Ireland as the earthly culmination of <i>translatio imperii</i> in <i>Suidiugud Tellaig Temra</i>

Abstract This paper discusses Orosius’ concept of translatio imperii, as repurposed in the Middle Irish narrative, Suidiugud Tellaig Temra ‘The Establishment of Tara’s Dominion’ (STT).1 More particularly, it describes the way that STT’s reinterpretation of Orosius’ historiography positions Ireland as the most recent successor to the &amp;#x2028;providential movement of imperial power that he outlines in Historiae adversus paganos ‘Histories against &amp;#x2028;the Pagans’ II.1 and VII.2. It begins by outlining earlier Irish precedents for the idea that the king of Tara was the ruler of all Ireland, and as such, an emperor. STT is found to follow earlier apocalyptic revisions of Orosius, which identify the idealized empire as a paradisal successor to the Roman Empire, rather than its simple continuation. It is further determined, however, that STT’s own apocalyptic revision of Orosius is informed by Augustine’s belief in the westward movement of empire’s succession, as also by Servius’ attestation of paradisal islands in the Western Sea.