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THE KING OF THE GAULS
THE QUEEN OF BATTLES
CUCHULAINN – THE HOUND OF ULSTER
The legend of CuChulainn (“the Hound of Cullan†in ancient Gaelic language) is placed approximately around the 30 a.C., during the kingdom of Conor Mac Nessa (Conchobar) over the Irish region of Ulster. The real name of CuChulainn was Setanta; his mother was Dechtire, the sister of king Conor, and his father was Sualtim, a warrior of the Red Branch, the elite military corps of the king. But Setanta was said to be the son of the God Lugh (Lugh of the Long Hand), who lied with Dechtire the night before her marriage with Sualtim.
Still a child, Setanta went to Emain Macha, the king’s fortress, and joined the Boys Troop of the Red Branch. Setanta was welcomed as Conor’s foster child and suddenly distinguished himself for bravery and skill. At the age of seven Setanta went with Conor to the house of Cullan, the chief smith, and was attacked by the tremendous Cullan’s hound. Setanta killed the dog and paid Cullan back for his lost offering himself as the new hound of the chief’s house, till Cullan would have found another equal dog. From that moment Setanta was named “the Hound of Cullanâ€, CuChulainn.
As soon as he reached the age for carrying a man’s sword, CuChulainn joined the Red Branch and was sent to the “Warriors’ Academy†lead by the female warrior Skya, in the today-known isle of Skye. During his staying on the isle, CuChulainn received a magic spear (Gae Bulga) by Skya and had a son, Cunla, from Skya’s rival Ayfa. Once he got back to his land, CuChulainn married Emer, the daughter of Forgall, a famous and rich farmer of Ulster.
Cuchulainn faced and won many battles, becoming the king’s champion and getting known all over the land of Erin as “The Hound of Ulsterâ€. During his lifetime he made a number of enemies, and one of these Queen Maeve of Connaught brought about his downfall.
Between the most famous chapters of myth of CuChulainn, remember The Cattle raid of Cooley, the rivalry with Cu Roi, the duel against his friend Ferdiad, the breakage of the Red Branch, the final battle against Maeve’s army.
VERCINGETORIX
Son of Celtillus, tribal Prince of the Arverni murdered by the Romans after trying to unite all the Celtic tribes, Vercingetorix was the leader of the great revolt of the Celtics/Gauls against the Romans of Julius Caesar between 52 and 50 b.C. Furious for his father death Vercingetorix blamed the Romans and also realised that if the Gauls wanted to remain free, they would have to join all together. When he finally succeeded in gaining the alliance of many Celtic tribes, Vercingetorix was named king and moved war against the Roman Empire and the army of Caesar, adopting a guerrilla tactics and retreating to heavy, natural fortifications and burning the Gallic towns to keep the Roman soldiers from living off the land. As an able and brave leader, Vercingetorix defeated the Roman army in many minor battles, the most famous at Gergovia. But the final battle took place Alesia, the oppidum of the Mandubii , where the Gauls found shelter after a serious debacle against Caesar’s troops, reinforced by many fierce Germans warriors. Caesar and his troops followed behind, often killing people at the rear as they went. After inspecting the oppidum, Caesar ordered his men to build siege works. They had only just started when a cavalry battle took place as the Gauls charged them. The fighting was hard on both sides and when Caesar saw the Romans were loosing strength, he sent in the Germans on horseback, who slaughtered the Gauls, and when they retreated, the Germans followed them all the way to the fort.
The Gauls were stuck in Alesia and food and supplies were running out. A deputation was sent out to try and get a relief organized and to get supplies. Vercingetorix decided to resist and courageously defend the oppidum, as 240,000 infantry were on the way from Aedui and he felt that when the relief came, hopefully its size would scare the Romans. But Caesar headed off the Celtic suppliers and didn’t let them reach Alesia. After a while both sides were loosing strength and stamina and the Gauls still in Alesia were giving up hope. Caesar finally personally lead an attack with fresh soldiers and the Gauls were seriously defeated. Vercingetorix decided then to surrender and honourably placed himself at the mercy of Caesar, hoping that way to save his people from being murdered by the Romans soldiers. Caesar made Vercingetorix prisoner of war and took him to Rome. The King of the Gauls was killed in the 46 b.C., but the brave and free spirit of the Celts still lives…
FINN MAC COOL
FINN MAC COOL
Finn MacCool (Fionn mac Cumhail) is a semi-mythical character said to have been the greatest leader of the Fianna, the military elite of ancient Ireland responsible for guarding the High King. The Fianna were founded in 300 B.C. by the High King Fiachadh (fee-a-kuh). Until Finn MacCool implemented a code of honor among them, the Fianna were an unruly band. Finn challenged the Fianna to become champions of the people and to make of themselves models of chivalry and justice. Some argue that the tales of the Fianna are the basis of the legends of the Knights of the Round Table.
Finn's father, Cumhail, former Chieftain of the Fianna, was murdered by a member of the Morna clan, who beheads him. Cumhail’s wife, Muirne, gave birth to Demne, a beautiful fair-haired boy. Fearing for her son's life at the hands of Clan Morna, she sends him to the forest to be raised by Bodhmal the Druidess and her sister, the warrior Liath Luachra. Unable to reveal his real name, Demne was called Fionn (fair-haired, pure or beautiful in ancient Gaelic language) after winning a swimming challenge against some other young boys, who were affected by his appearance
The druid Finegas catches the Salmon of Knowledge and gives it to him to cook. Finn burns himself while doing so and sucks his thumb, thus acquiring the gift of prophecy, which he uses to ensure his survival, bring peace to his homeland, and inspire the Fianna to greatness.
Fionn gains command of the Fianna by saving the life of the High King Cormac mac Airt, who much later promises his daughter Gráinne (grahn-ya) to him in gratitude for a lifetime of service. Gráinne, however, loves another young man, Diarmaid, with whom she flees.
He has a series of adventures involving hunting, fighting, sorcery, love, and passion. Finn has many romances but it is with the goddess Sadb, who could change her form into a deer, that he had his famous son, Oisín (Ossian).
In one legend, he is the creator of the Giant's Causeway, a peculiar series of volcanic rock formations on the coast of Ireland. One day, Finn grows angry when he hears that a Scottish giant is mocking his fighting ability. He throws a rock across the Irish Sea to Scotland; the rock includes a challenge to the giant.
The Scottish giant quickly throws a message in a rock back to Finn, stating he can't take up the challenge because he can't swim to reach Ireland.
Finn doesn't let the Scottish giant off so easily. He tears down great pieces of volcanic rock that lay near the coast and stands the pieces upright, making them into pillars that form a causeway that stretches from Ireland to Scotland. The giant now has to accept the challenge. He comes to Finn's house. Finn, masquerading as a 18-foot baby, bites the Scottish giant's hand and then chases him back to Scotland, flinging huge lumps of earth after him. One of the large holes he creates fills with water and becomes Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland. One large lump of earth misses the giant and falls into the Irish Sea; this lump is now known as the Isle of Man.
There are varying accounts of Finn's death. One tale is that he is killed while stopping a fight between members of the Fianna. Another version is that he in fact does not die at all, but is sleeping somewhere, waiting to awaken and defend Ireland in her greatest hour of need.
BRIAN BORU
BRIAN BORU
Brian Boruma mac Cennetig, known popularly as Brian Boru, is undoubtedly the most well known high king of Ireland. 'Boru' is an Anglicisation of 'boruma', which means 'of the cattle tributes'. Several times he did the circuit of Ireland, collecting tributes and submissions as he went.
The popular image of Boru as a ruler who managed to unify the regional leaders of Ireland in order to free the land from a 'Danish' (Viking) occupation originates from the powerful influence of a work of 12th century propaganda, Cogadh Gaedhil re Gallaibh (The War of the Irish with the Foreigners) in which Boru takes the leading role.
Brian Boru was born around 940, the youngest of two sons of Cennedig, head of Dal Cais, one of the royal free tribes of Munster. Brian grew up during the worst days of tyranny when the Dalcassians had been driven in to the present county of Clare. Brian’s brother, Mahon, being the eldest, succeeded Cennedig as chief of the Dalcassians. Being hemmed into Clare by the Norse Leader, Ivar of Limerick, Mahon was willing to accept terms but Brian, seeing almost all of the Dal Cais tribe including his mother brutally murdered by a Norse raid when he was only a child, refused to be any part of such a truce. He deserted Mahon with a group of soldiers. They lived in the hills of Munster attacking Norse settlements and disappearing in to the hills. His fame spread throughout the province and infuriated Ivar. Although having only a handful of men, Brian’s skill as a tactician led him to defeat vastly superior numerical forces and led to rumours of a mighty Dalcassian army. After a number of petty battles, Brian had trained an excellent Dalcassian army to face the Norsemen. The stories of his triumphs had led to vast numbers of young men volunteering to join his side. The feud between himself and Mahon ended. Mahon renounced his truce with the Norsemen and the two brothers rejoined forces. The two men triumphed so far that Mahon took the throne of Cashel in 963 and in 968 at Sulchoid in Tipperary, the two brothers completely overtook Ivar’s forces and marched on Limerick while Ivar fled back to the Norse lands. The Norse tyranny in Munster thus collapsed and Mahon ruled peacefully for eight years. However, Ivar returned to Ireland and plotted the murder of Mahon. Brian assumed the crown and moved the kingship to Kincora, now known as Killaloe. In his first act as King of Munster he would avenge his brother's death. Driving straight into their territories, Brian's forces were able to destroy the majority of the princes' armies. Donovan was killed during the battle, but significantly, it was Brian's son, Morrough, who encountered Moalmua and had the glory of sacrificing him on the same spot as his murdered uncle. In 984, Brian was given title as ruler of Leth Mogha, the southern half of Ireland. His reputation had preceded him throughout Ireland. Brian fought battles against the Danes at Tara, homeland to the ancient kings of Ireland, and besieges Dublin in 999. Brian was able to maintain a military presence in Dublin during the winter months after blocking all passages into the city and demolishing all foreign fortresses. Brian sought hostages and all the spoils of the city as tribute that would prevent further devastation. Brian's forces prove that a successful campaign is not dependent only on victories on the battlefield, but also on the their ability to maintain all strategic positions. Malachy the second, King of Meath, and Boru met in 998 and agreed to divide Ireland between them, with Boru recieving the South and Malachy the North. Boru, however, had too much support - even in Northern Ireland - and Malachy eventually ended up allowing Boru to peacefully take over his lands.
Boru was granted the title "Ard Ri", meaning "High King". This made him one of the first - and last - kings to effectively unite Ireland under one monarch.
The rivals to Brian Boru's rule were numerous, however, both among the native Irish and the remaining Norse. In 1013, Maelmordha, King of Leinster, revolted and allied with the Vikings. They summoned reinforcements from Boru's other Irish rivals and the Viking nations, as far away as Normandy and Iceland.
The two forces met on Good Friday, 1014 at Clontarf. Nearly 4,000 Irishmen were killed at the Battle of Clontarf, including Brian's son Murrough, but the Viking/Leinster forces suffered even heavier losses.
At the end of the battle, what little remained of the Norse forces retreated to their ships. But before all the invaders fled, a small group of Norse troops came upon Brian's tent and decided that if they couldn't have Ireland, they would at least kill its King. Then in late seventies or early eighties, Brian was able to kill several men but King Brodar of Man struck Boru the mortal wound. Before he died, Brian was able to avenge himself by beheading Brodar.
DANU
CERIDWEN
BRANWEN
