“I am a freeman of a free state.”
Dumnorix, Gaulish Chieftain of the Aedui, 1st century BCE
The nations both in the isles and Western Europe were typically separated into three or arguably, four main classes. At the top was the king, the Ard Rí or ‘Rí’ in Old Irish and Ireland specifically. In Gaul, the king was similarly known as the Rix, in Scots Gaelic the Righ and in Welsh, Rhi. The second level here would have been the subject kings or chieftains, the renowned military warriors along with nobles and owners of the land of which there is much overlap in these titles and positions through time. In Irish Gaeilge, these were variously known as the Rí cóicid, provincial king, the Ruiri, over king of many nations and the Rí túaithe, king of one tribe. These would have been the people that may have had a rightful claim to the status of High King by being of reputable familial nobility. They would have also likely controlled all the land, farming endeavors and highest decision making of their extended kindred and nation.
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