Finn, son of Blath, son of Labraid Condelg, son of Cairpre, son of Ollom Fotla, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after he killed the previous High King, Eochu Apthach, whose disastrous year on the throne had been characterised by constant plague. He ruled for twenty, or twenty-two, or thirty years, depending on the source consulted, until he was killed by Sétna Innarraid, son of Bres Rí. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Darius the Great of Persia (522–485 BC). [1] The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 725–705 BC, [2] that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 952–930 BC. [3]
Eochaid or Eochu Étgudach or Etgedach ("negligent"?), son of Dáire Doimthech, son of Conghal, son of Eadaman, son of Mal, son of Lugaid, son of Íth, son of Breogán, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn he was chosen as king by the remaining quarter of the men of Ireland after the other three-quarters had died with the former king, Tigernmas, while worshipping the deity Crom Cruach. He introduced a system whereby the number of colours a man could wear in his clothes depended on his social rank, from one colour for a slave to seven for a king or queen. He ruled for four years, until he was killed in battle at Tara by Cermna Finn, who succeeded to the throne jointly with his brother Sobairce. His reign is synchronised with that of Eupales in Assyria. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 1159–1155 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1537–1533 BC.
Eochaid Faebar Glas, son of Conmáel, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. His epithet means "blue-green sharp edge". According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn and the Annals of the Four Masters, he came to power after killing the joint High King, Cermna Finn, in battle at Dún Cermna, and Cermna's brother and colleague Sobairce was killed by Eochaid Menn of the Fomorians. He killed Smirgoll, grandson of Tigernmas, in the battle of Druimm Liatháin. He ruled for twenty years, until he was killed by Smirgoll's son Fiacha Labrainne in the battle of Carman. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Piritiades in Assyria. Keating's chronology dates his reign to 1115–1095 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1493–1473 BC.
Berngal, son of Géde Ollgothach, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor and cousin and his father's killer, Fíachu Findoilches. He made so much war that there was a shortage of milk and corn - according to one version, only a sack and a half. He ruled for either twenty-one or twelve years, until he was killed by his cousin Ailill, son of Slánoll. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Deioces of the Medes. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 833–831 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1209–1197 BC.
Sírna Sáeglach, son of Dian mac Demal, son of Demal mac Rothechtaid, son of Rothechtaid mac Main, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He separated the province of Ulster from the authority of the High King, and is said to have made war against the Ulaid, who had killed his great grandfather, for a hundred years according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, 150 years according to the Annals of the Four Masters, but Geoffrey Keating, citing an ancient poem, gives him only twenty-one years. According to one version of the Lebor Gabála, the Ulaid united with the Fomorians and gave him battle at Móin Trógaide in County Meath, but a plague fell on them and the leaders of both sides died. According to another version, agreed by Keating and the Four Masters, Sírna was killed by Rothechtaid Rotha at Alind. The Lebor Gabála synchronises the start of his reign with the reign of Deioces of the Medes, and his death with his successor Phraortes. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 814–794 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1181–1031 BC.
Nuadu Finn Fáil, son of Gíallchad, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, who took power after he killed his predecessor, and his father's killer, Art Imlech. The Lebor Gabála Érenn says he ruled for either sixty or forty years before being killed by Art's son Bres Rí. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Cyaxares of the Medes. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 755–735 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1002–962 BC. His son was Áedan Glas, whose son was Siomón Brecc mac Aedan. In turn, Siomón's son was Muiredach Bolgrach.
Dui Finn, son of Sétna Innarraid, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Siomón Brecc. He ruled for ten years, before he was killed by Siomón's son Muiredach Bolgrach. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with those of Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I of Persia. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 679–674 BCBC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 904–894 BC.
Muiredach Bolgrach, son of Siomón Brecc, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Dui Finn, ruled for 13 months or four years depending on the source consulted, and was then killed by Dui's son Énna Derg. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Artaxerxes I of Persia. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 674–670 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 894–893 BC. His son was Fíachu Tolgrach.
Conaing Begeclach was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, joint High King of Ireland with his brother or half-brother Eochu Fíadmuine. They took power after killing the previous High King, Eochu Uairches. Conaing ruled the northern half of Ireland, Eochu the south.
Fíachu Tolgrach, son of Muiredach Bolgrach, was a legendary High King of Ireland, according to some medieval and early modern Irish sources. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn he is not a High King: he kills the former High King Art mac Lugdach, but during the reign of Art's son Ailill Finn he is killed in battle against Airgetmar. His son Dui Ladrach later becomes High King. However, in Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn and the Annals of the Four Masters he succeeds Art as High King and rules for seven or ten years, until he is killed by Ailill Finn, who succeeds him. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 593–586 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 806–796 BC.
Ailill Finn, son of Art mac Lugdach, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn, he succeeded to the throne when his father was killed by Fíachu Tolgrach and his son Dui Ladrach. He ruled for nine years. Two years into his reign, Fíachu Tolgrach was killed in battle against Airgetmar, son of Sírlám. The men of Munster, led by Ailill's son Eochu and Lugaid, son of Eochu Fíadmuine, then drove Airgetmar into exile overseas. After seven years Airgetmar returned to Ireland and killed Ailill with the help of Dui Ladrach and his son Fíachu, but was unable to seize the throne, which was taken by Eochu.
Eochu, son of Ailill Finn, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He succeeded to the throne after his father was killed by Airgetmar and his ally Dui Ladrach. According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, he was himself killed by Airgetmar and Dui. Geoffrey Keating says he ruled for seven years, resisted Airgetmar and made peace with Dui, who killed him treacherously at a meeting, allowing Airgetmar to take the kingship. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of Artaxerxes II of Persia (404–358 BC). The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 577–570 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 785–778 BC.
Airgetmar, son of Sirlám, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. The Lebor Gabála Érenn says that, during the reign of Ailill Finn, he killed Fíachu Tolgrach in battle, but was forced into exile overseas by Ailill's son Eochu, Lugaid son of Eochu Fíadmuine, and the men of Munster. He returned to Ireland after seven years, and, with the help of Dui Ladrach, killed Ailill. Eochu became king, but Airgetmar and Dui soon killed him as well, and Airgetmar took power.
Rechtaid Rígderg, son of Lugaid Laigdech, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing Macha Mong Ruad, daughter of his father's killer, Áed Rúad. He ruled for twenty years, until he was killed by Úgaine Mór, foster-son of Macha and her husband Cimbáeth. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign to that of Ptolemy I Soter. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 461–441 BC, the Annals of the Four Masters to 654–634 BC.
Badbchaid, son of Eochu Buadach, son of Dui Ladrach, was, according to late sources, briefly a High King of Ireland. The Lebor Gabála Érenn says Bodbchad murdered his brother, the High King Úgaine Mór, who was succeeded directly by his son Lóegaire Lorc. However, Geoffrey Keating and the Annals of the Four Masters agree that, after killing Úgaine, Bodbchad took the throne for a day and a half, after which Lóegaire killed him. The Lebor Gabála synchronises Úgaine's reign to that of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates Bodbchad's reign to 411 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 594 BC.
Óengus Ollom, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, was a High King of Ireland who was the son of Ailill, the son of Labraid Loingsech. He took power after he killed the previous incumbent, Mug Corb, and ruled for eighteen years, until he was killed by Irereo, son of Meilge Molbthach. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronizes his reign with that of Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt (246–222 BC). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 355–337 BC, the Annals of the Four Masters to 499–481 BC.
Connla Cáem, also known as Connla Cruaidchelgach, son of Irereo, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland.
Ailill Caisfiaclach, son of Connla Cáem, was, according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions, a High King of Ireland. He succeeded his father, and reigned for twenty-five years, until he was killed by Adamair, the son of Fer Corb the man who had killed Ailill's grandfather. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy V Epiphanes in Egypt. Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign from 315 to 290 BC, the Annals of the Four Masters from 443 to 418 BC.
Énna Aignech, son of Óengus Tuirmech Temrach, was, according to medieval Irish legend, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, and relative's killer, Nia Segamain, and ruled for twenty or twenty-eight years, after which he was killed by Crimthann Coscrach, the grandson of the man who had killed Énna's grandfather, in the Battle of Ard Crimthainn. Crimthann was killed by Rudraige mac Sithrigi, the great-grandson of the killer of one of Énna's ancestors. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy VIII Physcon in Egypt. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 219–191 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 313–293 BC.
Rothechtaid, son of Maen, son of Óengus Olmucaid, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to power by killing the previous incumbent, his grandfather's killer Énna Airgdech, in the battle of Raigne. He ruled for twenty-two years. The Lebor Gabála Érenn gives two versions of his death. In one version, he was killed in single combat in Cruachan by Sétna Airt, who fought to protect his son Fíachu Fínscothach. In the other version, he died of his wounds in Tara. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 1005–980 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 1383–1358 BC.
Sétna Innarraid, son of Bres Rí, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He is said to have been the first Irish king to pay his soldiers. He ruled for twenty years, before he was killed by Siomón Brecc, grandson of Nuadu Finn Fáil. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with those of Darius the Great and Xerxes I of Persia. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 705–685 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 930–910 BC.