Conn of the Hundred Battles
Encyclopedia : C : CO : CON : Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles) was a legendary High King of Ireland. He was the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties. His father was either Fedlimid Rechtmar or Óenlám Gaba, and his mother is sometimes given as Medb Lethderg. His son was Art mac Cuinn. Some stories of the Fenian Cycle are set in his time.
He gained the throne by overthrowing Mal, who had killed his father. He earned his epithet Cétchathach in his wars with the Dál nAraidi.
His rival for the kingship of Ireland was the king of Munster, Éogan Mór, also known as Mug Nuadat, who beat him in ten battles and took half of Ireland from his control. Mug was able to gain such power because his druid predicted a famine, which he prepared for by storing grain. Ireland is sometimes seen as divided between Leth Cuinn, Conn's Half, in the north, and Leth Moga, Mug's Half, in the south.
Mug was killed when Conn led a night attack against his forces with all of his tribal leaders save one behind him. Conn's forces ultimately overwhelmed Mug's army, and Mug was killed in the process.
Mal's son Tibride Tirech killed Conn at Tara, having sent fifty warrior dressed as women against him from Emain Macha.
|- style="text-align: center;"
Family tree
Conn Cétchathach | | Art mac Cuinn | | Cormac mac Airt | | Cairbre Lifechair | | Fiacha Sraibhtine | | Muiredach Tirech | | Eochaid Mugmedon + Mongfind + Cairenn | | _________|_________ | | | | | | | | | Brion Fiachrae Ailill Niall (The Connachta) | __________________________|_______________________________________________________ | | | . | | | | | | | | . | | | | | Conall Gulban Endae Eogan . Coirpre Lóegaire Maine Conall Cremthainne Fiachu | . | | ________|________ | . | | | | Muirdeach . Cormac Caech Lughaid Fergus Cerrbel Ardgal | . | (d.507) | | . | | Muirchertach . Tuathal Diarmaid mac Ercae . Maelgarb mac Cearbhaill (d.536) . (d.544) (d.565) . (Northern Uí Néill) . (Southern Uí Néill)
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.