Petty King Faelan mac Brian of Munster, 1133

During the last years of his reign the Petty King Faelan mac Brian ensured a total control of Ireland by the house Briain, by means of a couple of holy wars. 

In 1129 he conquered Mayo from the house Cetchathach-Gaillimhe, a house without any recognizable relation with the Dal-Gcais dinasty.

In 1131 he conquered the Earldoms of Athlone and Dubhlinn, along with the Petty Kingdom of Meath, from his distant relative Murchad mac Domnall ua Cheinnselaig. During this war, regrettably, Brian mac Faelan, King Faelan's oldest son and first heir, found his death. 

King Faelan therefore was holding the titles of King of Munster, Gwynedd, Powys and Leinster, along with the titles of Earl of Thomond, Ossory, Leinster and Dubhlinn. He had 9 vassals

• Lord Rhiwallon the Foolish of Ferlix, now also Lord of Penllyn (distant relative)
• His cousin Lord Elidyr ab Iorwerth of Merionnydd ( now also Lord of Dyfed and Ynis Mon)
• Countess Flann nig Olav of Ormond, also Earl of Ui Mhaine - daughter of Earl Olav mac Ragnvald
• Lord Naufedd ab Gruffydd ab Perfeddwlad, from the house of Seisyll, son of Lord Gruffydd ab Idwal, also Lord of Ceredigion
• His uncle Lord Cynfyn ap Morien of Eryri  ( His mother Hunydd's brother) 
• Earl Udalschalk of Mayo, from the obscure Cilli dynasty, also Earl of Athlone, who had married matrilineally Faelan's daughter Cobflaith nic Faelan
• Countess Affraic nig Olav of Desmond  - daughter of Earl Olav mac Ragnvald

Meanwhile, Faelan's uncle Enguerrand mac Murchad had conquered the titles of King of Ulster, which now held together with the Earldoms of Ennis, Ulster and Briefne. His vassals were Faelan's younger brother Sean, from which he had usurped the title of King of Ulster, but who in turn had managed to hold on to the title of Earl of Oriel, and Faelan's cousin Earl Ailpin mac Donnchad of Ailech.

Faelan's sister Cathan nic Brain, who had a claim to all titles in the family, was languishing with her husband Aed mac Domnall at her daughter Mayor Elbrigs nic Cathan of Sligo's court, who herself was a vassal of Earl Udalschak of Mayo.

There had been a few more childbirths in Briain's family, but also two deaths. Apart from the death of Faelban's first heir, Brian, also his sister, Countess Lasairfiona of Cleves, had died to the bubonic plague.

In the succession (still Confederate partition) Caindelban mac Faelan would have inherited the Kingdoms of Munster and Leinster, along with the Earldoms of Thomond, Ossory and Leinster. Conmal mac Faelan would inherit the Kingdoms of Gwynedd and Meath and the Earldom of Dubhlinn, and Fiachnae mac Faelan would receive the Kingdoms of Powys and Connacht.-

Caindelban mac Faelan was now married with Flann nic Rois ua Neill Noigiallach. Flann's mother Rois nic Domnall Neill had married Faelan's uncle Earl Donnchad mac Murchad and born Faelan's cousin Earl Ailpin mac Donnchad of Ailech. Flann's father Donnall mac Flaithbertach ua Neill Noigiallach had his title of Earl of Oriel revoked from Faelan's half brother Sean mac Brian. Flann's  aunt Flann ua Neill had borne Earl Olav mac Ragnvald's children .

For a change, it seemed that the Faelan's first heir had good skills. Unlike his predecessors, this one would be a good steward.