Finn mac Blatha

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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]

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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.

References

  1. R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 251
  2. Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.26
  3. Annals of the Four Masters M4248-4270
Preceded by High King of Ireland
LGE 6th/5th century BC
FFE 725–705 BC
AFM 952–930 BC
Succeeded by