Gaelic Ireland was divided into a hierarchy of territories ruled by a hierarchy of kings of chiefs. The smallest territory was the "túath" (plural: "túatha"), which was typically the territory of a single kin-group. It was ruled by a "rí túaithe" (king of a "túath") or "toísech túaithe" (leader of a "túath"). Several "túatha" formed a "mór túath" (overkingdom), which was ruled by a "rí mór túath" or "ruirí" (overking). Several "mór túatha" formed a "cóiced" (province), which was ruled by a "rí cóicid" or "rí ruirech" (provincial king). In the early Middle Ages the "túatha" was the main political unit, but over time they were subsumed into bigger conglomerate territories and became much less important politically.