155 High King Caindelban mac Faelban of Ireland decided to move on and unify Ireland at last. He declared war on his brother Cormal mac Faelan, Petty King of Ulster, and in a quick campaign conquered the kingdom. He then granted his brother the title of Duke of Ulster, without revoking any other title.

He then completed the reunification of Ireland, pressing his brother Cormal's claim over de jure territories in the Duchy of Ulster, specifically the Earldom of Ailech, still occupied by Caindelban's cousin King Haraldr II Haraldrsson of the Sudreyjar. After a costly campaign, in 1158, this Earldom too was brought under Cormal mac Faelan's sovereignty.

Then, still in 1158, Caindelban used a claim from his vassal Lord Riaged ap Cynddylan of Merionnydd of the house Caerloyw-Penfro, his second cousin Lord Cynddylan ap Gruffydd's son, to put him in on the throne of Deheubarth in 1160. Lord Riaged himself was overthrown in 1162 by his uncle and Caindelban's second cousin Duke Rhufon ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth.

Between 1160 and 1167 the Kingdom of Ireland had reached its maximum extension in his history so far and with it the indissolubly related diffusion of the Paulician religion.

The Duchy of Mercia had been created, too, and assigned to Calainban's nephew Duke Gilla-Ruad mac Fiachne of Mercia, from the house gCais-Cruachu, who also controlled the Earldom of Nottinghamshire. Gilla-Ruad had been assigned the two vassals, and Candailban's chilren, Prince Caindelban mac Caindelban, still Earl of Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire, and Prince Dinertach mac Caindelban, still Earl of Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

However, in 1163 there was a devastating setback - the Pope declared a Crusade against the Paulician faith over the Kingdom of England. Crusader forces outnumbered Paulicians 3 to 1, and on top of that, Irish leaders had no experience fighting crusades. After four years of war, Ireland conceded defeat and gave up on all territories in England. Mercia was restored to King Duff of England. However, High King Caindelban mac Faelan stayed in full control of Ireland and Wales.

In 1167, Caindelban owned the titles of King of Ireland and Wales, Petty King of Munster and Leinster, Earl of Thomond, Ossory, Leinster and Ormond. His vassals were:

His brother Duke Conmal mac Faelan of Ulster
His nephew Duke Aengus mac Cobflaith of Meath
His second cousin Duchess Nest ferch Morien of Gwynedd from the house Caerloyw-Tyddewi
His brother Duke Fiachnae mac Faelan of Connacht
Duke Meilys II ab Owain of Powys, 3, whose father Duke Owain II ap Meilys of Powys and whose greatfather, and Caindelban's second cousin, Duke Meilys II ap Rhiwallon of Powys, had been slain during the crusades. Both had been killed by Pope's vassal Mayor Vincenzo of Ostia, who had a prowness of 36 and a lot of Paulician blood on his hands.
Duke Cynwrig ab Rhufon of Deheubarth, 9, whose father Duke Rhufon ap Gruffydd, Caindalban's second cousin, had also died during the crusade
His cousin Earl Cathnio mac Cathan of Ennis

Caindalban's brother Duke Conmal mac Faelan of Ulster had the titles of Duke of Ulster and Earl of Ulster (this one revoked from Caindalban's father's cousin Murchad mag Enguerrand gCais-Inis in 1158) and Ailech, and only one's vassal, Earl Sean mac Cuanu of Oriel, from the house Laighin, the son of Caindelban's late cousin Earl Cuanu mac Sean.

Caindelban's nephew Duke Aengus mac Cobflaith of Meath owned the titles of Duke of Meath and Earl of Dubhlinn, and as vassal Caindelban's nephew Earl Abban mac Cobflaith of Athlone.

Caindelban's brother Duke Fiachnae mac Faelan of Connacht owned the titles of Duke of Connacht and Earl of Mayo.

He had the vassals:

Earl Aelfamer mag Osraed of Ui Mhaine from the house Hayles
Caindelban's second cousin Earl Cormac mac Bruatur of Breifne from the house gCais-Inis
Countess Ben-Ulad of Desmond, Caindelban's second cousin Deirdre nic Deirdre gCais-Inis's daughter, from the house gCais-Inis.

Caindalban's second cousin Duchess Nest ferch Morien of Gwynedd owned the titles of Duchy of Gwynedd, Lordship of Eryri and of Ceredigion and as a vassal had Lady Efyrddil ferch Gruffydd of Perfeddwlad.

Duke Meilys II ab Owain of Powys was also Earl of Ferlix and as a vassal he had Lady Elen ferch Idwal of Penllyn,

Duke Cynwrig ab Rhufon of Deheubarth had the title of Duke of Deheubarth, Lord of Gwent and Lor of Sir Gaerfyrddin. His vassals were Lord Riaged ap Cyndyylan of Merionnydd and Ynys Mon, Lady Haer ferch Bleddyn of Brycheniog, Lord Iorweth ap Gwenllian of Morgannwg and Lord Pyr ap Rhufon of Dyfed, who were all somewhat related to Caindalban over his greatmother Hunydd.