Murchad mac Donnchad died in 1095, and the empire was split between the heirs. Brian II mac Murchad got the titles of King of Munster and Earl of Thomond (Barony of Luimneach), Ossory (Barony of Gabhran) and Ulster (Barony of Dun Padraig), and as vassals Earl Olav mac Rangvald of Ormond, who in the meantime had also conquered the Earldom of Desmond with a fabricated claim, Brian II's brother Earl Enguerrand mac Murchad and Mayour Muirguis of Carraig Fhearghais, a town located in the Earldom of Ulster.
Murchad's second son Donnchad mac Murchad had become Duke of Ulster, but did not control the Earldom of Ulster itself, as this was in Briain II's possession. Donnchad was managing the Earldom of Ailech directly, as he had revoked it from his vassal Earl Domnall mag Aed of Oriel. Domnall could not complain though, because in the mean time he had conquered Breifne, so that he owned the titles to the Earldoms of Oriel and Breifne.
Donnchad had a daughter, Cobflaith nic Donnchad, 5, who suffered from bleeding and was betrothed to Prince Odon of Poland, whose father was the King Kazimierz of Poland. Somehow this had not resulted in an alliance between Donnchad and Kazimierz.
Murchad's third son, Earl Enguerrand, 16, had received the Earldom of Ennis, and was Brian II's vassal, as expected. He was betrothed to Margrethe Haraldsdatter Estrid, from the house Estrid. She was the niece of King Erik Svendsen of Denmark and the daughter of his vassal and half-brother Prince Harald the Whetstone of Denmark, Count of Slesvig and Dithmarschen, with whom Enguerrand had now an alliance.
Briain II's half-brother, Ceithernach mac Murchad Briain, was born after King Murchad had died. His mother was one of his secondary spouses, Petty Queen Dub-Dil of Munster. Therefore he did not receive any land or claims and may end up being forgotten.
Brian II had two cousins who had become mayors through marriage: Mayor Murchaid mac Conchobar of Monza and Mayor Malachy mac Conchobar of Travnik. Malachy's son had become Major Donal mac Malachy of An Longphort, in the Earldom of Breifne, but he was still unmarried.
Brian II's daughter, Cathan nic Brian Briain, 19, had married matrilineally with Aed mac Domnall ua Neill Noigiallaich, Earl Domnall mag Aed of Oriel's first heir. Brian II's son Faelan mac Brian Briain, 13, was betrothed to Elisabet Gudrodsdatter Crovan, 14, daughter of Petty King Gudrod Haraldrsson of the Sudreyjar, from the Crovan's house. Neither of these marriages had brought any alliance to Brian II.
Meanwhile, there had been a consolidation in Wales. Prince Cadwgan ap Bleddyn ruled over Gweddyn and Powys, while Prince Maredudd III ap Bleddyn was in control of the whole Deheubarth.
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