NAME Cador
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Brenin
TYPE horse-warrior / head chieftain of Cornwall
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY England / Wales / France
REGION Cornwall
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
RELATIVES Constantine (son)
ENEMIES Germani / Saxons / Scots / Picts / Romans
SEE ALSO Arthur / Medrawt
REMARKS When Arthur took command of the Cymry, Cador was
there to help him. When word got out that Baldulf of the
Germani was marching at night to try and surprise Arthur,
Cador also marched that night and hit the Saxons with a
surprise attack that devastated their force.
Later during the siege of Bath by the Saxons, Cador
acted wisely and captured their boats. He then pursued
them and killed their chieftain Ceheldric, causing the
remainder to surrender.
During Arthur's celebration feast, Cador was promoted
to the position of head chieftain of ancient Cornwall and
became one of the sword-bearers for Arthur. During
Arthur's campaign in Gaul, Cador was in command of the left
wing of the first division and courageously held his
position when he received the initial attack of the battle.
Cador was a great warrior and when Arthur was mortally
wounded from his combat with Medrawt in Cornwall, he turned
command over to Cador's son Constantine.
NAME Cadw
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
SEE ALSO Arthur / Culhwch / Odgar / Olwen / Isbaddaden
REMARKS Cadw was an important head chieftain with 60
cantrefs under his protection. When Culhwch was wooing
Olwen, her father Isbaddaden demanded that Cadw be the
warrior to acquire the tusk from Ysgithwyn the Chieftain
Boar, even though Odgar was the only one who could do it
without killing the boar.
During the chase for the tusk, Cadw rode Arthur's
horse. With a small axe he split Ysgithwyn's head open and
took one of his tusks before the boar knew he was dead.
When it was time for Cadw to shave Isbaddaden with the
tusk, he shaved him to the bone.
NAME Cadwaladr
ALTERNATIVE Cadwallader
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 7th c / AD 664 (died)
RELATIVES Cadwallon (father)
ENEMIES Germani
SEE ALSO Cadwallon
REMARKS Cadwaladr was a Cymry chieftain who led his
warriors against the invading Germani tribes.
NAME Cadwallon
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6-7th c
RELATIVES Cadwaladr (son)
ENEMIES Germani
SEE ALSO Cadwaladr
REMARKS Cadwallon united Cumbria and Wales against the
invading Germani tribes.
NAME Cael
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / poet
TYPE battle-line / popular poet
CULTURE Fianna
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Credhe (wife); Luchra (son)
SEE ALSO Credhe
REMARKS Cael's proposal of marriage to Credhe was in the
form of a poem that applauded Credhe's many possessions.
After his death, she in turn praised his courage in combat.
NAME Caer Ibormeith
EPITHET Yew Berry
GENDER F
SYMBOL swan / yew berry
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY deity / filidh
TYPE goddess of death / swan maiden / love goddess /
shape changer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Lake of the Dragon's Mouth (Loch Bel Dracon)
CENTERS Sidhe Uamuin / Sidhe Brugh na Boyna
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Ethal Anubhail (father); Anghus (husband)
SEE ALSO Anghus mac Og
REMARKS Caer was the daughter of Ethal Anubhail, the
chieftain of Sidhe Uamuir in Connacht. Caer was a filidh
who alternated a year in the form of a human with a year in
the form of a swan.
As a maiden she was exceptionally beautiful and was a
head taller than the 3x50 maidens who accompanied her.
Although the rest of the maidens were attached to each
other with silver chains, Caer wore a necklace of silver
and was connected to the other maidens with a golden chain.
One Samhain while Caer was in the form of a human, a
handsome young man named Anghus came to the Lake of the
Dragon's Mouth and asked her to come away with him. Caer
agreed to go with him as long as she could change into the
form of a swan on alternate years.
Anghus agreed to this and then they both changed into
swans, circling the lake 3 times before they flew off to
Brugh na Boyna (the Spiral Castle) on Magh mBreg in Mide
where they sang so beautifully that the humans all fell to
sleep for three days.
NAME Cahir Mor
EPITHET Cahir The Great
ALTERNATIVE Cahair / Cathair ua Cormaic
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Allen Hill
SITES Raith Almu (fort of Almain)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c / AD 119-122 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Cath Almaine (Allen)
RELATIVES Fedilimid Rechtmar (father); Medb Lethderg
(mother); Ethne (daughter); Art (son); Conn
Cetcathach (brother); Cumhal and Fionn mac
Cumhaill (descendants); Eremon and Tea
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Conn Cetchathach
SEE ALSO Conn Cetchathach / Eremon / Ethne / Fedilimid
Rechtmar / Fionn mac Cumhaill / Medb Lethderg /
Tea
REMARKS Cahir Mor son of Fedilimid Rechtmar was a
descendant of Eremon and Tea of the Milesian (Goidel). At
the death of his father, Cahir Mor became the high
chieftain of Ireland. He built a huge fortress called
Almain which in which the ramparts enclosed a high tower
and numerous white-walled dwellings. The hill was named
Almain (Almu) because it was of lime. It later became
known as Allen Hill.
Cahir had 32 sons and one daughter and was an ancestor
of Fionn mac Cumhaill who used the fortress for his
headquarters of the Fianna. Cahir Mor ruled for only 3
years before he was killed by warriors of Leinster during
the battle of Cath Almaine (Allen). Cahir was followed by
his brother as high chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Cailb
ALTERNATIVE Agam / Badbh / Bloar / Blosc / Caill / Cethardam
/ Cluiche / Coll / Dairne / Darine / Deruaine /
Dichiuil / Dichoem / Dichuimne / Dichruidne /
Dithim / Egem / Ethamne / Gnim / Huae Oe Aife La
Sruth / Macha / Mede / Mod / Nemhain / Nith /
Noennen / Samlocht / Samon / Seisclend / Sinand
/ Sodb / Soeglend
GENDER F
SYMBOL hag
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY deity
TYPE forerunner of death / goddess of death
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY The Otherworld / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES supernatural powers
SEE ALSO Badbh Catha / Conaire Mor / Da Derga / Macha /
Nemhain
REMARKS Cailb was a forerunner of death and at sundown
she approached Da Derga's Hostel and came to the door where
Conaire, the high chieftain of Ireland, was warming by the
fire. She was wearing a gray woolen mantle, her shins were
black, her pubic hair reached her knees and her lips were
on the side of her head. Cailb cast an eye on Conaire and
asked to be let in. Conaire asked her for a prophecy and
Cailb replied that none of his flesh would escape the
hostel except that which was carried by birds in their
claws.
When Conaire asked what her name was, Cailb repeated
32 names in one breath while standing on one foot and
holding up one hand. Conaire swore that he would not call
her by any of those names and asked her what she wanted.
Cailb replied that she needed a place for the night,
knowing that it was a geis of Conaire's not to let a single
woman into his dwelling after sunset. Although he refused
at first, she accused the high chieftain of Ireland of
being unkind to an ancient woman and he relented and let
her inside.
NAME Cailleach Beara
EPITHET The Hag of Beare (Cailleach Beara) / The ancient
Woman of Beara (Caillech Bherri)
ALTERNATIVE Boi (yellow) / Bui (yellow) / Digde / Dige /
Duineach
GENDER F
SYMBOL hag
CATEGORY deity
TYPE triple goddess (death/birth/life)
CULTURE Fomorii ? / Danann ?
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Meath / Loughcrew
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Beara Peninsula / Corco Duibne / Loughcrew Mtns
SITES Sliabh na Caillighe (The Hag's Mountain) /
Knowth Monument
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th c
ACCESSORIES supernatural apron / creel (wicker basket)
RELATIVES Cailleach Bolus and Cailleach Corca Duibhne
(sisters); 7 husbands and 50 foster-children;
Lugh (consort)
SEE ALSO Lugh
REMARKS Cailleach Beara was a fertility goddess of
Ireland. She had 7 husbands, and each one grew old while
she remained a youth. She went through 7 periods of youth
so that many of her children's great-grandchildren still
knew her as young and beautiful.
Her descendants were to become clans and tribes, and
at one time Lugh of the Danann was her consort. Cailleach
Beara was thought to be responsible for the cairns in Mide,
moving the islands of west Kerry and building mountains in
Scotland. She was also known by the name Duineach which
means to have a large or strong following.
NAME Cain
EPITHET Excellent Tax (Cainbreathach)
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE judge
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Carnmab Ulad (Stony Plain of Ulster)
SITES Temair Luachra
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra
RELATIVES Sencha (father)
SEE ALSO Conchobar mac Nessa / Sencha macAilella
REMARKS Cain was a young filidh of Ulster and when his
father was absent, he would make the judgments. He
followed Cu Chulainn and the warriors on their wild drunken
trip that ended in a battle at Temuir Luachra. He was
described by Cromm Deroil as a youthful young man with
blond curly hair.
NAME Cairbre
EPITHET The Poet
ALTERNATIVE Cairpre / Cairvi / Carbre / Carpre / Coirbre
/
Coirpre mac Etaine / Corpre mac Etoine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY hero / master poet
TYPE satirist
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura) /
Segais Well
ACCESSORIES sword of knowledge (oral knowledge)
RELATIVES Etain (mother); Tuar (father); Cerna (son);
Senbecc and Delbaeth (half-brothers); Diancecht
(grandfather); Esaire (great-grandmother);
Magog, Iarbonel, Ordan and Net (ancestors)
ENEMIES Bress / Fomorii / Nechtan
SEE ALSO Bress / Daghda / Delbaeth / Diancecht / Esaire /
Etain / Lugh / Iarbonel / Magog / Nechtan / Net
/ Nuadha / Oghma / Ordan
REMARKS Cairbre, son of Etain and Tuar, was the master
poet of the Danann. He visited Bress when he was head
chieftain of the Danann and was received with poor
hospitality.
Bress served scanty portions of food and ale and gave
him no fire to chant his praise over. Cairbre was so angry
at the poor quality of leadership demonstrated by Bress
that he satirized him viciously, causing red blemishes to
appear on his host's face. The Danann claimed that this
was the first satire in Ireland and set an example for the
power of the double-edged sword (Tongue of Knowledge).
Lugh questioned various people of special talents,
asking them what they could do in the upcoming battle with
the Fomorii. Cairbre of the white head replied he would
help the Danann win by satirizing the enemy.
Cairbre eventually died a druidic death of pure light
at the hands of Nechtan during the battle of Segais Well.
NAME Cairbre Caitcheann
EPITHET Cat Head
ALTERNATIVE Cairpre Cinn-chait / Cairvi / Carbre /
Carpre /
Coirbre / Coirpre / Corpre
GENDER M
SYMBOL cat
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE high chieftain
CULTURE Belgae - Luaighni tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Leitrim
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Macc Da Reo's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 38-55 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Duthach (father); Mani (wife); Morann mac Main
and Treg (sons)
ENEMIES Goidel
SEE ALSO Macc Da Reo
REMARKS Cairbre was called "Cat Head" because he had
ears that were shaped like those of a cat. He led warriors
of the subject tribes (Aitheachean) against the Goidel
rulers. Cairbre massacred three Goidel chieftains and
their warriors during a battle at the hostel of Macc Da Reo
in county Leitrim. There is a possibility that Cairbre and
Macc Da Reo may have been one and the same.
Cairbre drove the Goidel ruler of Connacht out of
Ireland, assumed the position of high chieftain and married
Mani, daughter of Fiachu Findamnas, the head chieftain of
Ulster.
During Cairbre's rule, the goddess of Ireland deserted
the people. Soon the fish disappeared from the seas, the
crops were poor, few nuts matured on the trees, and the
udders of the cows went dry. The high chieftain was judged
by his ability to commune with the goddess of nature.
NAME Cairbre Lifechair
EPITHET Of the Liffey / Red-Haired Cairbre of Ship-
harbour
ALTERNATIVE Cairpre / Cairvi / Carbre / Carpre / Coirbre
/
Coirpre / Corpre / Liffchair
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Hill of Skrene
SITES stream Gabhra / Garristown
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 242-268 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Gabhra (Gowra) (destruction of the Fianna)
ACCESSORIES spear of 7 enchantments (ogham charms on head)
Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Cormac macAirt (father); Ethne (mother); Sgeimh
Solais (daughter); Art, Eochu Domplen and Fiacha
(sons); Grainne and Ailbe (sisters); Celleach
(brother); Art Aenfer (grandfather); Eremon and
Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Oscar
SEE ALSO Ailbe / Angus Gae-Aduath / Art Aenfer / Celleach
/ Cormac macAirt / Eremon / Ethne / Fiacha
Sreabhtuinne / Goll / Grainne / Oscar / Sgeimh
Solais / Tea
REMARKS Cairbre Lifechair son of Cormac macAirt was a
descendant of Eremon and Tea and was the 106th high
chieftain of Ireland. When he was still a young man he
asked his father what characteristics made a good leader.
His father Cormac replied that a good Ard Righ should:
1 - be courteous and not haughty
2 - know the history of Ireland
3 - govern without anger
4 - pay strict attention to covenants and agreements
5 - be strict but temper it with mercy
6 - have patience and don't dispute
7 - import jewels from across the sea
8 - keep high quality warriors to protect the
provinces
9 - make war in other lands
10 - maintain fertile lands in Ireland
Cairbre then asked his father what the duties of the
high chieftain of Ireland were during a feast at the great
hall and his father replied that some of his duties would
be to:
1 - light his lamps on Samhain
2 - welcome his guests by clapping his hands
3 - supply comfortable seats
4 - instruct the cup-bearers to be quick and
respectful in the distribution of meat and drink
5 - provide music, short stories and pleasant
conversation
Cairbre then asked Cormac what qualifications were
sought when the high chieftain of Ireland was being chosen.
Cormac replied that the qualities looked for were:
1 - an unblemished form
2 - a reputable family
3 - wisdom derived from experience
4 - discretion and freedom from pettiness
5 - eloquence in speech
6 - bravery in battle
7 - the number of reliable friends
Cairbre succeeded his father when Cormac had his eye
put out by Angus of the Terrible Spear during a dispute at
Tara. Cairbre wanted to put an end to the power of the
Fianna as independent standing armies of the high chieftain
of Ireland. During Cairbre's rule as the high chieftain of
Ireland, Bresal Belach son of Fiachu Baiced became the head
chieftain of Leinster and refused to pay the tax called the
Boramha Tribute (cattle counting).
Cairbre wanted to put an end to the power of the
Fianna as independent standing armies of the high chieftain
of Ireland. He invited the champions of the Fianna to a
feast at Tara. After the third day of feasting he tried to
persuade Oscar, the leader of the Fianna, to exchange spear
shafts with him. Since Oscar had an enchanted spear shaft
and Cairbre had a supernatural spear head, Cairbre thought
that if he connected both parts he would be invincible.
Oscar said he would accept the offer in exchange for heads
as well but Cairbre refused.
Cairbre's daughter Sgeimh Solais was to be married to
the son of a Desi chieftain and it was traditional that the
Fianna receive her weight in gold. Cairbre refused to pay
the sum and invited the Clanna Morna to rebel against the
authority of Oscar, leader of the Fianna. This reopened
the animosity between the Clanna Morna and the Clanna
Baoisgne. The resulting battle of Gabhra (Gowra) took
place near a stream around present-day Garristown on the
hill of Skrene in the year AD 268.
The clanna Morna sided with the high chieftain of
Ireland against the Fianna, who were supported by the head
chieftain of Munster. After 26 years as high chieftain
Cairbre was killed by Oscar during single combat but Oscar
died from his wounds received in the battle. The power of
the Fianna was destroyed and they no longer played a role
of major influence in Ireland's history.
NAME Cairbre Musc
ALTERNATIVE Cairpre / Cairvi / Carbre / Carpre / Coirbre
/
Coirpre / Corpre Findmor
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / son of Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES Mess Buachalla (grandmother); Conaire Mor
(father); Cairbre Baschain, Cairbre Riada, Le
Fer Flaith, Oball and Oblene (brothers)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Cairbre Riada / Conaire Mor / Da Derga /
Donn
Desa / Ingcel / Le Fer Flaith / Mess Buachalla
REMARKS Cairbre Musc was a young son of Conaire Mor, the
high chieftain of Ireland, and was present during the
destruction at Da Derga's Hostel on Magh Liffey. He became
the progenitor of the Muscraige, his brother Cairbre
Baschain the Corco Baiscinn and Cairbre Riada the Dal
Riada.
NAME Cairbre Riada
ALTERNATIVE Cairbre Rigfhota / Cairpre Riata / Cairvi /
Carbre / Carpre / Coirbre /
Coirpre / Corpre
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / son of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster / Ulster / Atrim
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Mess Buachalla (grandmother); Conaire Mor
(father); Cairbre Baschain, Cairbre Musc, Le
Fer Flaith, Oball and Oblene (brothers); Fergus
macEirc (descendant)
SEE ALSO Cairbre Musc / Conaire Mor / Fergus macEirc / Le
Fer Flaith / Mess Buachalla
REMARKS During a famine in Munster, Cairbre Riada led
his people northward into Ulster and conquered a territory
in Antrim. The name Riada means to travel by horse or
chariot. He was the progenitor of the Dal Riada, as the
tribe became known, and years later descendants of
Cairbre's sailed across to Scotland with the chieftain
Fergus and his brothers. They settled on Argyll (Airer
Ghaidheal), giving rise to a double kingdom.
NAME Cairell
EPITHET Ragged Nailed (Crechtingech) / White Skin
(O'Baoisgne)
ALTERNATIVE Carell / Carroll / Coirioll / Baoisgne {Bweesg-
na}
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fomorii / Fianna -
Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Leinster
SITES Allen Hill
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Fionn (father); Cumhal (grandfather); Samhair
and Cebha (half-sisters); Aedh, Ailbhinn, Daire,
Fergus Finnbheoil, Oisin and Raighne (half-
brothers)
ENEMIES Goll
SEE ALSO Ailbhinn / Cebha / Conan Maol / Cumhal / Fergus
Finnbheoil / Fionn / Goll mac Morna / Oisin /
Samhair
REMARKS Cairell was dubbed Ragged Nailed by Bald Conan
as an insult because manicured fingernails were a sign of
beauty and aristocracy. Cairell led a force of Fianna
against Dun Sreabhtainne.
Cairell was at the feast when Fionn and Goll started
to put themselves in the mood for a fight. He told Goll
that there were many warriors at the feast who could
silence him and his people. Conan then spoke up saying
that any of Goll's warriors could silence Cairell. Cairell
punched Bald Conan and Conan struck him back. Soon
everyone joined in the brawl. Cairell was eventually
killed by Goll in single combat.
NAME Cairell
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Ui Néill
DATE AD 6th c
RELATIVES Muiredach Muinderg (father); Tuan (son)
SEE ALSO Fintan mac Bocha / Tuan mac Cairill
REMARKS A fisherman caught a salmon in his net one day
and brought it to the wife of the chieftain Cairell, son of
Muiredach Muinderg of Ulster. She cooked it and ate the
salmon which contained the soul of Fintan mac Bocha.
The chieftain's wife became pregnant and bore a son,
Tuan mac Cairill, who remembered all his reincarnations and
the history of Ireland.
NAME Cairenn Chasdubh
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE 2nd wife to the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 4th c
RELATIVES Eochu Muigmedon (husband); Niall (son); Scal
Moen (father)
ENEMIES Mongfhinn
SEE ALSO Eochu Muigmedon / Mongfhinn / Niall Noighiallach
REMARKS Cairenn was second wife to Eochu Muigmedon and
was therefore subservient to the first wife Mongfhinn.
Mongfhinn was jealous of Cairenn and gave her all the
unimportant tasks to do. When Cairenn gave birth to Niall,
she died and Mongfhinn tried to kill her son.
NAME Calatin Dana
EPITHET The Bold / The Brave
ALTERNATIVE Caltlin
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / filidh
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Fomorii - Clanna Calatin
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY cause of Connacht
SITES Fuil Iairn (Blood of Iron)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES supernatural spears covered with poison
RELATIVES 27 sons; Glass macDelga (grandson); 3 daughters
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn / Fiachna macFerfebe
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Ferghus / Fiachna macFerfebe /
Medbh
REMARKS Calatin had 27 sons and 1 grandson. They were
all blind in one eye, mutilated in the left hand and had an
amputated right foot. The sons and grandson studied the
arts of the druids for 17 years in Albainn
(Scotland/northern England). The children of Calatin
worked for 7 years preparing special spears covered in
poison designed to kill Cu Chulainn.
They tried to convince Ferghus that they could fight
as one unit against Cu Chulainn. Ferghus would not agree
to this and told the exiles of Ulster what they were about
to do. Fiachna macFerfebe told Ferghus he would go to
watch the combat for him. He saw the Calatin Clan throw
their 29 spears at Cu Chulainn who used the edge-feat with
his shield to stop every one. These spears would later be
used to kill Cu Chulainn in a battle south of Armagh.
While Cu Chulainn was cutting the spears away from his
shield, the Calatin Clan charged, knocked him down and
pummelled his head. Cu Chulainn let out a warrior's yell
of unequal combat that was heard by the whole of the Ulster
Exiles.
Fiachna, who was close by, observed what happened and
flew into a warrior's rage, jumped from his chariot and cut
off the hands of the 29 warriors of the Calatin Clan. Cu
Chulainn then killed them all but the grandson Glass. He
ran into the camp yelling "Fiach" but Cu Chulainn, who was
chasing him, cut off his head. Glass tried to say
"Fiachna" but he only managed to say "fiach" which means
"debt" before he lost his head. Calatin and his sons and
grandson had 29 pillar stones raised over them, and the
site was called Fuil Iairn (Blood of Iron).
Calatin plus his 27 sons and his grandson equal the 29
days of a moon year which requires 17 sun years to
synchronize with the sun (Cu Chulainn). Calatin also had 3
daughters who were born to his wife after his death and
they were all blind in one eye as well. Medbh had them
sent to Albainn and as far away as Babylon to train in
sorcery.
After the Cualnge Cattle Raid was over and the curse
of Macha was again upon the warriors of Ulster, Cu Chulainn
happened to pass the 3 daughters of Calatin who were
cooking a dog on a rowan fire. Cu Chulainn had two
conflicting gessa. One was that he was not to eat dog and
the other was that he was not to pass a hearth without
tasting the food.
Cu Chulainn accepted a portion of the dog and as he
put it to his lips, his strength left the arm that held the
meat. The daughters of Calatin would have their revenge
against the one who killed the males of their family.
NAME Calgach
EPITHET The Swordman
ALTERNATIVE Calgaigh / Calgacus (Latin) / Galgacus
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain / war leader
CULTURE Pictish - Caledonian tribe
COUNTRY Scotland
REGION Grampian
SITES Mons Graupius - Rae Dykes near Stonehaven
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 84
BATTLES Mons Graupius
ENEMIES Rome
REMARKS Calgach was a Pictish chieftain who united the
highland tribes to fight the Romans. Tacitus credits
Calgach with saying that when the Romans stole, murdered
and plundered they called it government and when they
created a desert they called it peace.
In an attempt to stop the Romans from expanding their
rule farther into Scotland, Pictish warriors mounted a
night-time attack on the camp of the ninth legion. They
created chaos then disappeared into the woods before
Agricola arrived with more troops.
The Picts, unlike their lowland cousins, sent their
non-combatant women and children to places of safety. The
tribes exchanged hostages and elected war leaders. In AD
84, Calgach led 30,000 Picts against Roman legions who were
backed by Gaulish and Germani mercenaries at the battle of
Mons Graupius. The fierce Picts with their long swords and
small battle shields were an able match for the Romans.
The Celtic eagerness to drive the invaders from their
territory, and political intervention from Rome, caused the
Romans to pull back south and leave the highlanders to
themselves.
NAME Callirius
GENDER M
SYMBOL stag
CATEGORY deity
TYPE guardian of a hazel forest / hunter god
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Essex
TERRITORY Lloegr
SITES Colchester (fortress of Camulos)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / AD 1st c
SEE ALSO Camulos
REMARKS A plaque was found at the site near Colchester
with the dedication to Silvanus Callirius along with the
sculpture of a stag. Silvanus was a nature god of Imperial
Rome and Callirius was the older Celtic deity.
Before the Catuvellauni captured Camulodun
(Colchester) in AD 1st century the site belonged to the
Trinovantes tribe who settled the area in BC 6th century.
The Romans arrived in AD 1st century.
NAME Cambaules
EPITHET Crooked Hand
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Gallic
COUNTRY France / Yugoslavia
TERRITORY Gaul / Thrace
SITES slopes of Haemos
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c
REMARKS Cambaules led a force of Gallic warriors that
succeeded in capturing territory in Thrace after the first
attempt by another band had failed.
NAME Camber
ALTERNATIVE Kamber
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Latin
COUNTRY England / Wales
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria
CENTERS Caer Troia (town of Troy), present-day Ilford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 11th c
RELATIVES Brute (father); Ignoge (mother); Locrinus and
Albanactus (brothers)
SEE ALSO Albanactus / Brute / Locrinus
REMARKS When Brute's oldest son Locrinus became the head
chieftain of his people, the other two sons took their
followers and travelled into new parts of the island to
conquer their own territory. Camber took his people into
new lands to the west of the Severn river, giving his name
to the area when he died. He led a force of warriors
against a chieftain named Humber when the territory of his
brother Albanactus was invaded.
NAME Camma
GENDER F
CATEGORY hero / Gutuatri
TYPE temple priestess
CULTURE Galatian
COUNTRY Turkey
TERRITORY Galatia
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c
SEE ALSO Artio
REMARKS Camma was the Celtic priestess (Gutuatri) of
great beauty at the Galatian temple of the local deity
Artemis (Artio). She was being harrassed so she poisoned
her tormentors and herself.
NAME Camulogeno
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE freedom fighter / war leader
CULTURE Armorican - Aulerci tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul / Aremorica
LANDMARKS Seine
SITES Paris
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
ENEMIES Rome
REMARKS When Camulogeno was an old man he was given the
position as war leader during the battle of Paris because
he was experienced at war. He kept the Romans from
crossing the Seine by taking up position in the marshes of
the Seine. The Romans finally gave up and followed the
river until they came to the oppidum of Metiosedum situated
on an island in the Seine. The Romans crossed there to the
almost undefended fort and burnt it to the ground.
Camulogeno ordered his Celts to burn Paris to the
ground and gathered his warriors along the banks of the
Seine opposite the ruins of Paris where he was joined by
warriors from the Bellovaci tribe. The Romans attacked
under cover of darkness. In the battle that followed,
Camulogeno was killed.
NAME Camulos
EPITHET One-eye
ALTERNATIVE Cumal / Coll (Hazel)
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE war god / sky god
CULTURE Belgae - Remi tribe / Catuvellauni tribe
COUNTRY France / Yugoslavia / England / Scotland
REGION Essex / Yorkshire / Dalmatia /
TERRITORY Lloegr
LANDMARKS Marne / Antonine Wall
SITES Reims / Colchester (fortress of Camulos) /
Almondbury / Camulosessaorks / Camulosessa (seat
of Camulos) in southern Scotland / Bar Hill
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
REMARKS Camulos was a war god of the Remi tribe of Gaul.
The tribe continued to venerate him when they settled in
England. The site was called Camulodun (Fort of Camulos)
and centuries later became known as Camulodunum under the
Romans, then Colchester by the English.
NAME Cano
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Scotland / England / Ireland
TERRITORY Albainn
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 7th c / AD 656
ACCESSORIES supernatural stone
RELATIVES Gartnan (father)
SEE ALSO Cred / Gartnan / Guaire
REMARKS Cano was the son of a head chieftain of Albainn
(Scotland/northern England). While he was in Ireland, he
was invited to visit Guaire, the head chieftain of
Connacht. It was as his guest that he met Cred, the young
wife of an ancient chieftain named Marcan. The two young
people fell in love, and before Cano returned to Scotland
he gave Cred a supernatural stone which contained his soul.
After he returned to Albainn, Cano's father died and
he became the new head chieftain. He received word from
Cred that she wanted to have a clandestine meeting but
their attempt was foiled by her stepson Colcu. Cred killed
herself and three days later Cano died.
NAME Cano Gall
EPITHET The Foreigner
GENDER M
CATEGORY mariner
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Rosnaree (Cath Ruis na Rig)
ACCESSORIES ship
SEE ALSO Conchobar mac Nessa
REMARKS Cano was the captain of the ship that carried
the negotiators for Conchobar mac Nessa during the battle
of Rosnaree.
NAME Caoilte
EPITHET The Thin Man (Caoilte) / Thoroughly Gray
(Daorghlas) / Intensely Gray (Gerglas)
ALTERNATIVE Cailte / Caoilte {Cweelt-ya} / Derglas
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / filidh
TYPE battle-line / historical poet
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Leinster
SITES Allen Hill
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
BATTLES Sheaves
ACCESSORIES a supernatural belt of protection
RELATIVES Ronag (father); Fionn (cousin)
SEE ALSO Cas Corach / Feradach Fechtnach / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Oscar
REMARKS Caoilte, the man who did not require teaching,
received his epithet The Thin Man when he helped the seven
blacksmiths in making swords for the Fianna. Caoilte and
Oscar were true foster-brothers in that they were born at
the same time and brought up together.
A Danann consort gave Caoilte a supernatural belt that
would protect him in battle. He could run so fast he was a
blur and looked like 3 people because he lifted his feet so
high. The Thin Man was always sent on missions that
required a fast runner. Caoilte and Cas Corach killed the
three daughters of Airitech.
Once while hunting deer in Skye, the Fianna lost their
quarry and had to resort to eating shellfish and drinking
the milk of their cow Gray-cheek (Glas-ghoilean). Then
they heard the yell from the Thin Man, signifying that he
had chased down the deer.
Caoilte recited a story of how Tuathal and Fiachu, two
sons of Feradach Fechtnach, the high chieftain of Ireland,
divided Ireland on the death of their father. The oldest
took the treasures, the herds, and the fortressess while
the younger received the cliffs, the estuaries, the fruits
of the sea, the salmon and the game, so he went to live
with the Fianna.
ALTERNATIVE Carradawc
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Danann / Goidel
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
CENTERS Harlech was his fortress
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Seith Marchawg - The Seven Horsemen
RELATIVES Bran (father)
SEE ALSO Bran ap Llyr / Cassubellaunos / Llassar Llaes
Gyfnewid / Matholwch / Pwyll
REMARKS The 7 horsemen were left as caretakers in Wales
while Bran and his warriors were in Ireland fighting
Matholwch. Caradawg, son of Bran, was the leader. The
horsemen were Hyfaidd Hir (Heveydd the Tall) the messenger,
Unig Glen Ysgwyd (Strong Shoulder), Iddig son of Anarawg
(Curly-haired), Wlch (Lip-Bone), Lassar son of Llassar
Llaes Gyfnewid, Ffodor son of Eryll (Ervyll), and Pwyll,
the head chieftain of Dyfed.
During this time when most of the warriors of the
Britons were away, the Belgae under Cassubellaunos
conquered Britain. In the battle for Wales the seven
horseman were killed. Caradawg was spared because he was a
relative, but he later committed suicide.
EPITHET The Beloved One
ALTERNATIVE Caractacos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe and septs
COUNTRY England
REGION Greater London / Bedfordshire / Buckinghamshire
/ Oxfordshire / Gloucestershire / Hertfordshire
/ Suffolk / Essex / Kent / Surrey / Berkshire /
Hampshire / Cotswolds / Shropshire
TERRITORY Lloegr
LANDMARKS North Downs / Lea Marshes
CENTERS Caer Caradoc (Caratacus' fort) / Colchester
(Fort of Camulos)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 41 / AD 43 / AD 47 / AD 50 / AD 51
RELATIVES Cunobel (father); Tasciovanos (grandfather);
Lludd (great-grandfather); Epaticcos (great-
uncle); Togodumnos and Adminius (brothers)
ENEMIES Verica / Cartimandua / Adminius / Rome
SEE ALSO Adminius / Camulos / Cartimandua /
Cunobel /
Epaticcos / Lludd / Tasciovanos /
Togodumnos /
Verica
REMARKS On the death of Cunobel in AD 41, Caratacus
became the head chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe and
their septs. Following in the footsteps of his ancesters,
he expanded the tribal territory by conquering the Dobunni
tribe in Gloucestershire and the Atrebates of Sussex.
Verica, the head chieftain of the Atrebates, escaped
capture and fled to Gaul to ask Claudius for help in
retrieving his territory.
Caratacus demanded that the Romans extradite Verica
and began to threaten Roman merchants in Britain. Rome
realized that the island of Britain was a country rich in
furs, meat, fish, grain and, most importantly, gold.
In the spring of AD 43, Claudius sent Aulus Plautius
with 50,000 soldiers to Britain. They landed at
Richborough near Sandwich, Kent where they met with little
resistance from the tribes which had been subjected by
Caratacus.
Caratacus and his warriors failed to hold the Romans
and their war elephants at the North Downs. He had his
warriors regroup at Lea Marshes and engaged the Romans in
another battle in which his brother Togodumnos was killed.
Caratacus escaped to Wales and established himself
among the highland Celts of the Silures, Ordovices,
Deceangli, Demetae and Cornovii tribes. He also attracted
other warriors looking for battle including those from
tribes that were now subjected by the Romans.
The Romans established the Foss Way frontier in AD 47
and took control of the most domesticated area of Britain
southeast of a line from the Humber river in the north
along the Severn river in the west and south to Exmouth.
For three years Caratacus fought a successful
guerrilla war, hitting the Romans with lightning chariot
attacks. In AD 50, Caratacus changed tactics and fought a
standing battle with the Romans at Caer Caradoc in present-
day Shropshire. The battle was a disaster for the Celtic
freedom fighters but Caratacus managed to escape and fled
to the Brigantes for help. The Brigantes' head chieftain
Cartimandua had no sympathy for the Belgae leader and put
him into chains and handed him over to the Romans in AD 51.
Caratacus and his family were sent to Rome where,
after an eloquent speech to the senate, they were held
prisoners in the city of Rome itself.
EPITHET The Champion
ALTERNATIVE Cairbre macMata / Cairpre / Cairvi / Carpre
/
Coirbre / Coirpre Nia Fer /
Corpre Cairbre
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Temair of Brug Niad
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cath Ruis na Rig (died)
RELATIVES Maga Muresc (mother); Ross Ruad (father);
Fedlimid Nocruthach (wife); Eochu Imfhota,
Carbre and Erc (sons); Conchobar (father-in-
law); Ailill and Finn (brothers)
ENEMIES Dubthach / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cet mac Magach / Conall /
Conchobar / Cu Chulainn / Dubthach Doel / Erc
mac Cairbre / Fedlimid Nocruthach / Finn macMata
/ Maga Muresc / Medbh / Ross Ruad
REMARKS Carbre Niafer was the head chieftain of Leinster
when Eterscel Mor came to power in BC 113 and ruled the
province through most of Conaire Mor's rule. Carbre was
refused marriage by Medbh, the sovereign of Connacht, but
by the time the Firbolg were being driven from the islands
of Scotland by the Picts, he was the head chieftain of
Leinster and ruled from Temair of Brug Niad in that
province.
Conall, son of Oengus the head chieftain of the
Firbolg, asked him if the sons of Umor could settle in
Leinster. Carbre saw this as an opportunity to put them to
work and they agreed on 4 sureties each. Because Carbre
did not want the Firbolg to settle in great numbers, he
imposed a heavy tax on them.
The Firbolg, angry at the tax, went to Medhb for
permission to settle in Connacht. She agreed and they
moved to Connacht, their original homeland in Ireland. When
Carbre found out, he was infuriated and sent his 4 sureties
Ros mac Dedaid, Conall Cernacht, Cet mac Magach and Cu
Chulainn to take the heads of the Firbolg.
The Firbolg chieftain Oengus sent the champions Cing
of Aigle against Ros mac Dedaid, Cimme four-heads against
Conall Cernacht, Irgus Many Battles against Cet mac Magach
and his son Conall The Great against Cu Chulainn. Carbre's
sureties were victorious and his claim was satisfied.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid his 2 sons Erc and
Carbre fought for Ulster. His son Carbre was killed by
Dubthach but Erc lived to become the head chieftain of
Leinster.
During the battle of Ros na Rig (Cath Ruis na Rig)
when Ulster came after Connacht for revenge, Carbre Niafer
fought for Connacht against Ulster. During the battle he
was killed by Cu Chulainn.
NAME Carman
ALTERNATIVE Carmun
GENDER F
FESTIVAL summer solstice / Lughnasadh (Lugh's Wedding) /
Festival of Carman
CATEGORY deity / hero / warrior / chieftain / filidh
TYPE goddess of destruction / sorcerer
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo / Wexford
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
SITES Wexford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES Calma, Cromm Dubh and Olc (sons)
ENEMIES Danann / Be Chuille
SEE ALSO Be Chuille / Cromm Dubh
REMARKS Carman was a powerful sorcerer and could destroy
the juices of ripening fruit. Carman and her sons
destroyed the Danann filidh, Be Chuille, before she herself
was defeated in the second battle of Magh Tuireadh by the
Danann in county Sligo.
Carman's 3 sons Calma (fierce), Dubh (black) and Olc
(evil) were driven to sea and she was kept captive by the
Danann along with the 7 objects that her people worshipped.
Carman died in captivity and from then on she was honored
during the festival of Lughnasadh at Wexford in Leinster
with contests of music and poetry.
NAME Cartimandua
EPITHET Sleek Pony
GENDER F
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish - Brigantes tribe / Briton
COUNTRY England
REGION Yorkshire
LANDMARKS Pennines / Humber
SITES Ouse Valley
CENTERS Barwick
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c
RELATIVES Venutius (husband); Vellocatos (consort)
ENEMIES Venutius
SEE ALSO Brighid / Caratacus / Vellocatos / Venutios
REMARKS Cartimandua had her raith at the site of
present-day Barwick near the Ouse Valley east of the
Pennines. She was known to have sacrificed humans to evoke
Brighid, the tribal goddess.
Cartimandua tried to protect the prosperity of her
tribe by making her tribe a protectorate of Rome. When the
Belgae Caratacus fled to her after losing a battle with the
Romans, she handed him over to the Romans in chains.
Cartimandua's pro-Roman stance, her handing over of
Caratacus to his enemies and the affair she was having with
her shield-bearer caused a split in the tribe and her
husband Venutius was elected chieftain of the other half.
The civil war that followed caused much destruction
within the tribe. When she began to lose the war,
Cartimandua and her consort Vellocatos fled to the Romans.
The ancient tribe, which had been one of the most powerful
in Britain, never recovered its former glory.
NAME Cas Corach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / bard
TYPE musician
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht / The Otherworld
SITES Cave of Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ENEMIES Airitech
SEE ALSO Caoilte
REMARKS Airitech, a creature from The Otherworld, had 3
daughters who could assume the shape of wolves and then
cause havoc and panic in the surrounding countryside.
Cas Corach, a musician of the Danann, began to play
sweet music to the wolves, suggesting that they would
appreciate the music better in their human forms. When the
3 daughters of Airitech assumed their human shape and were
settling down to listen to the music, Cas Corach's friend
Caoilte impaled all 3 with his spear. Cas Corach collected
their heads so they could not escape by changing into
another form.
NAME Casseto
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Briton - Trinovantes tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Essex / Suffolk
TERRITORY Lloegr
CENTERS Braughing
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 54 (died)
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Avarwy / Cassubellaunos / Imanuentios
REMARKS When Imanuentios was killed in combat by
Cassubellaunos, Casseto was made head chieftain of the
Trinovantes tribe because of his anti-Roman stance.
Imanuentios's son Avarwy escaped to Gaul and sought
help from the Romans. When Caesar landed in BC 54, Casseto
was killed and Avarwy was put in place by the Romans as
head chieftain.
EPITHET House of Belenos / Excellently Good (Caswallawn)
ALTERNATIVE Cassivellaunos / Cassivellaunus /
Cassivsllaunos
Cassuvellaun / Casswallan
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain / war leader
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni, Catalauni, and Cassi
tribes
COUNTRY England / Wales
REGION Greater London / Bedfordshire / Buckinghamshire
/ Oxfordshire / Gloucestershire / Hertfordshire
/ Suffolk / Essex
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria
CENTERS Wheathamstead (raith) / Caer-y-Twr
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 54 (fought Caesar)
ACCESSORIES cloak of invisibility
RELATIVES Beli Mawr (father); Lludd, Nynniaw and Llevelys
(brothers); Penarddun (aunt); Tasciovanos and
Epaticcos (nephews)
ENEMIES Imanuentios / Rome / Avarwy
SEE ALSO Avarwy / Beli Mawr / Bran ap Llyr / Caradawg /
Cingetorix / Comm / Epatticos /
Imanuentios /
Llevelys / Lludd / Nynniaw / Penarddun / Pwyll /
Tasciovanos
REMARKS When Cassubellaunos became head chieftain of the
Catuvellauni tribe he began to expand his territory and
moved his center to Wheathamstead. The Catuvellauni were
becoming the most powerful tribe on the island of Britain
and while Bran was fighting in Ireland, Cassubellaunos
attacked his territory and killed the seven horsemen that
Bran had left under the leadership of his son Caradawg to
defend Wales. Cassubellaunos wore his cloak of
invisibility and only his sword could be seen. Caer-y-Twr,
the Iron Age hillfort in Anglesey, is said to have been
built by him.
Cassubellaunos killed Imanuentios, chieftain of the
Trinovantes, in a battle and the tribe became his clients.
He was now considered to be a Rix of southern England and
Wales. Imanuentios's son Avarwy fled to Gaul and begged
Caesar to help him. This was the excuse Caesar needed to
mount an exploratory expedition.
Caesar landed at Deal in England with 800 ships and a
force of five Roman legions and 2000 Gaulish horse
warriors. Cassubellaunos had been elected war leader of
the local tribes and began organizing his warriors. After
a number of skirmishes with the Romans, Cassubellaunos
realized he was up against a seasoned, well-trained and
well-equipped army. He disbanded his force and fought with
4000 chariots, using lightning strikes and hit-and-hide
techniques. This method of fighting proved successful and
made life miserable for Caesar and his invading army.
Cassubellaunos sent word to the four head chieftains
in Kent: Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segovax.
They were to execute a suprise raid on Caesar's naval camp
and destroy his ships. The raid was a failure and many
warriors were killed.
Cassubellaunos sent a message to Caesar, via the
Gaulish chieftain Comm, negotiating a peace. Caesar took
advantage of the reprieve to retreat to Gaul. Before
Caesar left, Avarwy was made head chieftain of the
Trinovantes, replacing Casseto, and Cassubellaunos was
warned not to attack him.
Cassubellaunos later organized an expedition to Gaul
and was never heard of again. Lludd's son Tasciovanos was
made the new head chieftain of the Catuvellauni.
NAME Casticus
ALTERNATIVE Casticos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Gallic - Sequani tribe
COUNTRY Switzerland
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Jura Mountains
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 58 ca.
RELATIVES Catamantaloedis (father)
ENEMIES Caesar
SEE ALSO Orgetorix
REMARKS Casticus was persuaded by Orgetorix, head
chieftain of the Helvetii, to take the position of head
chieftain of the Sequani tribe by force if necessary
because his father had been the Brenin of the tribe for
many years.
NAME Cat
ALTERNATIVE Cait / Caitt / Catt / Cet / Gatt / Got
GENDER M
SYMBOL cat
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Albainn / Caithness (Cathanesia)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Fib, Fidach, Fotla, Ce,
Circinn and Fortrenn (brothers); Luchtine
(great-great-grandfather); Hercules (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Ce / Circinn / Cruithnechan / Fib /
Fidach / Fortrenn / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS The sons of Cruithnechan became the chieftains
of the 7 territories of Scotland (Albainn). Cat became
head chieftain of the territory of Cathanesia (Caithness).
Cat could trace his lineage back to Luchtine of the Danann
and Hercules (Belenos) of the Picts.
NAME Cat Irusan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Mide
CENTERS Sidhe of Knowth
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
REMARKS Cat Irusan, who had his home at the Sidhe of
Knowth, was described as being as large as an ox in build.
NAME Cathbad
ALTERNATIVE Cathba {kah-vah} / Cathbad {kath-vadh, kaff-a} /
Cathbhad {kath-va} / Cathub
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / druid
TYPE lecturer / astronomer
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh nInis
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Tratraige / Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
RELATIVES Congal Clairingnech (father); Ness (consort);
Conchobar (son); Maga (wife); Dechtire, Elbha,
and Findchaem (daughters); Genonn and Imrinn
(sons)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Athairne / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cu Chulainn /
Dechtire / Deirdre / Elbha / Ferghus mac Roig /
Findchaem / Genonn Gruadsolus / Imrinn / Maga /
Naoise / Ness
REMARKS Cathbad, son of Congal Clairingnech, was the
most powerful druid of the province of Ulster. Tratraige
of Magh nInis was his birthplace. He was a consort of Ness
and sired the famous Conchobar, head chieftain of Ulster.
Cathbad prophesied that Cu Chulainn would live a short
but heroic life. He gave Cu Chulainn his name and told
him, when he attempted to reject it, that the name would
become known throughout Ireland and Scotland. Cathbad also
prophesied that Deirdre would grow to be a woman of great
beauty and become the center of of a controversy that would
tear apart the province of Ulster. He warned Ulster of the
destructive effects that Athairne's satire would have.
Cathbad assured Naoise and his brothers that if they
left the Red Branch hostel (bruidhean) he would guarantee
their safety. When Conchobar had them slain it was not
only a breach of the law of hospitality but a direct attack
against his authority. Cathbad laid curses against his son
and against Emain Macha.
During the preparation for the battle of Gairech,
MacRoth observed Cathbad as he arrived at the Mound of
Slane in Mide. He described him as as a wise-looking man
with white grizzly hair, wearing yellow boots and a blue-
purple cloak held with a leaf-shaped golden brooch. He
carried a shield reinforced with buckles of red copper and
carried a large oddly-fashioned sword on his shoulder. He
led a troop of wizards who worked their sorcery against the
Host of Connacht. He was accompanied by his sons Imrinn
and Genonn Gruadsolus.
NAME Catumandus
EPITHET He Who Directs Battles
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
COUNTRY France
REGION Province
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Mediterranean
SITES Marseilles
AGE Iron
DATES BC 4th c / BC 386
ENEMIES Greeks
REMARKS Catumandus was a Celtic chieftain who laid siege
to the Greek trading post of Marseilles sometime around BC
386, then called it off because of bad omens. When he
returned home he was told of the Celtic capture of Rome.
NAME Caturix
EPITHET Master of Combat
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE war god
CULTURE Gallic - Caturiges / Allobroges tribes
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Piedmont Alps
SITES Geneva
AGE Iron
DATES BC 5th-BC 1st c
REMARKS The Caturiges tribe settled on the Upper Durance
in BC 5th century. The tribe venerated the war god Caturix
at Geneva in the territory of the Allobroges during Roman
times.
NAME Catuvolcus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Belgae - Eburones tribe
COUNTRY Netherlands / Belgium / France / Germany
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica
LANDMARKS Maas / Rhine / Ardennes
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 54
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Indutiomarus / Ambiorix
REMARKS The elderly Catavolcus held the position of head
chieftain jointly with Ambiorix. The tribal territory was
in the lowlands of the Netherlands, Belgium, France and
Germany on both sides of the Maas river to the Rhine river.
During the winter of BC 54, Caesar decided to winter his
legions in the territory of the Eburones and demanded that
they be fed.
Indutiomarus, head chieftain of the Treveri,
encouraged Ambiorix and Catuvolcus to ready their warriors
for battle. The Eburones attacked, then tricked the Romans
into leaving for another safer location. When the Romans
were on the move with their baggage they were attacked
again by the Eburones. The massacre of the hated Romans
invaders stirred the rest of Gaul into action.
The Aduatuci, Nervii, Ceutrones, Grudii,
Levaci,
Pleumoxii and Geidumni rose up and attacked their Roman
oppressors. This was causing a loss of face in Rome for
Caesar as well as adding extra costs to his campaign
against the Celts of Gaul.
Caesar finally sent troops and mercenaries of the
Germani into their territory to burn the crops and huts,
drive off the cattle and generally lay waste to the
countryside. Ambiorix escaped with some of his horse
warriors to the safety of the Ardennes.
Catuvolcus, who was now ancient and weak, cursed
Ambiorix for starting the trouble and poisoned himself with
yew.
NAME Cauaros
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / vate / Brenin
TYPE judge / arbitrator / head chieftain
CULTURE Gallic
COUNTRY France / Greece / Bulgaria / Turkey
TERRITORY Gaul / Thrace
LANDMARKS Haemos / Danube / Adrianople
CENTERS Tyle (Tylis)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd c
SEE ALSO Brennus / Comantorios
REMARKS Cauaros was the head chieftain of Gallic
warriors tribe which had its territory from the Haemos to
the Danube and south to the city Edirne (Adrianople). The
tribe was originally a part of the army of Brennus and was
put together by Comantorios. Cauaros developed Tyle as the
tribal center where he minted coins, traded with the Greeks
and acted as the arbitrator between the King of Bithynia
and the city of Byzantion.
NAME Caumul
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY bard
TYPE harper to the Ard Righ of Eirinn
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES harps / silver rods
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Da Derga / Donn Desa /
Ingcel
REMARKS Caumul, Cellgen, Deichrinne, Dulothe, Ol, Olene,
Olchoi and Side were harpers for Conaire, the high
chieftain of Ireland, when he engaged the Raiders at the
hostel of Da Derga on Magh Liffey. They were described as
all having curly hair and wearing gray mantles with gold
pins. They wore crystal bracelets around their arms,
golden thumb rings, golden rings around their ears, and
silver torcs around their necks. They each had a bag of
golden coins and carried a silver rod. They each killed a
warrior before the battle was over.
NAME Ce
ALTERNATIVE Ce {Kay} / Cee / Cei
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Albainn / Marr Cum Buchan
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Fib, Fidach, Fotla,
Circinn, Fortrenn and Cat (brothers); Luchtine
(great-great-grandfather); Hercules (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Circinn / Cruithnechan / Fib /
Fidach / Fortrenn / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS Ce and his brothers settled the 7 territories of
Albainn (Scotland/northern England) and he was the head
chieftain of the Cruithne (Picts) of Marr Cum Buchan (Mar &
Duchann).
Ce could trace his lineage to Luchtine of the Danann
and to Hercules (Belenos) through the Pictish people.
NAME Ceathach mac-an Doill
EPITHET Mist, Son of Darkness
ALTERNATIVE Cuithach mac-an Doill / Ciuthach Mor
GENDER M
SYMBOL mist / fog
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of death and darkness
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Scotland / Ireland
SITES Dermids's Cave
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES son of death and darkness
ENEMIES Diarmaid
SEE ALSO Diarmaid / Grainne
REMARKS On a damp and stormy night, Ceathach mac-an
Doill came to the cave where Diarmaid and Grainne were
hiding. He came from the western ocean in a coracle with
two oars.
Ceathach mac-an Doill and Diarmaid played the board
game Taileasg, and Diarmaid lost. Ceathach said he would
have Grainne as his prize but instead he received the edge
of Diarmaid's blade and lost his head.
NAME Cebha
EPITHET Of the Fair Skin
ALTERNATIVE Cebra
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fomorii / Fianna -
Clanna Ui Tarsigh / Clanna Morna
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster / Connacht
SITES Allen Hill
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Fionn (father); Goll (husband); Samhair (half-
sisters); Aedh, Ailbhinn, Cairell, Daire,
Fergus, Oisin and Raighne (half-brothers)
SEE ALSO Ailbhinn / Cairell / Daire / Fergus Finnbheoil /
Fionn mac Cumhaill / Goll mac Morna / Oisin /
Samhair
REMARKS Cebha, a daughter of Fionn mac Cumhaill of the
Clanna Ui Tarsigh, married Goll of the Clanna Morna and
champion of the Fianna.
NAME Cei
ALTERNATIVE Ce {Kay} / Cee / Cei
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / porter
TYPE supernatural horse worrior / sword burnisher
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland / France
REGION Gwent
LANDMARKS River Usk
CENTERS Caerleon-on-Usk
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
RELATIVES Garanwyn (son); Cynyr Ceinfarfawg (father)
ENEMIES Gwyddawg
SEE ALSO Arthur / Bedwyr / Culhwch / Dillus / Gwrhyr
Gwastad Ieithoedd / Isbaddaden / Mabon / Olwen
REMARKS Cei son of Cynyr Ceinfarfawg (Fair-beard) was a
mighty warrior of many talents. He could hold his breath
under water for 9 days and nights. His sword could inflict
wounds that could not be healed by any physician. He had
the ability to make himself taller than the highest tree in
the woods. He could carry a load without it being seen.
His natural heat was so great that even in a deluge of rain
whatever he carried in his hand remained dry a hand's
breath above and below, and on the coldest days he was like
a glowing fuel to his comrades.
Cei served Arthur as his porter on the first day of
January every year. He was chosen by Arthur from his
warriors to lead the seven who went with Culhwch on his
quest to obtain the objects specified by Isbaddaden before
Culhwch could marry Olwen.
When Cei and his warriors met with the sister of
Culhwch's mother, it was he who had the sense to place a
log between her hands when she greeted everyone. Her might
pulverized the log but saved the warriors.
It was Cei who questioned the ancient ones through the
"Interpreter of Tongues", Gwrhyr Gwastad Ieithoedd, until
from the Salmon of Llyn Llyw he gained the knowledge of
where Mabon son of Modron was being held prisoner. Cei and
his partner Bedwyr rescued Mabon from his confinement.
Cei disguised himself as a sword burnisher so he could
defeat the giant Wrnach who could be killed only by his own
sword. This was one of the tasks that Isbaddadan demanded
of Culhwch.
As part of the requirement made by Isbaddaden before
Culhwych and Olwen could be married, Cei and Bedwyr had to
capture Dillus Farfawg "The Bearded" and pluck his beard
(whiskers) with wooden tweezers while still alive, to make
a leash to hold the whelps of the bitch Rhymhi.
Cei and Bedwyr were on the top of Pumlumon on
Gwylathyr Cairn in the greatest wind in the world. They
spotted the fire of Dillus when he was roasting a wild
boar. When he fell asleep, they dug a pit and put him in
feet first so that only his head was exposed. Then they
plucked his whiskers as required.
When Cei brought the beard of Dillus to Arthur, the
deed was made light of in a poem. The insult was so great
that Cei left Arthur's camp at Caerleon-on-Usk and never
returned. Cei was eventually killed by Gwyddawg son of
Menestyr.
NAME Ceithlenn
EPITHET Crooked Tooth
ALTERNATIVE Cethernn / Cetlenn / Kethlen
GENDER F
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
ACCESSORIES spear
RELATIVES Balor (husband); Ethniu (daughter); Beluid and
Bhain (sons); Lugh (grandson)
ENEMIES Dagdha
SEE ALSO Balor / Dagdha / Ethniu / Lugh
REMARKS Ceithlenn wounded Dagdha with a spear during the
second battle of Magh Tuireadh. The wound eventually led
to Daghda's death.
NAME Celleach
ALTERNATIVE Cellach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Cormac macAirt (father); Ethne (mother); Art
(grandfather); Cairbre (brother); Ailbe and
Grainne (sisters)
ENEMIES Angus
SEE ALSO Ailbe / Angus Gae-Aduath / Art Aenfer / Cairbre
Lifechair / Cormac macAirt / Ethne / Grainne
REMARKS Celleach, a son of the high chieftain of
Ireland, raped the niece of Angus, a chieftain of the Desi
tribe. When Angus came to Tara to seek compensation,
Celleach lost his life and his father lost an eye. This
situation led to the expulsion of the Desi tribe from the
province of Mide.
NAME Celtchair macUthechar
ALTERNATIVE Celtchar Mar mac Uthechair
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Temair Luachra / Dun Sobairche / Ath Irmidi /
Hostel (Bruidhean)
CENTERS Raith Celtchair (near Downpatrick)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra / Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle
Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES spear (Luin of Celtchar); sword (Comla Catha)
RELATIVES Uthechar (father); Findmor (1st wife); Niam
(daughter); Brig Bretach (2nd wife); Menn and
Glasne (brothers); Uanchend (foster-son)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht / Bla Briugas / Conganchness
/ Doelchu
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Bla Briugas / Brig Bretach /
Cet mac Magach / Conchobar / Cromm Deroil / Cu
Chulainn / CuRoi macDaire / Conganchness mac
Dedaid / Da Derga / Dubthach Doel / Errge Echbel
/ Ferghus / Findmor / Mac Da Tho / Medbh / Menn
/ Niam / Uanchend Arritech / Uma / Uthechar
REMARKS Celtchair was one of the Ulster champions that
went on an intoxicated ride through Ulster which ended in a
fight with warriors of Munster and Connacht at Temair
Luachra (Tara of the Rushes). CuRoi identified Celtchair
as one of the 3 battle stays of Ulster along with Uma and
Errge Echbel.
Cromm Deroil described him as a frightful hound,
snorting and howling when he caught the scent of an enemy.
He had short bristly dark hair and wore a linen tunic
covered by a woolly dun-gray mantle that was held together
with an iron stake. He wore a golden-hilted sword, carried
a spear with a broad flat head and a shining dun shield
with a bronze boss.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Celtchair, along with
the other warriors of Ulster, was under the influence of
the "Pains of Macha". He was at his home, Raith Celtchair,
with a third of the warriors of Ulster. Celtchair and
Conchobar were the first of the warriors of Ulster to shake
off the curse and enter into the battle against the Host of
Connacht. They rounded up 3000 chariot warriors and met
the bodyguard of Ailill and Medbh who were guarding eight
score of captured women of Ulster. Celtchair and Conchobar
killed the bodyguard and released the women.
Celtchair was described by Ferghus as having grizzly
coarse gray hair, big ears, a large nose, thick lips,
appled eyes, red limbs and a big belly. He wore a rough-
stripped tunic next to his skin with a streaked gray tunic
over that, held together with a skewer of iron the width of
his shoulders. In one hand, he carried a huge gray lance
with 30 nails driven through the head into the shaft and in
the other, his brown shield Comla Catha (Door of Battle).
He wore a sword on his belt at the back that had been
smelted 7 times.
His lance, known as "The Luin of Celtchair", was made
by the Danann in ancient times and lost during one of the
battles of Magh Tuireadh. The lance had supernatural
qualities and could anticipate upcoming combat. It would
become hot with the passion of battle and would burst into
flame unless it killed or was satisfied by submerging the
head into a cauldron of black druids' brew made from the
blood of druids, cats and dogs. During battle it would
kill a warrior at every blow and if thrown it would kill 9
warriors, one always a chieftain. Celtchair had loaned the
lance to Dubthach Doel of Ulster but used it himself during
the cattle raid.
At the Feast of Mac Da Tho, Celtchair was described as
a gray-haired, tall and terrible man. During the bragging
contest he recited the deed of his killing of Conganchness
mac Dedaid. He was bested by Cet who reminded him that he
had speared him in the thigh and gonads and Celtchair had
not been able to reproduce since.
Celtchair killed the warrior Bla Briugas for having an
affair with his wife Brig Bretach, causing a drop of blood
to land on the fidchell board while Conchobar and Cu
Chulainn were playing. As a penalty for violating the law
of hospitality, he was to rid Ireland of the 3 scourges.
They were Conganchness and two large and evil dogs. He
killed Conganchness by having his daughter Niam marry him
so he could find his weakness. Celtchair died from the
blood which splashed him as he killed the (probably rabid)
dog Doelchu, one of the 3 scourges of Ireland.
NAME Celtillos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior / freedom fighter
CULTURE Gallic - Arverni tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
CENTERS Gergovia
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 80
RELATIVES Vercingetorix (son)
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Vercingetorix
REMARKS Celtillos attempted to unite the tribes of Gaul
against Imperial Rome but was killed by Roman lackeys from
his own tribe.
NAME Cera
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland
REGION Asia Minor / Cork / Mayo
TERRITORY Phrygia / Munster / Connacht
LANDMARKS Plateau of Phrygia / Black Sea / Cork Harbour /
Magh Cera (Carra)
SITES Great Island
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
RELATIVES Anind (husband)
SEE ALSO Anind
REMARKS Cera was the wife of the chieftain Anind, son of
Nemhedh, and survived the voyage from Phrygia in present-
day Turkey to Ireland. When Cera died, Magh Cera (Carra)
in Co. Mayo was named for her.
NAME Ceredig ap Cunedda
ALTERNATIVE Coroticus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Briton - Votadini tribe
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Dyfed
TERRITORY Ceredigion (Cardiganshire)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th c
RELATIVES Cunedda (father); Tyboin and Meirion (brothers);
Maelgwn (descendant)
SEE ALSO Cunedda / Maelgwn
REMARKS Ceredig ap Cunedda raided Ireland for slaves and
conquered the territory of Ceredigion in Wales.
NAME Cerethrios
ALTERNATIVE Ciderios / Ceredrios
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Gallic
COUNTRY France / Bulgaria
TERRITORY Gaul / Thrace
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c / BC 260
SEE ALSO Acichorius / Bolgios / Brennus
REMARKS Cerethrios was the head chieftain of one of the
three Celtic armies under the leadership of Brennus that
invaded the Balkan Peninsula in BC 3rd century with La Tène
II period weapons.
Cerethrios was in charge of the eastern army which he
led into Bulgaria where they attacked the Triballi. Bolgios
led another force through the west side of the peninsula
and Acichorius led the third force down the center.
NAME Cermat Milbel
EPITHET The Champion (Trenfher)
ALTERNATIVE Cermad / Cermait Milbeal / Cermata of Cualu /
Cermit / Cermot
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
ACCESSORIES sword (Orna)
RELATIVES Daghda (father); MacGreine, MacCuill and
MacCecht (sons); Aine and Brighid (sisters); Aed
Caem (brother); Anghus (half-brother); Naas
(consort); Magog, Iarbonel, Ordan and Net
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Tethra / Lugh
SEE ALSO Aed Caem / Anghus mac Og / Brighid / Daghda /
Iarbonel / Indech / MacCecht / MacCuill /
MacGreine / Magog / Net / Naas / Ordan / Tethra
REMARKS Cermat was the son of Daghda, son of Danu,
daughter of Ernmas, daughter of Etarlam, son of Ordan.
Cermat was also the son of Daghda, son of Eladu, son of
Delbach, son of Net.
During the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, Cermat
killed Tethra the Fomorian and acquired his sword Orna. The
sword had supernatural powers and could recite its deeds
(ogham).
Cermat (oak) was killed by Lugh (holly) when he was
caught having an affair with Lugh's wife Naas, but he was
resurrected by his father Daghda who used his supernatural
oak club. MacCuill revenged his father by killing Lugh
with his supernatural spear.
NAME Cernunnos
EPITHET The Horned One
ALTERNATIVE Cernunnos {Ker-noon-os}
GENDER M
SYMBOL human head with antlers
CATEGORY deity
TYPE nature god / god of animal fertility
COUNTRY France / England / Wales / Denmark / Germany /
Ireland / Italy / Hungary
ACCESSORIES horned serpent / snake / wolf / stag / cauldron
/ torc / dolphin / mythical beasts / lynx
REMARKS Cernunnos was a nature deity who was associated
with the stag. He was visually protrayed with antlers
growing from his head or with ears or hooves of a stag.
Cernunnos was often depicted with female goddesses and
the snake, an animal associated with fertility and
regeneration. The most elaborate protrayal of him is on
the Gundestrup cauldron which shows him with assorted
animals and mythical beasts and may be a zodiac chart.
Cernunnos is usually seen wearing a torc and often
sits crosslegged in a position similar to the Hindu god
Shiva, "lord of the beasts". Sometimes he is accompanied
by a horned snake, solar wheels, or the erect phallus: male
fertility symbols.
NAME Cerridwen
EPITHET The White Goddess
ALTERNATIVE Alphito / Ceridwen / Cerridwen {Ker-id-wen} /
Cyridwen
GENDER F
SYMBOL cat / wolf / boar / barley pearl
FESTIVAL Cerdana Harvest Dance
CATEGORY deity / ovate
TYPE moon goddess / barley goddess / seer / sorcerer
/ shapechanger
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Lake Tegid (Llyntegid) /
Morgannwg
LANDMARKS River Dyfi
SITES Cerdana valley
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
ACCESSORIES cauldron / (brew of Inspiration and Knowledge)
RELATIVES Tegid Voel (husband); Morfran and Taliesin
(sons); Creirwy "Dear One" (daughter)
ENEMIES Gwion Back
SEE ALSO Elffin / Gwion / Morfran / Taliesin / Tegid Voel
REMARKS Cerridwen was an ovate who was associated with
the moon and her name evolved from Cerdd (grain) and wen
(white). Barley was the main ingredient in the mashing of
Celtic beer. Cerridwen brewed a cauldron of knowledge and
poetic inspiration for her son Morfran who was not a very
good-looking person so she thought to make him a sage.
Cerridwen used a blind man, Morda, to stir the
cauldron in order to keep the knowledge of the ingredients
and the process of making the potion secret from those who
had no right to know. The ingredients were acquired at
specific times of the year and on auspicious days from a
variety of life forms.
The potion of inspiration and knowledge was brewed for
a year and a day. When the day came and Morfan was about
to taste the potion, he was pushed out of the way by Gwion.
Gwion, the son of Gwreang Llanfair, was the youth who
collected the wood and water for the brew and he was
splattered by 3 drops of liquid from the cauldron. Thus
Gwion, and not Morfran, received the gift of poetic
inspiration and knowledge.
Having the gift of prophecy made Gwion realize that
his life was in danger from Cerridwen. He used his new
talents and turned himself into a hare and hopped away.
Cerridwen, whose gifts were more powerful, turned
herself into a black grayhound and ran after him. Gwion,
seeing her catching up to him, jumped into a river, turned
himself into a fish and began to swim as fast as he could.
Cerridwen adopted the form of an otter and chased him.
Gwion, seeing that Cerridwen was gaining on him, changed
into the form of a bird and took to the air. Cerridwen
shapechanged into a hawk and chased after him. Gwion spied
a farmstead below, and in desperation to get away from his
pursuer, he changed himself into a grain of wheat on the
floor of the hen-house. Cerridwen adopted the form of a
tufted black hen and ate all the grain.
Nine months later, Cerridwen gave birth to a male
child. She sacrificed him to the sea god by placing the
baby in a covered coracle and putting the boat into the
river Dyfi. The coracle floated down the river and out to
sea. Cerridwen lived on to be a powerful spellbinder of
such renown that the island was called Albion after her
other name which was Alphito.
The child whom she sacrificed to the sea floated about
for 40 years before it was caught up in a fish weir on the
eve of Samhain and found by a man named Elffin. He named
the child Taliesin.
NAME Cesair Chrothach
ALTERNATIVE Cesair {kes'er} / Cessair
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife to the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Pictish
COUNTRY France / Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Gaul / Aremorica / Leinster / Mide / Munster /
Connacht / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
RELATIVES Ugaine (husband); Laoghaire, Fergus Cnai and
Cobhthach (sons)
SEE ALSO Cobhthach Coel / Laoghaire Lorc / Ugaine Mor
REMARKS Cesair was a woman of influence from Aremorica
in Gaul. Her marriage to Ugaine Mor allowed him control of
the tribes in both territories. Cessair bore Ugaine 22
sons and 3 daughters.
EPITHET First Goddess of Ireland
ALTERNATIVE Ceasair / Cesair {kes'er}
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY deity / warrior / chieftain / filidh
TYPE earth goddess / sorcerer
CULTURE Amazon
COUNTRY Egypt (Meroë) / Ireland
REGION Kilkenny
TERRITORY Munster / Connacht
LANDMARKS Corco Duibne / Nore / Barrow / Suir
SITES Dun na mBarc / The Meeting of the Three Waters /
Cul Cessrach
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 21st c
RELATIVES Bith (father); Saball (foster-father); Ladra and
Bath (brothers); Fintan (consort); Iafeth
(uncle)
SEE ALSO Bairrfind / Banba / Fintan mac Bochra / Iafeth /
Ladra
REMARKS Cessair, daughter of Bith, had been 10 (7) years
in (Egypt ?) when she was warned by her foster-father
Saball, son of Nenual (Nionall), of a coming flood that
would envelop the land. Saball, a priest of the Tower of
Baal, advised her to gather her followers into boats of
clear hide (no hair) and journey westward and maybe she
would escape the flood. On the 15th day of the Moon she
left the temple on the so-called island of Meroë (Egypt) at
the confluence of the Blue Nile and the Atbara rivers.
Cessair had in her charge 3 shiploads (3x50 women & 3
men) of followers. She spent 20 (18) days upon the Caspian
Sea and 12 (20) days travelling from the Caspian Sea to the
Cimmerian (Sea of Azov). She then spent 1 day in Asia
Minor, then 20 days voyaging from Asia Minor to the Alps.
They voyaged for 9 (18) days from the Alps to Spain and 9
days from Spain to Ireland where they landed on the 5th
(15th) day of the moon in May at Dun na mBarc (Fortress of
Ships) at the southern promontory Corco Duibne, Munster.
They arrived 40 days before the flood.
By the time they reached Ireland there was only one
ship with 50 women and 3 men left. Here at Dun na mBarc
Bath son of Bith drowned in the spring. It is believed
that Cessair was responsible for bringing the first goats
with them to Ireland.
Cessair then led her people to Miledach (Bun Suainme)
at the Meeting of the Three Waters (Nore/Barrow/Suir) in
county Kilkenny. Here she divided them them into 3 groups.
Cessair, Lot, Luam, Mail, Marr, Froechar, Femair, Failbi,
Forall, Cipir, Torrian, Tamall, Tam, Abba (Eba), Ella,
Raichne and Sille kept Fintan as their man, although he
was but a seven year old boy. The champion Bairrfind and
her followers took Bith to the north with them. The leader
Banba led another group and they shared the pilot Ladra.
The pilot Ladra soon died and the followers then
divided themeselves into two groups. When a great flood
struck 40 days after their arrival, Fintan and Banba were
the only survivors of the followers of Cessair. Cessair
herself died at Cul Cessrach in Connacht and the great
leech Abba was drowned when the rising water swept over her
while she slept on the beach. The area became known as
Traig Eba.
Because Banba and Fintan mac Bochra both escaped the
flood it is interesting to theorize that they were the
progenitors of the Fomorii, a predominantly female people
who claimed that they came from Mount Hermon where there
was a temple to Baal. Cessair's foster-father Saball son
of Nionall (Nenual) was associated with a tower of Baal.
EPITHET The
First / Flower of Heroes
ALTERNATIVE Ceat mac Matach / Cet Maghach
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / champion of Munster
CULTURE Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Westmeath
TERRITORY Munster / Connacht
SITES Hostel (Bruidhean) / Ath Nurchair / Ath Ceat /
Mound of Slane in Mide
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's Hostel / Cualnge Cattle Raid /
Gairech & Irgairech
RELATIVES Magach (mother); Doiche (father); Anluan,
Bascell, Doche, En, MacCorb and Scandal
(brothers); Maga (sister); Conchend (daughter);
Findchaem (foster-sister); Ailill (nephew)
ENEMIES Irgus Many Battles / Eogan / Conall
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Anluan / Bascell / Celtchair /
Conall Cernacht / Conchobar / Cuscraid Menn /
Doche / En / Eogan mac Durthacht / Lam Gabuid /
Mac Da Tho / MacCorb / Maga Muresc / Magach of
Connacht / Scandal
REMARKS Cet, son of Magach, was a champion of Munster
who fought and killed the Firbolg Irgus Many Battles
because Cet was a surety for Carbre Niafer. One day when
he was rounding up some wild cows Eogan mac Durthacht,
chieftain of Farney, claimed the cows as his own and threw
a spear at Cet. Cet caught the spear, threw it back at him
and hit him in the eye. He also cut off the hand of Lam
Gabuid in combat, cut off the heel of Salcholcan, ruined
the balls of Celtchair and ruined the throat of Cuscraid
Menn.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Cet and his brothers
raised an army of 3,000 battle-line warriors for the Host
of Connacht. Cet attended the feast at Mac Da Tho's hostel
and had out-boasted the warriors of Ulster and was about to
carve the boar when Conall Cernacht arrived. Conall
reminded Cet that since he became a warrior he had killed a
warrior of Connacht every night and day and had always
slept with the head of a warrior under his knees. Cet
admitted that Conall was a better warrior, but if his
brother Anluan were there things would be different. Conall
then took the head of Anluan from his pouch and threw it at
him and Cet sat down.
After the death of Mac Da Tho, Cet stole a brainball
that Conall had made from Mac Da Tho's brain. At Ath
Nurchair (the Ford of the Sling Cast) in county Westmeath,
he used a sling to hurl the brainball at Conchobar. It
lodged in his head and eventually caused his death.
One day when Cet was returning home from a cattle raid
in Ulster, he was set upon by Conall Cernacht. The two
warriors fought a long and fierce battle but eventually Cet
was killed by Conall at a place named Ath Ceat (Ford of
Cet).
NAME Cethach
EPITHET Red Hound of Cuala
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE raider
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Leinster / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Cuala Leinster / Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES 12 score warriors and a troop of berserkers
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Clothach / Conall / Da Derga
REMARKS Cethach was a chieftain of raiders whom Conaire,
high chieftain of Ireland, kept from applying their trade
in Ireland. Cethach, Clothach and Conall were called The
Red Hounds of Cualu.
During the destruction at Da Derga's hostel, Cethach
led 12 score of warriors plus a troop of berserkers (bear-
coats) who would howl like animals, foam at the mouth and
gnaw on the iron rims of their shields when they were in a
warrior's frenzy.
NAME Cethern macFintain
EPITHET Of the Red Sword Edge
ALTERNATIVE Cethernd
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Imorach Smiromrach (Edge of the Marrow-bath)
CENTERS Dun da Benn (Fort of the Two Gables)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES iron fire spit
RELATIVES Finna (wife); Fintan (father); Crimthann
(brother); Conchobar (foster-father)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Conchobar / Crimthann
macFintain / Cu Chulainn / Ferdiad / Fingin /
Finna / Fintan / Ithall / Laeg / Mane
REMARKS Cethern son of Fintan was a foster of Conchobar.
When a messenger brought news to Dun da Benn that Cu
Chulainn was under attack, he grabbed an iron fire spit,
jumped straight into his chariot and rode off to attack the
Host of Connacht.
When Cethern charged into the camp of the Host of
Connacht at Imorach Smiromrach they beheld a wild, gray-
haired and naked (without armor) warrior wielding an iron
fire spit from his chariot. During the slaughter he
received so many wounds that he had to press his stomach
against the front of the chariot to keep his entails in
place. He then drove his chariot to the camp of Cu
Chulainn to have his wounds tended.
Cu Chulainn was being healed after his combat with
Ferdiad. Cu Chulainn sent Laeg to the camp of the host and
had the leeches (physicians) sent to his camp to inspect
Cethern's wounds. The leeches came out of fear of Cu
Chulainn and as each one pronounced his negative verdict
Cethern gave him a mighty blow that killed him. Ithall the
15th leech escaped death but was knocked senseless amongst
the dead. Cu Chulainn then sent Laeg to find Fingin the
Seer-leech at the grave-mound at Leccan (The Brow) on
Sliabh gCuilinn (Gallion) to care for Cethern's wounds.
Fingin told Cethern that he could treat him with a
healing marrow bath that would take 3 days and give him the
strength to take his revenge on those who had killed him.
Cethern agreed to soak in the bath and after the 3 days he
was held together with parts from his chariot and said that
if he now had his weapons he would be remembered for ever.
From the north came a rattle and crashing as his wife
Finna arrived with a chariot full of his weapons. After
she had armed Cethern in his finest, he charged the Host of
Connacht. Cethern attacked Ailill only to find it was a
pillar stone with his clothing hung on it because Ailill
had been warned by the leech Ithall that Cethern would come
for him first.
Cethern swore an oath that he would not stop
slaughtering the Host of Connacht until someone put on the
royal clothing. Mane, one of the sons of Medbh, heard this
and because of his status he dressed in his father's
clothing and dashed off in his father's chariot with
Cethern at his heels. Cethern threw his shield at Mane and
he fell to the ground in 3 pieces.
The host, seeing this, surrounded Cethern and threw
their spears and lances at him from a safe distance.
Cethern's wife Finna sang his funeral song over his cairn
and he is still remembered 2000 years after his great deed.
NAME Chiomara
GENDER F
CATEGORY hero / rhain (noble woman)
CULTURE Galatian - Tolistoboii tribe
COUNTRY Turkey
TERRITORY Galatia
LANDMARKS Sakary (Sangarios) river
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd c
RELATIVES Ortiagon (husband)
SEE ALSO Ortiagon
REMARKS Chiomara was raped by a Roman centurion and when
her husband failed to extract revenge she hunted him down
herself. When Chiomara returned home she entered the
meeting hall and threw the centurion's head at the feet of
her husband.
NAME Cian
EPITHET Scal Balb
ALTERNATIVE Cian {Kee-an} / Ethlend / Ethlenn
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / warrior
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Louth
LANDMARKS Tory Island (Tor Innis - island of towers) /
Magh Muirthemni
SITES Crystal Tower / Port na Delig (Haven of the Pin)
/ Dundalk (Dun Dealgan)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Diancecht (father); Ethniu (consort); Lugh
(son); Cethen, Ochttriuil, Cu and Miach
(brothers); Airmid and Etain (sisters); Esaire
(grandmother); Net (great-grandfather); Magog
and Iarbonel (ancestors)
ENEMIES Balor
SEE ALSO Airmid / Balor / Birog / Brénos / Delbaeth /
Diancecht / Esaire / Etain / Ethniu / Goibhniu /
Lugh / Miach / Net / Nuadha / Samhain
REMARKS Cian, son of Diancecht, son of Esaire, daughter
of Net, possessed a supernatural cow (Glas Gaibhnenn) who
gave abundant amounts of the best-tasting milk in Ireland.
One day while at the the smithy of his uncle Goibhniu, he
left the much-sought-after cow in the care of Samhain.
While Cian was in the smithy acquiring new weapons,
Balor, a chieftain of the Fomorii, arrived. He disguised
himself as a red-headed boy and told Samhain that Cian was
getting the best metal for his own weapons and leaving the
impure metal for Samhain's. Samhain asked the boy to watch
Glas Gaibhnenn while he went into the smithy. Balor then
stole the cow and took it to his fortress on Tory Island
(Tor Innis - island of towers).
Birog the filidh advised Cian that if he wanted
revenge on Balor to go with her dressed as a woman and she
would get him admittance to the Crystal Tower on Tory
Island where Balor's daughter was being kept prisoner under
the watchful eyes of 12 attendents. By the talents of
Birog, Cian received access to Ethniu and they copulated
that night. In the morning the two Danann were gone,
leaving no memory of their having been there.
When Ethniu gave birth to three sons 9 months later,
her father Balor demanded they be sacrificed because of a
prophecy that Balor would be killed by a grandson. The 3
babies were taken to be sacrificed in a whirlpool, but on
the way to their appointed death, a pin securing the cloth
opened and one baby fell out into a bay called Port na
Delig (Haven of the Pin). The baby was rescued by the
filidh Birog and brought to his uncle Goibhniu to be
fostered.
When the boy was of age, Birog advised Cian to take
the boy and find his name. While Cian and the boy were
picking apples one day, Balor yelled "Away with you Lui" at
the boy because he was picking the best apples from high
up. Cian heard this and the boy was named Lugh Lam Fhada
(Fair-haired of the Long Reach).
When Lugh was older and in charge of preparations for
the upcoming war with the Fomorii, he sent Cian north to
Ulster to summon the Danann to battle against the
Fomorians. As Cian was crossing the plain of Muirthemni
near present-day Dundalk in Louth, he spied the sons of
Delbaeth (Tuirill Piccroe) who were blood-feuding with his
family. Cian changed himself into a boar so as to hide
among a herd of boars who were rooting on the plain, but
Brénos recognized the bogus boar and speared him.
Cian begged Brénos to allow him to change back into
the form of a human before he died and Brénos agreed. As
Cian was dying he yelled to Brénos that he had tricked him,
for now he would have to pay the blood fine for killing a
man and not that of a boar.
Cian's body was then covered over with a cairn of
rocks so that nobody could find him. When Cian's son Lugh
was passing by the cairn, the rocks called out to him and
he discovered the body of his father. He took the body to
Nuadha, the high chieftain of the Danann, and demanded
justice. Cian's death was revenged.
NAME Cian
ALTERNATIVE Cian {Kee-an}
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Eoganachata
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
CENTERS Raith Cashel (Caisel)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c
RELATIVES Ailill Olomn (father); Tadg (son); Cormac Cas
(brother)
SEE ALSO Ailill Olomn / Cormac Cas / Tadg mac Cein
REMARKS Cian was the head chieftain of Munster with his
fortress at Caisel (Raith Cashel).
NAME Cichol Gricenchos
EPITHET The Footless / Clapperleg
ALTERNATIVE Cichil Grinchenghos
GENDER M
SYMBOL 1 leg / 1 arm / 1 eye
CATEGORY warrior / war leader
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
RELATIVES Lot (mother); Goll (father); Garb (grandfather)
ENEMIES Partholean
SEE ALSO Lot / Partholon
REMARKS Cichol Gricenchos son of Goll (one-eye), son of
Garb (rough), son of Tuathach, son of Gumor from Sliab
Emoir (Mount Hermon) was head chieftain of the Fomorii. Ten
years after the Partholean arrived in Ireland, Cichol led
an attack against the invaders. Each Fomorian ship had 50
male and 150 female warriors. The first battle of the war
was of magic which lasted a week without any deaths. The
Fomorii broke and in the fray that followed at Slemna of
Magh Ibha, Cichol was slain.
ALTERNATIVE Cigva {keg fa} / Cigfa / Kigva
GENDER F
CATEGORY rhain (noble woman)
CULTURE Briton - Demetae tribe
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Dyfed
TERRITORY Dyfed
LANDMARKS Prescelly Mountains
CENTERS Gorsedd Arberth (mound of Arberth), Narberth
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Gwen Glohoyw (father); Pryderi (husband);
Rhiannon (mother-in-law); Manawyddan
(father-in-law)
ENEMIES Llwyd
SEE ALSO Llwyd fab Cil Coed / Manawyddan / Pryderi /
Rhiannon
REMARKS When Cigva married Pryderi he was the head
chieftain of Dyfed and they lived at Gorsedd Arberth (mound
of Arberth) at present-day Narberth. One day after a feast
she and Pryderi, Rhiannon and Manawyddan went to sit on the
enchanted mound.
The mound of Arberth had an odiosyncrasy. When
persons of noble blood sat upon it they were effected
mentally or physically.
When the present party of nobles sat upon the mound,
everything around them disappeared except their fortress.
For two year the four nobles had to live by hunting and
fishing. Life became so desolate that they decided to
travel to an area in present-day England where Pryderi and
Manawyddan could work as artisans. When they tired of this
they all returned to their raith in Dyfed.
While Pryderi and Manawyddan were out hunting boars
one day, Manawyddan came back to the raith with a strange
tale. Their dogs had followed a white boar into a white
fortress and disappeared. Pryderi then entered the
fortress to search for the dogs and he too disappeared.
Rhiannon went to the strange white fort to search for her
son and she also disappeared, as did the fortress.
Cigva and Manawyddan, not knowing what to do,
travelled again to England but after a year returned with
some grain and tried their hand at farming. Soon
Manawyddan discovered that an ovate named Llwyd fab Cil
Coed was responsible for the disappearance of his wife and
foster-son, and he tricked him into returning Rhiannon and
Pryderi and all their subjects.
NAME Cilydd
EPITHET Hundred Grips
ALTERNATIVE Cilydd Canastyr
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
RELATIVES Celyddon Wledig (father); Goleuddydd (wife);
Culhwch (son)
SEE ALSO Arthur / Culhwch / Goleuddydd / Isbaddaden
REMARKS Cilydd's wife Goleuddydd could not bear to be in
a building when she was pregnant, and gave birth to their
son in a pig-run, so Cilydd named the boy Culhwch, which
means pig-run.
Goleuddydd died not long afterwards and Cilydd began
to look for another wife. His advisors suggested that the
wife of Chieftain Doged would be suitable. Cilydd went to
war with Doged, killed him and took his wife and daughter.
Cilydd's new wife suggested that Culhwch and her
daughter should be married but Culhwch refused. The
refusal angered her, so she decided to get rid of Culhwch
by placing a geis on him that he would not have a
relationship with a woman until he had won the hand of
Olwen, daughter of Isbaddaden, chieftain of the giants.
Acting as if a spell were on him, Culhwch could think
of no one else but did not know where to find her. His
father suggested he go to his cousin Arthur at his camp at
Caerleon-on-Usk and ask him to cut his hair and seek his
help in wooing Olwen. Cilydd had the only collar for the
leash to hold the pup Drudwyn of Greid.
NAME Cimbaeth
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 7th c / BC 650-622 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Fintan (father); Macha (cousin/wife); Dithorba
(brother); Aedh Ruad (cousin); Ir (ancestor);
Ugain (foster-son)
SEE ALSO Aedh Ruad / Ir / Macha / Ugain Mor
REMARKS Cimbaeth was a son of Fintan and a descendant of
Ir of the Milesian (Goidel). He was the head chieftain of
Ulster, the foster-father to Ugain Mor and he helped put
his cousin Aedh Ruad in the position of high chieftain of
Ireland. When Aedh died Cimbaeth became the next high
chieftain.
Cimbaeth married Aedh's daughter Macha and ruled
Ireland for 28 years before he died a natural death. His
wife became the next high chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Cinaeth mac Ailpin
ALTERNATIVE Kenneth mac Alpine (English) / Cinaed / Cinaeth
(Scottish) / Coinneach (Irish)
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard-righ Albainn
TYPE high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Dal Riada tribe / Scotti / Pictish
COUNTRY Scotland / England
TERRITORY Albainn
CENTERS Dunstaffnag (Argyll) / Scone
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 9th c / AD 842 / AD 858
RELATIVES Alpin (father); Malcolm (son)
ENEMIES Picts
REMARKS Cinaeth was a Scotti on his father's side
(staff) and Pictish on his mother's side (distaff). He
invited the head chieftains of the 7 Pictish territories to
a feast, then poisoned them. He then assumed the role of
the Ard-righ Albainn when he was crowned at Scone in AD 842
on the ancient Stone of Destiny. He made Dunstaffnag his
center but later changed it back to Scone. This was the
end of Pictish rule in Scotland. Cinaeth died in AD 858.
NAME Cingetorix
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rex
TYPE Roman lackey / head chieftain by appointment
CULTURE Belgae - Treveri tribe
COUNTRY Germany / Luxembourg / France
REGION Rhineland
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Ardenne Highlands / Moselle
CENTERS Trier
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 54 (Gallic War)
ACCESSORIES most powerful cavalry in Gaul
RELATIVES Indutiomaros (father-in-law)
ENEMIES Indutiomaros
SEE ALSO Indutiomaros
REMARKS Cingetorix and his father-in-law Indutiomaros
were fighting for control of the position of head
chieftain. Because Cingetorix was pro-Roman, Caesar sent
troops to help him fight Indutiomaros and his followers.
Caesar conceived of a plan to kill Indutiomaros and made
Cingetorix Rex of the Treveri tribe, giving him complete
power over his people to keep them in line.
NAME Ciocba
ALTERNATIVE Cichba / Cichban
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY warrior / rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
SITE Imber Cichmuine
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
RELATIVES Slainge (husband); Partholon (father-in-law)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Slainge / Partholon
REMARKS Ciocba was the wife of Slainge, son of
Partholon. She fought in the battle of Magh Ibha and Imber
Cichmuine was named after her.
NAME Circinn
ALTERNATIVE Circin / Circing / Cirig / Cirigh / Ciric /
Ciricc / Cirech
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Albainn / Enegus cum Moerne
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Fib, Fidach, Fotla,
Fortrenn, Ce and Cat (brothers); Luchtine
(great-great-grandfather); Hercules (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Ce / Cruithnechan / Fib / Fidach
/ Fortrenn / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS Circinn and his brothers settled the 7
territories of Albainn (Scotland/northern England) and he
was the head chieftain of the territory of Enegus cum
Moerne (Angus & Mearns). The sons of Cruithnechan could
trace their lineage back to Luchtine of the Danann and
Hercules (Belenos) of the Picts.
NAME Civilis
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE revolutionary
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 68
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Classicus / Sabinus / Tutor / Velleda
REMARKS When Nero died in AD 68, chaos reigned
throughout the Roman Empire. The surviving druids of Gaul
called for a
holy war. Civilis, Classicus, Sabinus and
Tutor were Gauls who held positions as officers in the
Roman occupational army. Claudius Civilis and Velleda, his
prophet, led a revolt against Rome.
The leaders of the Remi called together an assembly of
the tribes of Gaul to vote whether to form their own
independent Gaul or to remain as subjects of Rome. The
Remi leaders convinced the others to stay submissive.
This was the end of the ancient Gaul, as the new
Celtic leaders adopted the dress, language, religion and
way of life of their suppressors. Their Celtic gods,
heroes and warriors were dead and the old leaders had been
replaced with an inferior breed who were happy to enjoy the
luxuries offered in exchange for wearing the collar of
Rome.
NAME Claodicos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Germano-Celtic - Cimbri tribe
COUNTRY Denmark
REGION Jutland
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c
SEE ALSO Teutobodunus
REMARKS Claodicos, a chieftain of the Cimbri, formed an
alliance with the Teutones. He and Teutobodunus then led
their warriors throughout Europe looking for a new
territory.
NAME Classicus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE revolutionary
CULTURE Belgae - Treviri tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 68
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Civilis / Sabinus / Tutor
REMARKS When Nero died in AD 68, the Roman empire was
thrown into chaos. In Gaul, the surviving druids called
for the Celts to rise up and fight a holy war against
everything Roman. Civilis, Classicus, Sabinus and Tutor
were Gauls who held positions as officers in the Roman
occupational army.
When Julius Classicus had himself proclaimed Emperor
of Gaul, leaders of the Remi called together an assembly of
the tribes to vote on whether they should form their own
independent Gaul or to stay in submission to Rome. The
Remi leaders convinced the rest to retain the Roman yoke.
Classicus disappeared and was never heard of again.
This was the end of the ancient Gaul, as the new
Celtic leaders adopted the dress, language, religion and
way of life of the suppressors. The Celtic gods, heroes
and warriors were dead and the old leaders had been
replaced with an inferior breed who were happy to enjoy the
luxuries offered in exchange for wearing the collar of
Rome.
NAME Cless
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE conjurer to Conaire (Ard Righ Eirinn)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES son of Naffer Rochless; Clissine, Clessamun
(brothers)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa / Ingcel
REMARKS Cless, Clissine and Clessamun were triple sons
of Naffer Rochless and were the 3 conjurers to Conaire the
high chieftain of Ireland. During the destruction at the
hostel of Da Derga, they were seen wearing long gowns with
wide waist girdles and carrying silver apples in their
hands. Each conjurer carried a four-cornered shield with a
golden boss and a small spear with inlays. They each
killed an enemy of the high chieftain of Ireland and all
escaped with their lives.
NAME Cliodna
EPITHET The Wave of Cliodhna (Tonn Cliodhna)
ALTERNATIVE Clinda / Cliodhna / Cleena
GENDER F
SYMBOL bird / triskele
CATEGORY deity
TYPE goddess of the underworld and beauty
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Isle of Man
REGION Cork
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Land of Promise (Tir
Tairnigire) / Munster
LANDMARKS Glandore Bay
SITES Strand of Cleena's Wave (Carraig Cleena)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
ACCESSORIES 3 birds of brilliant plumage
RELATIVES Gebann (father); Ciabhan (consort)
SEE ALSO Manannan / Rudraige / Tuag / Tadhg
REMARKS Cliodna, daughter of Gebann, lived in the Land
of Promise and fell in love with a mortal named Ciabhan of
the Curling Locks. They left The Otherworld and landed at
Glandore Bay in county Cork. Ciabhan went hunting and
Cliodna was lulled to sleep by the music of Manannan
(waves).
Manannan sent a gigantic wave to carry Cliodna back to
his Land of Promise. The wave was called Tonn Cliodhna
and was one of the 3 great waves of Ireland and one of the
3 waves of the Triskele of the Isle of Man. The other two
waves were Tonn Rudraige and Tonn Tuag.
Cliodna had 3 birds of brilliant plumage that were fed
on supernatural apples. Their singing was so sweet it
would lull the sick to sleep. She once appeared to Tadhg,
son of Cian.
A sacred place of veneration for her was Carrig
Cleena, a large rock at Glandore Bay in county Cork which
overlooks the beach where she was swept away, now called
the Strand of Cleena's Wave.
NAME Clota
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river goddess
CULTURE Briton - Selgovae tribe
COUNTRY Scotland / England
REGION Dumfries and Galloway
TERRITORY Albainn
LANDMARKS Tweedsmuir
SITES head waters of the Clyde
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c
REMARKS Clota was a river goddess who was venerated at
the headwaters of the Clyde river in the Tweedmuir
mountains in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland.
NAME Clothach
EPITHET Red Hound of Cuala
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE raider
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Leinster / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Cuala Leinster / Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES 12 score warriors and a troop of berserkers
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Cethach / Conaire Mor / Conall Cernacht / Da
Derga / Donn Desa / Ingcel
REMARKS Clothach was a chieftain of the raiders outlawed
in Ireland by Conaire, high chieftain of Ireland. He
joined with Ingcel and the sons of Donn Desa against the
rule of Conaire.
Clothach, Cethach and Conall were known as The Red
Hounds of Cualu. Clothach led 12 score of warriors plus a
troop of berserkers who would howl like animals, foam at
the mouth and gnaw on the iron rims of their shields when
they were in a warrior's frenzy.
NAME Clothra
ALTERNATIVE Clothrann / Clothraind / Clothru
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE goddess of fertility / daughter of the Ard Righ
Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Eochaidh (father); Ethne (mother); Bres, Nar and
Lothar (consorts/brothers); Lugaid Riab nDerg
(son/consort/nephew); Crimthann Nia Nair
(son/grand-nephew); Derbrui, Ele, Ethne, Medbh
(sisters); Mughain (half-sister); Congal
(brother)
ENEMIES Medbh / Ethne
SEE ALSO Ailill / Crimthann Nia Nair / Eochaidh
Feidhleach / Ethne / Lugaid Riab nDerg / Medbh /
Mughain
REMARKS Clothra bore a child to her 3 brothers Bres, Nar
and Lothar (The 3 Finns of Emain). The child was named
Lugaid Riab nDerg because his skin had 3 bands of different
colors, one for each father.
Clothra also bore a son named Crimthann Nia Nair by
her son Lugaid and he also was elected to the position of
high chieftain of Ireland. Clothra drowned her sister
Ethne and she herself died when her sister Medbh drowned
her.
NAME Cobhthach Coel
EPITHET The Meager / The Slender
ALTERNATIVE Cobthach Coel Breg
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow / Meath
TERRITORY Mide / Leinster / Munster / Connacht / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Dinn Rig (Burgage Motte)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 579-529 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Dind Rig
RELATIVES Ugaine (father); Cesair (mother); Melge
Molbthach (son); Laoghaire and Fergus Cnai
(brothers); Ailill Aine (nephew); Labraid
(great-nephew); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Laoghaire Lorc / Ailill Aine / Labraid
SEE ALSO Ailill Aine / Cesair / Eremon / Labraid
Loingsech / Laoghaire Lorc / Ugaine Mor / Tea
REMARKS Cobhthach hated his older brother Laoghaire who
became the high chieftain of Ireland after their father
died. Because Laoghaire was always protected by guards,
Cobhthac's druid conceived of a way to catch him unguarded.
Cobhthach faked his own death and was laid out in his
finest on a funeral wagon. When his brother Laoghaire Loc
leaned over him, he stabbed him to death.
Cobhthach then killed his nephew Ailill, cut out his
heart and forced Ailill's son to eat it. The horror of
eating his father's heart struck the boy dumb and he became
known as Moen.
Cobhthach then became the high chieftain of Ireland
and ruled for 50 years. His progeny became the Airgialla,
Dessi, Fothairt, Eraind, Alban, Dal Riada, Dal Fiatach of
Ulster; the 4 clans of Temair: Colman, Aed Slaine, Conall
and Eogan; and the 3 Connachta.
Cobhthach was attacked by a large force of warriors of
the broad spears from Gaul who were led by Labraid
Loingsech. He was beaten back and the warriors established
themselves in the province of Leinster (Laigin).
Cobhthach was invited to a Samhain feast at Dinn Rig
the following year and was killed by Labraid, who then
became the new high chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Cocidos
ALTERNATIVE Cocidius
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / warrior / hunter
TYPE god of war / nature god
CULTURE Pictish - Brigantes, Selgovae or Novantes
COUNTRY England
REGION Cumbria / Durham
SITES Bewcastle / Ebchester
AGE Iron
DATES BC 13th c / AD 1st c
ACCESSORIES shield / spear / hare / hound / tree / deer
SEE ALSO Vernostonos
REMARKS Cocidos was venerated at Bewcastle in Cumbria
in the northwest of England, the territory of the Selgovae
or the Novantes, where he was thought of as a warrior.
In Durham county, territory of the Brigantes, Cocidos
was portrayed as a hunter and was venerated at Ebchester
where another deity Vernostonos was also venerated. The
Brigantes were settled in the area by BC 13th century and
were still there when the Romans arrived in AD 1st century.
NAME Cogidubnos
ALTERNATIVE Cogidumnos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rex
TYPE traitor / appointed head chieftain
CULTURE Belgae - Atrebates (Regni) tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Hampshire
TERRITORY Lloegr
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 43
REMARKS Cogidubnos received the title of Rex (King) from
the Romans in reward for his treachery against his own
people. The tribal name was changed from Atrebates to
Regni.
NAME Coinchend
GENDER F
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE giant
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Land of Wonder (Tir na Iontas)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Morgan (husband); Delbchaem (daughter); Ailill
(son)
ENEMIES Art
SEE ALSO Ailill Dubhdedach / Art Aenfer / Delbchaem /
Morgan
REMARKS It was prophesied that Coinchend would die when
her daughter was married. The stakes of the bronze-covered
palisade were mounted with the heads of the warriors who
had tried to take her daughter from her. There was one
empty stake for the next victim but Art Aenfer killed her
instead.
NAME Coll
EPITHET Son of Knowledge (Mac Coll-Frewi)
ALTERNATIVE Coll (hazel)
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / druid
TYPE god of agriculture / engineer
CULTURE Pictish / Briton
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Brittany / Cornwall
TERRITORY Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Loire
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
RELATIVES Cyllin (father); Brant (great-grandfather);
Caradawc (grandfather)
REMARKS Coll son of Coll-Frewi (Hazel-fruit) was a
Pictish druid who migrated from the Loire river area in
Llydaw (Brittany) to Cornwall in Lloegr (England).
Coll is credited with bringing wheat and barley to
England. Until then, the inhabitants grew only oats and
rye. Barley was a main ingredient in the making of Celtic
beer. Coll developed the first wheel mill for his people
and was considered one of the great engineers of Britain.
NAME Colla Uais
EPITHET The Three Collas
GENDER M
CATEGORY warriors / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Emain Macha
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 4th c / AD 300-304 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Dubchomar {Dubh-Cumair} / Carn Achaid Leithdeirg
RELATIVES Eochu Domplen (father); Colla da Crich and Colla
Menn (brothers); Cairbre Lifechair
(grandfather); Fiacha Sreabhtuinne (uncle);
Muiredach (cousin)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Cairbre Lifechair / Fiacha Sreabhtuinne /
Muiredach Tirech
REMARKS Colla Uais, Colla da Crich and Colla Menn were
sons of Eochu Domplen and grandchildren of Cairbre
Lifechair. The brothers were known as The Three Collas and
were at the head of their troops under the command of their
uncle Fiacha, the high chieftain of Ireland. A messenger
brought news that Muiredach had won an important battle in
Munster. The 3 Collas realized that Muiredach was popular
and would more than likely follow his father as the high
chieftain of Ireland.
The 3 Collas decided to attack Fiacha, calculating
that his warriors would join with them. This would give
them the strength to defeat Muiredach Tirech on his return.
They killed their uncle the high chieftain in the battle of
Dubchomar. Colla Uais then sat as the high chieftain for 4
years before Muiredach Tirech drove him out.
The 3 Collas then fled to Scotland with 300 warriors
in fear of what they had done and in fear of reprisals from
Muiredach the champion.
When Muiredach became high chieftain of Ireland, he
invited the 3 brothers to return to Ireland from Scotland
because they were good warriors. They were homesick for
Ireland and chose to return and face their punishment.
Muiredach was a wise ruler and decided that the best
punishment was to allow them to live and suffer their past.
The 3 Collas were given a chance to redeem themselves when
they were sent against the province of Ulster which was
again causing trouble for the high chieftain of Ireland and
his central rule.
The brothers took an army of Connacht warriors with
them and fought six battles at Carn Achaid Leithdeirg in
Airgialla. In the 7th and final battle, the Collas and
their warriors fought the warriors of Ulster without the
help of the Connacht warriors. The battle in AD 355
destroyed Emain Macha and ended Ulster's position as a
major influence in Ireland after 1000 years.
EPITHET Of The Sword
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel (Milesian) / Egyptian - Artabri tribe
COUNTRY Spain / Ireland
REGION Galicia
LANDMARKS Boyne Estuary
SITES Inber Colptha
CENTERS Brigantia (A Corunna)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
BATTLES Sliabh Mish / Taillcenn / Druim Lighean
RELATIVES Golamh (father); Scota (mother); Eber,
Amhairghin, Ir, Eremon and Arannan (brothers);
Dil and Odba (half-sisters); Airioch and Donn
(half-brothers); Bile (grandfather/cousin);
Bregon (great-grandfather); Brego, Bladh, Fuad,
Murthemne, Cualgne, Cuala, Eibleo, Nar and Ith
(cousins)
ENEMIES Danann
SEE ALSO Amhairghin / Arannan / Bile / Bladh / Bregon /
Donn / Eber / Eremon / Fuad / Golamh / Ir / Ith
/ Odba / Scota
REMARKS Colptha, son of Golamh and Scota, was born on
their way from Egypt to Spain in the valley of Colpa at the
Marches in Albania.
During the invasion of Ireland when Eremon led the
Goidel into the Boyne Estuary, Colptha was the first
warrior ashore so the site was named Inber Colptha after
him.
NAME Comantorios
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE cavalry
CULTURE Gallic
COUNTRY France / Greece / Bulgaria / Turkey
TERRITORY Gaul / Thrace
LANDMARKS Haemos / Danube / Adrianople
CENTERS Tyle (Tylis)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c
SEE ALSO Cauaros
REMARKS Comantorios led a band of Brennus's warriors to
the slopes of Haemos where they founded a territory with
Tyle as its centre. Their territory stretched from the
Haemos to the Danube in the north to the city Edirne
(Adrianople) in the south. Cauaros later became the head
chieftain of the tribe.
NAME Comedovae
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE goddess of health, fertility and prosperity
CULTURE Gallic - Allobroges tribe
COUNTRY France
REGION Savoie
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Rhône / Lac du Bourget
SITES thermal spring at Aix-les-Bains
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c - AD
REMARKS The goddess Comedovae was venerated at the
thermal spring at Aix-les-Bains in southeastern France. The
spring is noted for helping sufferers of gout and
rheumatism.
NAME Comgall
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Dal Riada / Danann / Pictish / Scotti
COUNTRY Scotland
REGION Morvern / Lochaber
TERRITORY Albainn
LANDMARKS Firth of Clyde / Mull / Breadalbane
SITES Cinel Comgall (Cowal)
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 6th c / AD 527 (ruled 32 years)
RELATIVES Domangart (father); Conall (son), Gabran
(brother); Fergus (grandfather); Angus, Loarn
and Muirchertach (great-uncles); Cairbre Riada
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Pictish - Caledonians
SEE ALSO Angus macEirc / Cairbre Riada / Domangart
/
Fergus macEirc / Gabran / Loarn macEirc /
Muirchertach
REMARKS Comgall was the fourth head chieftain of the Dal
Riada of Albainn (Scotland/northern England). By the end
of his rule the Irish Scotti controlled Morvern, Ardgour,
the island of Mull, part of Lochaber and the territory from
the Firth of Clyde in the south to the Drumalban Mountains
(Breadalbane) in the east. Comgall's brother Gabran became
the head chieftain of the Scotti after him.
NAME Comm
ALTERNATIVE Commios / Congentiatos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE cavalry / freedom fighter / war leader / head
chieftain
CULTURE Belgae - Atrebates tribe
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Berkshire / Sussex
TERRITORY Gaul / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Leie / Scheldt
SITES Alesia (Alise Ste Reine)
CENTERS Nemetocenna / Silchester
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 54 / BC 52-51 / BC 50
BATTLES Alesia
RELATIVES Tincommius, Epillos and Verica (sons)
ENEMIES Caesar
SEE ALSO Cassubellaunos / Correus / Epaticcos /
Eporedorix / Gutruatos /
Tincommius /
Vercassivellaunus / Vercingetorix
/ Verica /
Viridomar
REMARKS The Atrebates territory during Comm's time was
on the Atlantic coast of France north of the Seine. In BC
54, Comm accompanied Caesar to Britain where he acted as
negotiator while Caesar was fighting against
Cassubellaunos. Comm was taken prisoner by the local
Belgae but was later released and returned to Gaul.
On his release, Comm returned to Gaul to serve Caesar
in BC 53, using his cavalry to guard the Menapii tribe. He
was rewarded by having the independence of the tribe
returned and given freedom from taxation.
In BC 52, Vercingetorix's fight for freedom so
inspired all the Celts of Gaul that they attempted to unite
to drive out the Roman invaders. Comm was made war leader
of 8,000 cavalry and 240,000 of the battle-line from the
combined forces of the Gaulish tribes.
Under his command were the chieftains Viridomar,
Eporedorix and Vercassivellaunus, and together they led an
attack against the rear of Caesar's army while he was
sieging the oppidum of Alesia. The attack failed, and
after the surrender of Vercingetorix, Comm joined forces
with Gutruatus and Correus and fought a guerrilla war
through the winter of BC 52-51.
The Romans tried to murder Comm during negotiations
while under a truce but he escaped with a severe wound.
That winter Gutruatos was captured and Correus was killed
so Comm decided to escape Gaul and led his people across
the Rhine to freedom in the territory of the Germani.
In BC 50, Comm led his people to southern England
where they joined with another part of the tribe which was
already settled there. In England he established himself
as the head chieftain, minted coins and raised three sons.
His son Tincommios succeeded him as chieftain.
NAME Conaing Bececlach
EPITHET O Little Fear (Bec-eclach)
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Calraige
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 8th c / BC 762-740 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Congal (father); Eochu Fiadmuine (brother);
Lugaid Cal (grandfather); Lugaid macDare (great-
grandfather); Ith (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Lugaid macDare / Ith
REMARKS Conaing and his brother Eochu shared the
position as high chieftain of Ireland after they killed
Eochu Uairches. Conaing ruled the northern half of Ireland
and Eochu the southern half. After 5 years Eochu Fiadmuine
was killed by Lugaid Lamderg, son of Eochu Uairches.
Conaing and Lugaid Lamderg then ruled Ireland jointly
for 7 years until Lugaid was killed by Conaing. Conaing
then ruled Ireland by himself for a further 10 years until
he was killed by Art, son of Lugaid Lamderg, son of Eochu
Uairches.
NAME Conaire Coem
ALTERNATIVE Conare {Kon-ar-ee}
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Eoganachata
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c / AD 142-150 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
ACCESSORIES Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Eoghan Mor (father); Beara (mother); Sadb
(wife); Ailill and Tadhg (brothers); Conn
(father-in-law); Eber (ancestor)
ENEMIES Leinster
SEE ALSO Ailill Olomn / Art Aenfer / Beara / Conn
Cetcathach / Eber / Eoghan Mor / Eremon / Sadb /
Tadhg mac Nuadat / Tea
REMARKS Conaire son of Eoghan was a descendant of Eber
of the Milesian (Golamh). He married Sadb, a daughter of
the high chieftain of Ireland and a descendant of Tea and
Eremon.
As the new high chieftain, he continued to enforce the
tax on Leinster called the Boramha Tribute. Conaire ruled
Ireland for 8 years until he was slain by Nemed son of
Sroibcenn.
Art Aenfer followed Conaire Coem as the high chieftain
and continued to enforce the Boramha Tribute.
NAME Conaire Mor
EPITHET The Great
ALTERNATIVE Conare {Kon-ar-ee} / Conaire mac Mess /
Conaire II
GENDER M
SYMBOL bird
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Danann / Goidel - clanna Erainn
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Liffey
SITES Bregia / Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c / BC 108-38 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES dog (Ossar) / The Crown of Corn Ears / The Crown
of Flowers / The Crown of Oak Masts
RELATIVES Mess Buachalla (mother); Eterscel (father);
Nemglan (godfather); Fer Lee, Fer Gar, Fer
Rogain and Cairbre (foster-brothers); Donn Desa
(foster-father); Cairbre Musc, Cairbre Baschain,
Cairbre Riada, Oblene, Oball, Le Fri Flaith
(sons); Etain Oig (grandmother); Etain (great-
grandmother); Eochaidh Airemh (great
grandfather); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cairbre Musc / Cairbre
Riada /
Cailb / Carbre Niafer / Conchobar
mac Nessa /
CuRoi macDaire / Cu Chulainn / Da
Derga / Donn
Desa / Eochaidh Airemh / Enna Airgdech / Eremon
/ Eterscel / Fer Gar / Fer Lee / Fer Rogain /
Fruich / Ingcel / Le Fer Flaith / Mac Cecht /
Mess Buachalla / Nemglan / Oengus Tuirmech
Temrach / Red Riders / Tea / Tigernach
Tetbannach
REMARKS Conaire Mor was a son of Mess Buachalla of the
Danann and Eochaidh Airemh, a descendant of Eremon and Tea
of the Milesian (Goidel). His mother had not told him of
the Danann version of his conception so he grew to age
believing that Eterscel, the high chieftain of Ireland, was
his natural father.
Mess Buachalla and Eterscel were considered to be the
marriage kinsmen of Conn which combined the two lines of
the family of Oengus Tuirmech, that is his sons Fiacha Fer
Mara and Enna Airgdech.
At his mother's insistence he was fostered by the 2
Fedlimids, the 2 Maines of the Honeywords, and Donn Desa.
Three of his foster-brothers were the 3 great-grandsons of
Donn Desa: Fer Gar, Fer Rogain and Fer Lee.
Conaire and these 3 foster-brothers became very close
as they grew up together. They wore similar clothing,
carried identical arms, rode similar horses and ate from
the same bowl. Conaire possesed 3 gifts: exceptional
hearing, exceptional eyesight and exceptional judgment. He
taught each of his foster-brothers one of his exceptional
gifts.
When Conaire's step-father Eterscel died, he left his
3 foster-brothers on the Plain of Liffey and began the trip
to Tara to pay his respects. On the way he discovered that
he was being followed by a flock of white speckled birds of
unusual size and beauty. He took his sling and let loose a
shot at the birds.
The flock of birds landed and changed into Danann
warriors who surrounded him. A chieftain stepped forward
and asked him if he knew that it was a geis of his not to
kill birds. He said he did not. Nemglan then explained to
him the story of his true conception and that he was his
true father. Nemglan told Conaire that the filidh had
performed the ritual of the Bull Feast and had divined how
the next high chieftain of Ireland would be chosen: A
young man carrying a sling and one shot would be found
walking naked on one of the roads leading to Tara. Conaire
was told to strip naked, take his sling and a stone and
sent to Tara so that the next high chieftain of Ireland
would be a Danann.
True to prediction after Conaire killed Nuadu Necht he
became the next high chieftain of Ireland. Conaire had
many gessa placed upon him as high chieftain. He was not
to go righthandwise around Tara or lefthandwise around
Bregia. He was not to hunt the beast of Cerna. Every 9th
night he was not to go beyond Tara. He was not to sleep in
a building from which firelight could be seen on the
outside or where an outside light could be seen after
sunset. He was never to follow the 3 Reds to Red's house.
Plundering would not be allowed during his time. He was
never to allow a single person to enter the same abode as
he was in once the sun had set. He was never to settle a
quarrel between his 2 tribal slaves.
Conaire was described as a handsome blond warrior
without physical or mental defects. He wore a linen frock,
a many-colored mantle held by a large golden fibula and a
circle of gold on his head. He wore a golden-hilted sword
in a silver scabbard and carried a chalky-white shield. He
was the most noble high chieftain that Ireland ever had, a
warrior of valor. In his fury he was a champion to be
feared.
During his reign of 70 years Ireland was peaceful and
prosperous and the people were content. During his rule
some of the head chieftains were CuRoi macDaire of West
Munster, Tigernach Tetbannach of East Munster, Conchobar
mac Nessa of Ulster, Ailill macMata of Connachta and Carbre
Niafer of Leinster. During Conaire's long rule Cu Chulainn
was born and died.
Conaire was a good high chieftain of Ireland and his
rule was firm and just. His foster-brothers were to be the
cause of his downfall. They were unhappy that theft,
robbery, slaughter and plunder which were the gifts of
their ancestors were being denied them. They tested
Conaire by committing small thefts and when they realized
he did nothing, they formed a band of 3x50 raiders and
began to practice their gifts in Connacht. They were
caught and brought before the high chieftain of Ireland who
decided that each father should slay his son but his foster
brothers would be spared and sent to Albainn
(Scotland/northern England) to ply their trade. This was a
mistake because the 3 foster-brothers joined up with Ingcel
and his warriors and plundered Britain and then decided to
ply their trade on Ireland.
Conaire was on a tour of Ireland and broke one of his
gessa by stopping an argument between his 2 tribal slaves.
He then broke another geis by staying 5 nights with each of
them. The peace of the land was over and as he rode to the
northeast of Ireland he went clockwise around Tara and
counter-clockwise around Bregia, then went south along the
coast on the road of Cualu. He then decided to take his
party to the hostel of Da Derga on Magh Liffey in Leinster.
He sent his champion Mac Cecht ahead to prepare everthing
for his troops. Mac Cecht lit a boar fire which broke
another geis because the tree in the fire stuck out of the
door so that it could not be closed, thus letting out the
light.
As Conaire and his party rode on, he saw that they
were catching up to three warriors with red hair dressed in
red and riding red horses. They were the living dead of
the Danann. He sent his son Le Fri Flaith to ask them to
let Conaire and his people pass them. The Red Riders
(Ridire Ruadh) refused 3 times and continued to ride ahead
of Conaire's party on the road to the Red Hostel of Da
Derga. Conaire was then passed by two giants, the male of
which was carrying a black squealing swine over his
shoulder. Conaire asked them to stay behind but Fruich
said they must hurry to prepare Conaire's supper.
After Conaire and his warriors reached the Hostel of
Da Derga and all were seated, a lone woman came to the door
of the hostel and asked to be let in. Conaire asked who
she was and she said her name was Cailb and chanted a list
of her names which referred to death and destruction.
Conaire's boar fire had been seen as a beacon by the the
sons of Donn Desa and their raiders at sea. They landed
and lit a boar fire (Samhain) of their own to warn Conaire
of their arrival. This broke the last of his gessa put on
Conaire by his people of the bird totem. That night he
dreamed they were attacked and many warriors died.
During the battle that followed, Conaire killed many
opponents until the filidh with the raiders put a spell of
thirst upon him. Because the water at the hostel had been
used up to put out the fires started by the raiders,
Conaire sent his battle champion Mac Cecht to find him
water. When Mac Cecht finally pierced the veil of
invisibility that was placed over him and found the spring
it was too late, as Conaire had already lost his head. Mac
Cecht rescued Conaire's head and gave him a drink. Conaire
thanked him and then died.
The destruction at Da Derga's hostel was the result of
the settling of old scores among the Danann. The events
were brought about by the Danann from the Sidhe of Bri
Leith because of the crimes against Conaire's great-
grandfather Eochaidh on the distaff side of his family.
NAME Conall
EPITHET The Great
ALTERNATIVE Conall Mor mac Aengosa
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE champion
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Scotland / Ireland
REGION Galway / Mayo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Kilmacduagh / The Owles / Dun Aonghusa
SITES Carn Conall (buried) / Mounds of Findmagh
(Hillock of the Heads)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Oengus (father); Umor (grandfather?)
ENEMIES Carbre Niafer / Conall Cernacht
SEE ALSO Carbre Niafer / Cet mac Magach / Conall Cernacht
/ Cu Chulainn / Medbh
REMARKS Conall, son of Oengus son of Umor, was a
champion warrior of the Firbolg who came from the islands
off Scotland and asked Carbre Niafer for permision to
settle in the province of Mide. Carbre agreed so he and
the Firbolg exchanged 4 sureties each.
As the Firbolg began to settle in Mide, Carbre taxed
them so heavily that they went to Medhb for permission to
settle in Connacht. She agreed to this and Oengus
constructed the fortress of Dun Aonghusa on the island of
Aran Mor in Galway Bay, Conall settled in Aidne and other
families settled throughout Connacht.
When Carbre heard that the Firbolg had up and moved to
Connacht he was angry and called for his 4 sureties and
told them to bring the heads of the nomad sons of Umor. The
wife of Cet mac Magach asked Carbre for a delay until
Oengus could take counsel.
Rather than moving again Oengus decided to send 3
champions and his son Conall against the 4 sureties of
Carbre Niafer. He sent Cing of Aigle against Ros mac
Dedaid, Cimme four-heads against Conall Cernacht, Irgus
Many Battles against Cet mac Magach and his son Conall The
Great against Cu Chulainn.
Conall was buried with his father in a Carn referred
to as Conall's Stone-heap in Aidne, near Kilmacduagh in the
southwest of Co. Galway. The other 3 Firbolg champions
were buried in the Mounds of Findmagh (Hillock of the
Heads) in The Owles, Co. Mayo.
NAME Conall
EPITHET Red Hound of Cuala
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Cuala Leinster / Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES 12 score warriors and a troop of berserkers
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Cethach / Clothach / Conaire Mor / Da Derga /
Donn Desa / Ingcel
REMARKS Conall was a chieftain of raiders who were kept
from applying their trade in Ireland by Conaire, high
chieftain of Ireland. Conall joined with Ingcel and the
sons of Donn Desa to attack the high chieftain at the
hostel of Da Derga on Magh Liffey.
Conall, a Red Hound of Cuala, led 12 score of warriors
plus a troop of berserkers who would howl like animals,
foam at the mouth and gnaw on the iron rims of their
shields.
NAME Conall
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE champion
CULTURE Goidel / Scotti - Dal Riada tribe
COUNTRY Scotland / England
LANDMARKS Plain of Forts (Magh Rath at Moira)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 7th c / AD 637
BATTLES Moyraith (Cath Maige Raith)
ACCESSORIES spear (Luin)
ENEMIES Domnall mac Aedh
SEE ALSO Domhnall Breac / Domnall mac Aedh
REMARKS Conall was the champion for Domhnall Breac, head
chieftain of the Dal Riada tribe of Scotland. During the
battle of Moyraith he threw his spear Luin at the high
chieftain of Ireland. The spear was slowed down when it
penetrated 3 shields and 3 warriors who were defending the
high chieftain and although it pierced his supernatural
shield he was only wounded.
NAME Conall Anglonnach
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Temair Luachra
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra
RELATIVES son of Iriel Glunmar
SEE ALSO Conall Cernacht / Cromm Deroil / Loeghaire
Buadhach
REMARKS Conall Anglonnach, Conall Cernacht and Loeghaire
Buadhach were the three champions of the Red Branch
warriors at the time. On a Samhain eve they went on a
drunken ride through Ireland and ended up in a fight at
Temair Luachra with warriors of Munster and Connacht.
Conall Anglonnach was described by Cromm Deroil as
dark and furious, carrying a heavy sword, a multi-pointed
spear and the dark red shield of a champion.
NAME Conall Cernacht
EPITHET Of the Victories / Strength of the Wolf /
Wolfish Treachery / Squint-Eyed / The Triumphant
/ Wry-necked Conall
ALTERNATIVE Conall Cernach
GENDER M
SYMBOL wolf / snake
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster / Mide
LANDMARKS Slievegallion (sliabh gCuilinn) / Dun Rudrige /
Magh Liffey
SITES Temair Luachra / Da Derga's Hostel / Mound in
Slane of Mide / Hostel (Bruidhean) / Tech
Midchuarta
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Taltiu (Teltown)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra / Ath Cliath / Mac Da Tho's
/ Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES the heads of Connacht's best warriors hanging
from his belt / shield (Bricriu) / spear
(Lamthapad) / charioteers Id and En / horse
(Dewy-red)
RELATIVES Conchobar (father/uncle); Findchaem (mother);
Amorgen (step-father); Lendabair (wife); Rathand
and Irial Glunmar (sons); Fiachu and Findamnas
(grandsons); Fedlimid Nocruthach (half-sister);
Cu Chulainn, Fiachna and Naoise (half-brothers/
cousins); Fergna, Mess Ded, Fiacha, Findchad,
Follomain, Cormac, Glas, Mane, Conaing, Diarmait
mac Conchobar, Beann, Furbude Fer Bend and
Fiachra (half-brothers); Dechtire and Elbha
(aunts); Genonn Gruadsolus and Imrinn (uncles);
Cathbad (grandfather); Ir and Anghus (ancestors)
ENEMIES Cimme four-heads / Host of Connacht / Ingcel /
sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Amorgen / Anluan / Anghus mac Og / Athairne /
Bealcu / Beann / Buadhach Buan / Bricriu /
Carbre Niafer / Cathbad / Cet mac Magach /
Conaire / Conchobar / Cormac Condloinges / Cu
Chulainn / Da Derga / Dechtire / Diarmait mac
Conchobar / Domhnall / Donn Desa / Elbha /
Fedlimid Nocruthach / Fer Rogain / Ferghus /
Fergna / Fiacha / Fiachra Findchad /
Findchaem /
Finnabair / Follomain / Froech / Furbude Fer
Bend / Genonn Gruadsolus / Glas / Id
macRiangabra / Ibar mac Riangabar / Iliach
/
Imrinn / Ingcel / Ir / Lendabair
/ Loeghaire /
Mac Da Tho / Medbh
REMARKS Conall was a champion of the Red Branch and
second only to the supernatural power of Cu Chulainn. Like
Cu Chulainn, he was probably sired by Conchobar, head
chieftain of the tribe which would make him a double
grandson of Cathbad and a descendant of Ir of the Milesian
(Goidel). Conall was given his wry-neck by Cet mac Magach
when he was born. He studied under the champion Domhnall
along with Loeghaire and Cu Chulainn.
Conall's two horses were once described by Finnabair.
One was a white-faced copper-colored horse with broad
hooves, a wide chest, strong, and fast with the stride of a
winner. The other horse had red hair with a braided mane,
a broad back and forehead but a narrow girth. It was said
to be wild, strong and victorious over rough terrain, wide
plains and through woods.
When Conall was a young warrior, he was on guard day
at the Ford of the Watching (Ath na Foraire) at sliabh
gCuilinn (Slievegallion) when Cu Chulainn came by with
Ibar, charioteer to Conchobar. Cu Chulainn, who was 7 at
the time, wanted to go beyond their territory but Conall
thought for his own safety he should not. Cu Chulainn
threw a stone with his sling that broke the yoke of
Conall's chariot so that he could not follow him. Conall
then had to go back to Emain because there was a geis
concerning a mishap of their chariots. Id macRiangabra and
En were his charioteers.
Conall was present during the drunken ride with Cu
Chulainn that ended in a battle with warriors from Connacht
and Munster at Temair Luachra. He was described by Cromm
Deroil as having a fair complexion with blond hair and
being truly handsome. He carried a heavy hacking sword, a
multi-pointed spear and a dark red warrior's shield.
During Bricriu's feast at his new home Tech Midchuarta
at Dun Rudrige, Finnabair described him as wearing his hair
braided and his face dyed red on one half and black on the
other. He wore a cloak of blue and crimson and carried a
shield with a yellow boss and a serrated edge of bronze. He
carried a crimson spear and was accompanied by a flock of
wild birds flying over his chariot. His chariot was built
of spruce and wicker with wheels of pure bronze, a pole and
yoke of pure silver, and yellow reigns.
As one of the 3 champions of Ulster, Conall was
involved in the contest for the hero of Ulster. He lost
all the contests to Cu Chulainn including the one of
letting the giant chop off his head, for which he lacked
the courage. Conall killed the Firbolg champion Cimme
Four-heads in combat when he acted as a surety for Carbre
Niafer who was high chieftain of Ireland at the time.
During the destruction at Da Derga's Hostel, Conall
fought on the side of the high chieftain of Ireland. Fer
Rogain the reaver described him as having a massive head of
curly blond hair that fell to his haunches. His face had
one cheek which was white as snow and the other speckled
red like foxglove. He had one eye of blue and the other
black. He carried a golden-hilted sword, a red shield with
gold plates and bronze rivets, and a long 3-edged spear
with a heavy shaft.
During the battle, Conall created death and
destruction and escaped alive even though 3x50 spears went
through his shield and into the arm that held it. When
after the battle he reached his father's place at Tailtiu,
his shield was in half and his spears were in pieces. His
father was not happy that the high chieftain of Ireland was
dead and his son still alive, but when he saw Conall's
wounds he knew that he had fought honorably.
Conall arrived late to the feast of Mac Da Tho's boar
but just in time to challenge Cet who was about to cut the
hero's portion. His boast was that a day never went by
that he did not kill a warrior of Connacht and that he
always slept with the head beneath his knee. Cet agreed
that Conall was the better warrior but boasted that if his
brother Anluan were there, things would be different.
Conall reached into his pouch and pulled out the head of
Anluan and threw it to Cet, splattering him with fresh
blood.
Conchobar sent Conall to deal with Mac Da Tho because
he had insulted Athairne, the chief poet of Ulster, when as
a guest at Mac Da Tho's hostel he refused to allow Athairne
to sleep with his wife Buan. Conall ended up killing Mac
Da Tho and mixed some of Mac Da Tho's brains with lime and
made a brain ball for his sling. The brain ball was later
stolen by Cet who used it to kill Conchobar. Conall took
revenge on Cet and killed him in combat although he himself
lay mortally wounded. Conall was found by Bealcu who
nursed him back to health so that they could fight.
Conall met Froech at Brenda Bairchi in Ulster and
travelled with him to Scotland on a raid. A seer
prophesied that Conall would destroy the fort and warned
him of the terrible serpent that protected the fortress.
When Conall approached the serpent, it leapt into his pouch
and remained there until they had destroyed the fort and
freed Froech's family. When Conall freed the serpent, it
circled his waist before departing.
While Conall and Froech were in Scotland, Cu Chulainn
was defending Ulster from the masses of warriors fighting
for Connacht. When Conall arrived at the mound in Slane of
Mide in readiness for the battle of Garech, he caused a
sensation among the warriors already there. Ferghus
described him to Medbh as having a forked blond beard and
wearing a striped tunic of silk with a gold hem. Over his
head he wore a reddish-brown mantle held with a round gold
brooch covered in gems. He survived the battle and later,
when Cu Chulainn was killed, he retrieved his head, dug his
grave, raised an ogham stone over him and sang a lament.
Conall, helped by Medbh, killed Ailill in revenge for
his having killed Ferghus. In the end Conall, one of the
greatest heroes of Ulster, died in combat and it was said
that his decapitated skull was large enough to hold 4
calves and 4 people, or 2 people in a litter.
NAME Conall Corc
GENDER M
SYMBOL yew tree
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Munster
CENTERS Raith Cashel (Caisel)
AGE Iron
REMARKS Conall Corc was sent into exile by his father
the head chieftain of Munster, so he journeyed to Scotland
to the territory of a chieftain named Feradach. Conall hid
in the woods close to the fortress, hoping to find someone
to give him an idea of how he would be received.
Luckily the first person he met was Feradach's poet
whom he knew from meetings at his father's court. The poet
asked him who wrote the ogham on his shield because it
would bring about his death. The message stated that his
head should be off by nightfall if he arrived by day and
off by morning if he arrived at night.
After the death of his father, Conall Corc returned
home to Munster. He heard that the swineherd for Aed,
chieftain of the Muscraige tribe, had seen a vision of a
yew tree growing from a rock. A druid prophesied that the
first person to light a fire under it would be the high
chieftain of Munster and his descendants would rule for
ever and Raith Cashel would be the center.
The chieftain Aed was advised to wait until morning,
but by that time Conall Corc had his needfire lit and
became the head chieftain of the province of Munster.
Conall Corc gave the swineherd and his family freedom.
The Muscraige tribe were the first to offer hostages to the
new head chieftain and for this they were given their
freedom.
NAME Conan Maol
EPITHET Bald Conan
ALTERNATIVE Conan mac Lia
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Morna / Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Kerry
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster
SITES Allen Hill / Knockanar (Hill of Slaughter)
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Morna (mother); Lia (father); Goll (brother);
Scal Balb, Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Abarta / Cairell / Conn mac an Deirg / Diarmaid
/ Eremon / Fergus Finnbheoil / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Goll / Lia / Morna / Tea
REMARKS Conan was a descendant of Eremon and Tea of the
Milesian (Goidel). He was married to a descendant of
Finscoth, daughter of Scal Balb of the Danann.
Conan's father was killed by Fionn and as a result,
Conan harrassed the Clanna Ui Tarsigh for 7 years before
they made peace and he became a warrior of the Fianna.
Conan was well-liked because of his sense of humor. Every
time that Conan saw a man frown, he struck him, and if he
saw an open door he went in. Conan always lost the first
round of a fight but always won after that, so he made sure
the first round was unimportant.
Conan and Cairell energized an argument between Goll
and Fionn by arguing between themselves. This started the
brawl at Raith Almu that continued from sunset until
sunrise, when it was finally stopped by the druid Fergus
Finnbheoil.
One time, during a battle against raiders in present-
day Knockanar in Kerry, a warrior challenged the best
warrior of the Fianna to combat. Fionn sent Conan to deal
with him, which caused the raider to explode with laughter.
Conan shouted at his opponent that he had more to fear from
the warrior behind him than he did from the one in front.
When the raider looked behind him, Conan cut off his head.
The unfair combat angered everyone, including Fionn.
Conan volunteered to fight Conn mac an Deirg but
Fionn, fearing for his life, knocked him out with the door
bar and tied him with the five ties (hands and feet at the
small of the back).
When Conan and 13 other Fianna warriors were captured
by Abarta, the filidh from The Otherworld, it was at his
insistence that they were rewarded, as Fionn was willing to
settle service for service which Conan knew was unjust.
During an adventure, when a number of the Fianna
became stuck to the bench in the mountain ash house, a drop
of blood was needed to release them. Diarmaid supplied the
blood but he ran out before he reached Conan so they had to
rip him from the seat, leaving some skin behind. The
warriors grabbed a newly-flayed woolly hide off a black
sheep and used it to cover the bare flesh on Conan's back
side. The fleece grafted and it became a part of his
backside for the rest of his life.
NAME Conann mac Faeboir
ALTERNATIVE Chonaing / Chonnan / Chonand mac Febair /
Chonnand mac Foebuir / Conaind / Conaing /
Conand / Concinn
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Donegal
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Tory Island (Tor Innis - island of towers)
CENTERS Conann's Tower (Tuir Chonaind)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Magh Ceitne
RELATIVES Faebar (mother ?)
ENEMIES Nemedian / Fergus
SEE ALSO Fergus Lethderg
REMARKS Conann son of Faebar was a Fomorii chieftain who
built his tower (Tuir Chonaind) on Tory Island (island of
towers). He lost the battles of Murbolg in Ulster and
Cnamros in Leinster but the devastating effect of the
battle followed by a plague left the Nemedian in a weakened
position and Conann levied taxes amountin to 2/3 of their
harvest, milk, calves and newborn children to be delivered
every Samhain eve to Magh Ceitne.
He was surprised by a Nemedian force led by Fergus
Fergus Lethderg. Connan was killed by fergus and in time
the tower later became known as the Crystal Tower
(vitrified).
NAME Conchenn of Cenn Maige
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE giant
CULTURE Manx
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Isle of Man (Inis Fer Falga)
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Cu Chulainn / Da Derga /
Donn Desa
/ Ingcel
REMARKS Conchenn, Srubdaire (son of Dorbruige), and Fiad
Scene (son of Scipe) were a trio of Manx giants who were
captured by Cu Chulainn who then sold them to Conaire.
The three giant warriors were described as having skin
similar to the hide of a cow over their entire bodies. They
had dark hair which hung to their ankles, and wore oxhide
belts with large buckles which encircled their hair at the
waist so that it hung like a kilt.
The giants carried iron flails with 7 chains of triple
twist with 7 iron knobs at the ends of each chain. In the
other hand each carried a club with a chain attached to a
thick iron rod. During the attack at Da Derga's Hostel,
they defended the high chieftain of Ireland by killing 300
enemy warriors on their first attack. The raiders they
fought were shredded into bits small enough to fall through
a corn sieve.
NAME Conchobar mac Nessa
ALTERNATIVE Conchobar {cru-hoor} / Conchobhar {con-ah-khar}
/ Conchobor {kon-chov-or, kon-chor, con-na-hoor}
/ Conchubhair {Cruch-hoor} / Conchubur /
Concobar
GENDER M
SYMBOL salmon
FESTIVAL Feast of Othar
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / champion / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Clanna Rudhraige
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Craebderg (Red Branch) / An Tete Brecc
(Twinkling Hoard) / Hostel (Bruidhean) / Mound
of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech
ACCESSORIES buffalo horn / silver sceptre / sword - Gorm
Glas (Blue Green) / lance - Craisech Neme
(Venomous Lance) / shield - Ochain (Ear of
Beauty) / fidchell game board - Cennchaem
(Fairhead) / beer vat (Ol nGuala)
RELATIVES Cathbad (father); Ness (mother); Mughain
(wife); Dechtire, Findchaem, and Elbha (half-
sisters/consorts); Cu Chulainn, Conall, Naoise
(sons/nephews); Fachtna Fathach (step-father);
Fedlimid (daughter/consort); Froeglethan
(consort); Beann, Conaing, Cuscraid, Cormac
Condloinges, Findchad, Diarmait, Fiachna (2),
Fiachra, Fiachu, Follomain, Furbude, Glas and
Mane (sons); Ir (ancestor)
ENEMIES Connacht / Ferghus
SEE ALSO Beann / Cathbad / Cet mac Magach / Conall
Cernacht / Cormac Condloinges / Cu Chulainn /
Cuscraid / Dechtire / Deirdre / Diarmait mac
Conchobar / Elbha / Fachtna Fathach / Fedlim mac
Daill / Fedlimid Nocruthach / Ferghus mac Roig /
Fiachna / Fiachra / Fiachu / Findchad /
Findchaem / Fingen / Fintan / Follomain /
Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Ir / Mac Da Tho /
Mughain / Naoise / Ness / Ross the Red
REMARKS Conchobar was born on the Feast of Othar and was
raised by his father Cathbad, son of Congal Clairingnech,
son of Rudraige and descendant of Ir of the Milesian
(Goidel). He was then fostered to Fachtna Fathach, son of
Cass son of Rudraige, who married his mother Ness. When
his foster-father died his mother married Ferghus mac Roig,
the chieftain of a Tola territory in Ulster from Traig
Baile to Traig.
At 7 years of age, Conchobar became the chieftain of
the territory when his mother tricked Ferghus into letting
her son rule for a year and a day. He was so popular as a
leader that the warriors wanted him to remain as their
chieftain. He later made a deal with Cu Chulainn and
Fintan, the two other chieftains, to allow him to act as
head chieftain for a year and he was so popular and the
province was so bountiful that he was accepted as the head
chieftain. This was in the time of Conaire Mor and his
warriors were called the Red Branch.
Conchobar was a first-class warrior and was considered
the best in Eire and Albainn, the two lands of his
ancestors. Conchobar divided his day into four quarters:
the first being for business, the second for overseeing the
young warriors, the third for playing fidchell and the
fourth quarter being set aside for drinking and eating.
Conchobar had three houses at Emain Macha and they were
Craebruad (Red Branch), his home or seat, An Tete Brecc
(Twinkling Hoard) where all the weapons were kept, and
Craebderg where the severed heads and other spoils were
kept.
Conchobar's house was built of red yew and had 150
inner rooms which would sleep 6 people each. His own
quarters were at the center of the complex with copper
screens, decorated bars of silver and birds of gold with
precious stones for eyes. On the wall above Conchobar's
head was his silver scepter with three golden balls. This
was the symbol of authority of the head chieftain and when
he shook it silence reigned. Conchobar also had a buffalo
horn and an enormous vat of beer, called Ol nGuala (the
Coal Vat), which he obtained after killing the previous
owner.
Conchobar was described as a fiery, powerful youth of
slender build, with fair yellow hair that he wore curled
and arranged in ridges to the nape of his neck. He had a
yellow curly two-forked beard and passionate powerful deep
blue eyes. He wore a purple cloak held together with a
large salmon-shaped brooch of red gold. He carried a gray-
green broad-headed lance with a shaft of ash and wore a
hammered sword with a gold hilt.
A warrior, whether male or female, had to meet certain
standards to be a chieftain and one was a lack of serious
physical flaws such as a deformity or lost limb. Another
criterion was the ability to please the fertility and war
gods and goddesses of the territory. Fertility was
important for the survival of the tribes.
As the Ri, Conchobar was obligated to copulate with
all the brides of Ulster on their first night of marriage,
including the members of his own family. When a head
chieftain travelled and stayed the night with one of his
subjects he was entitled to sleep with the woman. This
position of head chieftain also had its risks, in that he
or she was held responsible if the rapport with the nature
deity was lost, manifested in such forms as crop failure,
death of livestock, loss of a major battle or other
catastrophes that might decimate the tribal holdings.
One night, Conchobar was at the home of Fedlim with
Cathbad and some of the other important people of Ulster.
Fedlim's wife was pregnant and Cathbad prophesied that the
infant would be a female of great beauty and that this
great beauty would be the cause of many deaths among the
Ulster warriors. The warriors wanted to kill the child
before she was born but Conchobar wanted to raise her for
his own wife.
When the time came for marriage, the girl named
Deirdre ran off with Naoise. Conchobar hunted them for
many years but when they escaped to Scotland he resorted to
treachery to bring them back to Ulster. There he had
Naoise murdered and Deirdre taken prisoner. This caused a
split between the warriors of Ulster, resulting in a civil
war that lasted for 17 years. His treachery cost him the
loss of his son and two of Ulster's hero's: Conall and
Ferghus.
Conchobar and Ferghus became mortal enemies and fought
a number of combats, but it was Cet mac Magach who killed
Conchobar with the brain ball he had obtained from Conall.
The brain ball was made from the brain of Mac Da Tho, a
chieftain of Leinster, and when Cet threw it with his sling
it lodged in Conchobar's skull. Fingen, his physician,
told him that he would live if he stayed calm. He lived
for 7 more years until one day he worked himself into a
rage and died.
NAME Concolitanos
GENDER M
CATEGORY chariot warrior / chieftain
COUNTRY France / Italy
TERRITORY Gaul / Cisalpine Gaul
LANDMARKS Mount Telamon
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c / BC 225
BATTLES Cape Telamon
ENEMIES Romans
SEE ALSO Aneroestus / Britomartus
REMARKS Concolitanos, Aneroestos and Britomartus led a
large force of Gaulish warriors over the Alps and into
northern Italy. The force consisted of 50,000 battle-line
soldiers and 20,000 cavalry and chariot warriors.
When they descended into the Cisalpine territory, they
were confronted by the whole Roman army plus 20,000 Venetii
and an auxiliary force. The battle took place north of
Rome, near the foot of Mount Telamon around the cape of
Telamon.
The Celts suffered a devastating loss when 40,000 of
their warriors died and 10,000 were taken prisoner
including Concolitanos. This was the first time that the
Celts had suffered a defeat at the hands of the Romans.
Polybius, a Greek writer working for Rome, remarked that
during the battle, the Celts used a round-tipped slashing
sword which was useless in close rank fighting.
NAME Conconnetodumnus
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE cavalry
CULTURE Gallic - Carnutes tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Loire
SITES Cenabum (south of modern-day Paris)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
BATTLES Cenabum massacre
SEE ALSO Acco / Cotuatus / Vercingetorix
REMARKS Conconnetodumnus and Cotuatus were chieftains of
the Carnutes. After Caesar had Acco murdered, they
consulted with other Celtic chieftains to determine how to
rid their territory of the invading Roman army.
Cotuatus and Conconnetodumnus volunteered to strike
the first blow, and during the winter while Caesar was in
Italy, they attacked Cenabum on the Loire river and killed
the Roman merchants. The success of the raid inspired
Vercingetorix to bring together many other tribes to rebel
against Roman rule.
NAME Condatis
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river god
CULTURE Pictish - Brigantes tribe
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Durham / Tyneside / Yorkshire
TERRITORY Lloegr
LANDMARKS Tyne / Tees / Greta
SITES God's Bridge
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 13th c / AD 407
REMARKS Condatis was a god who was venerated at sites on
the rivers Tyne and Tees as well as at God's Bridge, a
natural limestone bridge at Bowes on the Greta river. This
was in the territory of the Brigantes who arrived in
England by BC 13th century and were still there after the
Romans left in AD 407.
NAME Condere mac Echach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Tracht Eise
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES sword (Ir)
RELATIVES Echu (father)
SEE ALSO Condlae / Conchobar
REMARKS While warriors of Ulster were relaxing at Tracht
Eise, a young boy rowing a bronze boat and performing many
feats appeared before them. Because Condere was known for
his eloquent speech and good sense, Conchobar asked him to
meet the boy and find out who he was before he came ashore.
The boy refused to tell his name or state his business.
When Condere reported to Conchobar, he became angry and
sent Condlae to deal with him.
NAME Condlae
ALTERNATIVE Conall / Conla / Conlae / Conlaech / Conlai /
Conle / Connair / Connar / Connla / Connlai /
Oenfer Aife
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Pictish / Goidel / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Isle of Women (Inis na mBan) /
Albainn
SITES Tracht Eise (died)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES Cu Chulainn's golden thumb ring / bronze ship
with golden oars
RELATIVES Aife (mother); Cu Chulainn (father)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Aife / Conall Cernacht / Conchobar / Condere /
Cu Chulainn / Emer / Scathach
REMARKS Condlae was the son of the most renowned male
warrior of Ireland and was raised by his mother Aife, the
greatest female warrior. When she had fully trained her
son she gave him his father's thumb ring and 3 gessa: not
to turn aside for anyone, not to identify himself to anyone
and not to refuse a fight with anyone.
Condlae left the home of his mother in search of his
father. When he finally approached the shores of Ireland a
party of nobles of Ulster were gathered at Tracht Eise.
Conchobar sent Condere to converse with Condlae, who had
impressed them with his many feats as he was coming to
shore. When he asked the boy his name and where he was
going, Condlae refused to answer. Condere invited him to
visit with the warriors of the Ulaid. Condlae told Condere
to ask the warriors of Ulaid whether they would come
against him singularly or as a whole.
Conall Cernacht said he would not see the Ulaid shamed
and went to see the boy, only to get knocked out by a stone
from a sling and have the straps of his shield cut. Cu
Chulainn was coming toward him with Emer, who begged him to
turn away as it was Aife's only son and to remember
Scathach's warning.
This was one of several times that Cu Chulainn
suffered the repercussions of shunning his wife's advice.
Condlae won with swords and wrestling against his father,
but when they began wrestling in the water, Cu Chulainn had
to use his water spear (gae bolgae) to win. It tore the
boy's guts out and when he finally died many cattle were
sacrificed for him.
NAME Conganchness mac Dedaid
ALTERNATIVE Conganchas
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / supernatural champion
CULTURE Goidel - Clanna Dedad (The Degads)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Kerry
TERRITORY Munster
CENTERS Temair Luachra (Tara of the Rushes)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Dedad (father); Niam (wife); Dare, Echbel, Li,
Gabalglinde and Foenglinde (brothers); CuRoi
(nephew); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Celtchair
SEE ALSO Celtchair macUthechar / CuRoi / Dare mac Dedaid
/ Dedad / Echbel / Eremon / Foenglinde /
Gabalglinde / Li mac Dedaid / Niam / Tea
REMARKS Conganchness was a champion of the Clanna Dedad
who had their headquarters at Temair Luachra, the burial
site of the Clanna Erainn. His family were descendants of
Eremon and Tea of the Milesian (Goidel).
Conganchness was laying waste to Ireland and because
he was supernatural no weapon could kill him except in a
particular way. He married Niam daughter of Celtchair, and
she discovered his weakness: that he could be killed by a
spear point going through the soles of his feet or through
the calves of his legs. Conganchness was soon killed by
Celtchair, who found out his weakness from Niam.
ALTERNATIVE Conmal / Conmall
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Oenach Macha
SITES The Graves of Conmael
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c / BC 1472-1442 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Oenach Macha (died)
RELATIVES Eber (father); Gollan and Eochu Faebarglas
(sons); Er, Orba, Feron, Fergna, Caur, Capa,
Corunn, Edor, Arb and Airrbe (brothers); Airioch
Feabhruadh, Donn, Eremon, Amhairghin, Ir,
Colptha and Arannan (uncles); Dil and Odba
(aunts); Eber, Muimne, Luigne, Laigne, Palap,
Iriel Faid, Eidenn, Alan, Aine, Caithiar and
Caicher Cernda (cousins); Golamh (grandfather);
Scota (grandmother); Bile (great-grandfather);
Rifath Scot (ancestor)
ENEMIES Tigernmas
SEE ALSO Amhairghin / Arannan / Bile / Colptha / Donn /
Eber / Eremon / Golamh / Ir / Iriel Faid / Odba
/ Rifath Scot / Scota / Tigernmas
REMARKS Conmael, son of Eber, son of Golamh, son of
Bile, was the first chieftain of Munster to become the high
chieftain of Ireland. He took over the rule of Ireland
when he killed Ethriel, son of Iriel Faid, son of Eremon
and Tea. Conmael ruled Ireland for 30 years and defeated
the descendants of Eremon in 25 battles.
Conmael was finally slain by Tigernmas at the battle
of Oenach Macha. He was buried in the south of Oenach
Macha and his burial site was called The Grave of Conmael.
NAME Conn Cetcathach
EPITHET Of the Hundred Battles
ALTERNATIVE Conn (chief/head/reason/sense) Cet-cathach /
Cetchathach
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Imbolic or Samhain
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
Leth Cuinn (The Half of Conn)
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Eiscir Riada / Moylena (Plains of Lena)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd / AD 122-142 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Cath Maige Lena (Battle of the Plains of Lena) /
Cnucha
ACCESSORIES gold cup and vessel / silver cauldron / ogham
staves / Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Fedilimid (father); Medb Lethderg (mother); Art
and Connla (sons); Sadb (daughter); Becuma
Cneisgel (concubine); Cahir (brother); Conaire
Coem (son-in-law); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Eoghan / Tiobraide Tireach
SEE ALSO Art Aenfer/ Becuma Cneisgel / Cahir Mor /
Conaire Coem / Connla / Crimhthan / Eoghan Mor /
Eremon / Fedilimid Rechtmar / Lugh / Medb
Lethderg / Sadb / Tea
REMARKS Conn Cetchathach, son of Fedilimid Rechtmar and
descendant of Eremon and Tea followed Cahir Mor as the high
chieftain of Ireland. Conn was the ancestor of the Dal
Cuinn dynasty of northern Ireland.
One day Conn and his druids and poet lost their way in
a mist. They eventually came across Medb Lethderg
(Sovereign) seated in a crystal chair in a house near a
golden tree. She did not mate with Conn but she served him
a meal called Derflaith (red ale/red sovereignty) which
consisted of meat on a golden vessel accompanied by red ale
in a golden cup which she fetched from a silver cauldron.
The sun god Lugh then began to recite the names of the
future high chieftains of Ireland from Conn onward and they
were recorded by a druid on ogham staves. The vision
vanished but the cup, vessel, cauldron and staves remained.
Conn received the cattle tax (Boramha Tribute) twice
without trouble but then he was attacked by Eoghan Mor,
head chieftain of Munster. Conn was only strong enough to
hold the northern half of Ireland, so the boundary line
became the Eiscir Riada, a line of low hills running from
Galway to Dublin and cutting the island roughly in half.
The northern half was known as the male portion of the
island and the southern half as the female. Conn was again
attacked by Eoghan who wanted control of the island, and at
the battle of Moylena (Moy Leana) Conn killed Eoghan and
regained control of the whole of Ireland.
Conn made 3 major mistakes which cost him his rule. He
took Becuma Cneisgel from the Otherworld as a concubine.
This caused sovereignty to desert him, so the crops failed
and the rivers became empty of fish. He brought about the
battle of Cnucha by making Crimhthan head chieftain of
Leinster and he lifted the Boramha Tribute (cattle
counting). Conn ruled Ireland for 20 years until he was
killed by Tiobraide Tireach, head chieftain of Ulster,
during an Imbolic or Samhain festival at Tara.
Conn's daughter Sadb eventually married Conaire Coem,
son of Eoghan Mor, and they joined the island together
again.
NAME Conn mac an Deirg
EPITHET Conn Son of the Red
ALTERNATIVE Conn (chief/head/reason/sense)
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE sea raider / champion
COUNTRY Scotland / Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ENEMIES Fianna / Goll
SEE ALSO Conan / Fergus Finnbheoil / Fionn / Goll
REMARKS Conn son of the Red landed on the shore where
the Fianna were camping and Fergus was sent to inquire what
he wanted. Conn said that he desired the heads of Goll and
his two sons, Conan and his two sons, Fionn, Finn and
Fasdal and the heads of all the Clanna Morna.
Conn was challenged by many of the Fianna and he beat
them easily but when he was challenged by the Fianna
champion Goll they fought a combat that lasted 11 days. In
the end Conn lost his head to Goll.
NAME Connad Buide
EPITHET The Yellow
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Immail
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Iliach (father); Loeghaire Buadhach (son)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Loeghaire Buadhach / Iliach
REMARKS Connad was from Immail in nothern Ulster and he
fought against Connacht during the Cualnge Cattle Raid.
NAME Connla
ALTERNATIVE Conall / Condlae / Conla / Conlae / Conlaech /
Conlai / Conle / Connair / Connar / Connlai
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / son of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht / The Otherworld
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES supernatural apple
RELATIVES Conn (father); Sadb (sister); Art (brother);
Dairine (wife); Lugaidh (son); Eremon and Tea
(ancestors)
SEE ALSO Art Aenfer / Coran / Conn Cetcathach / Eremon /
Golamh / Lugaidh mac Conn / Sadb / Tea
REMARKS Connla was a son of Conn Cetcathach and a
descendant of Eremon and Tea of the Milesian (Goidel)
invaders. A woman from The Otherworld fell in love with
Connla and wanted him to come to her world where he could
live forever. The woman was invisible to everyone but
Connla. Connla's father had his druid Coran drive away the
woman but she left a supernatural apple for Connla which
remained whole no matter how much he ate of it.
The maiden of The Otherworld appeared a second time to
ask Connla to leave with her. This time they made their
escape in a glass boat. In The Otherworld (Britain),
Connla's wife gave birth to a son who was named Lugaidh mac
Conn and claimed a right to the position of high chieftain
of Ireland.
NAME Connud mac Morna
EPITHET Triumph of Combat / Winner of Wars
ALTERNATIVE Connad
GENDER M
SYMBOL salmon
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Raith Callann
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Garech
RELATIVES son of Morna
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO MacRoth
REMARKS Connud of Raith Callann in the north of Ireland
led a battalion of warriors for Ulster during the battle of
Garech. He was described by MacRoth as wild and bull-like
with large limbs and a broad head. He was a proud man with
scornful large brown eyes and very curly yellow hair.
Connud wore a hooded kirtle that was girded and hung
to his calves. Over this he wore a streaked gray cloak
fastened with a salmon-shaped pin of copper. He carried a
long shafted spear whose broad head was held on with triple
sets of rivets. He also carried a small red shield with a
hard silver rim and on his left side he carried a straight
sword with walrus-tooth ornamentation.
NAME Convictolitavis
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain / vergobret / war leader
TYPE magistrate
CULTURE Gallic - AEdui tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Loire / Saône
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Cotos / Divitiacus / Litaviccos / Vercingetorix
REMARKS Convictolitavis and Cotos were two AEdui
chieftains who were fighting over control of the tribe.
Convictolitavis was elected by the druids but Cotos
contended the election. Caesar intervened on the side of
Convictolitavis, hoping to unite the tribe to fight
Vercingetorix. Convictolitavis thanked Caesar for his
opinion and let him know that he did not owe him anything.
His people were a free people of Trojan stock and were born
to rule themselves.
Convictolitavis succeeded Divitiacos as Vergobret and
joined forces with another AEdui chieftain named Litaviccos
who had a plan to help Vercingetorix. Meanwhile he
encouraged his people to attack any Roman citizens and take
back what had been stolen from them.
NAME Conwenna
ALTERNATIVE Tonuuenna
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife of the Rix
CULTURE Briton - Trinovantes tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
REGION Cornwall
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
LANDMARKS Thames
CENTERS Trinovantum (London)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 5th-4th c
RELATIVES Dyvnwal Moelmud (husband); Belinos and Brennius
(sons)
SEE ALSO Belinos / Brennius / Dyvnwal Moelmud
REMARKS Conwenna brought about the end of the civil war
between her two sons Belinos and Brennius. She came
between the two sons and brought social pressure on them by
use of the ancient custom of displaying her breasts to them
in public.
NAME Coran
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd-3rd c
SEE ALSO Conn / Connla
REMARKS The sorcerer Coran was directed by Conn, the
high chieftain of Ireland, to use his sorcery to drive away
the woman from the Otherworld that was trying to seduce his
son and take him away. Coran succeeded for a while but the
woman from The Otherworld proved to be too powerful and the
couple eloped.
NAME Cordelia
GENDER F
CATEGORY rhain (noble woman) / hero / warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
CENTERS Caer Troia (Town of Troy) present-day Ilford
AGE Iron
DATES BC 9th c / BC 816-811 (Rix)
RELATIVES Leir (father); Aganippus (husband); Goneril and
Regan (sisters); Marganus and Cunedagius
(nephews)
ENEMIES Goneril / Cunedagius / Regan / Marganos
SEE ALSO Cunedagius / Goneril / Leir / Marganos / Regan
REMARKS Cordelia was the youngest daughter of Leir and
she loved him dearly, but when he asked his three daughters
who loved him the most she became angry and gave him a
flippant remark. This in turn angered Leir so he divided
Britain between the two older girls and married them to
local chieftains so they would inherit after his death.
Cordelia's beauty and charm attracted the interest of
an important chieftain of Gaul who asked for her hand in
marriage which he received without dowry or rights to
Britain. Aganippus was a wealthy chieftain and was not
bothered by the lack of dowry, so he and Cordelia were
married.
It was years later before Cordelia saw her father Leir
again and when he arrived he was poverty-stricken with only
one servant and she was greatly saddened. She sent her
servants with gold and silver to attire him properly and
supplied him with forty richly-dressed and well-armed
warriors. When he was ready she received him as the high
chieftain of Britain and allowed him to regain his dignity.
Cordelia assembled an army of warriors and sailed to
Britain with her father. She defeated the armies of both
her sisters and assumed the title of Rix of Britain.
While in Britain both her husband and her father died
and she began to be harrassed by her two nephews and their
armies. Cordelia was defeated in battle and taken
prisoner. She escaped prison by committing suicide.
NAME Corineus
EPITHET The Giant Killer
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY Portugal / England
REGION Devon
TERRITORY Lloegr
LANDMARKS Dart
SITES Totnes / Gogmagog's Leap
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 11th c / BC 1075 (died)
ACCESSORIES double-axe
RELATIVES Gwendolen (daughter); Maddan (grandson/foster-
son); Trojans (ancestors)
ENEMIES Goffar / Gogmagog / Suhard
SEE ALSO Brute / Goffar / Gogmagog / Gwendolen / Maddan
REMARKS Corineus was a noted warrior and the chieftain
of a group of descendants of the Trojans who accompanied
Antenor in his flight after the fall of Troy. This is most
likely the Coritani tribe who settled on the coast of
Portugal and mixed with Tartessians. When he and Brute met
and realized that they had a common ancestry, the two
groups joined forces and went looking for a better place to
settle.
Corineus and Brute tried to take land from Goffar the
Pict in Aquitanian Gaul. During a battle, Corineus fought
a single combat with Goffar's champion Suhard. Corineus
went into a battle rage and split Suhard in two with his
battle-axe, then slaughtered Suhard's warriors.
The attempt at conquering land in Gaul was costing the
lives of too many warriors, so they sailed to the island of
Britain. The Trojan descendants landed at Totnes in Devon
and built a fort there. They were raided by another tribe
and during the battle they captured the head chieftain
Gogmagog the giant. He was forced to wrestle with
Corineus. After having 3 of his ribs broken, Corineus
threw him over over a cliff and into the sea. The site is
now called Gogmagog's Leap.
NAME Cormac Cas
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Eoganachta
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Limerick
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Dun Tri Liag (Duntryleague)
CENTERS Raith Cashel (Caisel)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Ailill Olomn (father); Cian (brother); Samhair
(wife); Fionn mac Cumhaill (father-in-law); Tadg
(nephew); Eber (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Ailill Olomn / Cian / Eber / Fionn mac Cumhaill
/ Samhair / Tadg mac Cein
REMARKS Cormac Cas was the son of Ailill Olomn, son of
Eoghan Mor and a descendant of Eber Finn.
When Cormac Cas married Samhair, he built a new raith.
Their bed was built on three pillar stones and their home
became known as the Fort of the Three Pillar Stones (Dun
Tri Liag).
NAME Cormac Colomon Rig
EPITHET Chieftain's pillar
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE bodyguard for Ri Ruirech of Connacht
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Imorach Smiromrach (Edge of the Marrow Bath)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Cormac mac Mael Foga (brother)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cethern
REMARKS Cormac Colomon Rig and his brother Cormac son of
Mael Foga were the personal bodyguards of Ailill, head
chieftain of Connacht. The two brothers were described as
having yellow hair and wearing dark-gray mantles with
fringes. The mantles were held with leaf-shaped silvered
bronze broochs. Each brother carried a gray lance in his
hand. The brothers inflicted a joint wound on Cethern when
he attacked Ailill.
NAME Cormac Condloinges
EPITHET The Intelligent Exile
ALTERNATIVE Cormac Cond Longas / Cormac Conlongas
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / champion of valor
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster exile / cause of Connacht
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Shannon
SITES Athlone (Ath Luin) / Da Derga's Hostel / Athlone
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech / Da Choca's Hostel
ACCESSORIES sword (Croda)
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Mughain (mother); Etain Oig
(wife); Mess Buachalla (step-daughter); Niam
(wife); Fedlimid Nocruthach (half-sister);
Cuscraid Menn, Fiachu and Fiachna (brothers);
Cu Chulainn, Findchad, Naoise, Conall,
Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing, Beann, Furbude
Fer Bend and Fiachra (half-brothers)
ENEMIES Craiphtine / Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Anluan / Beann / Conall
Cernacht / Conchobar / Craiphtine / Cuscraid
Menn / Da Choca / Da Derga / Deirdre /
Diarmait
mac Conchobar / Donn Desa / Etain Oig / Eterscel
/ Fedlimid Nocruthach / Ferghus / Fiachna /
Fiachra / Fiachu / Findchad / Findlam /
Follomain / Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Ingcel /
Medbh / Mess Buachalla / Mughain / Niam / Usna
REMARKS Cormac was the oldest son of Conchobar, the head
chieftain of Ulster. When Cormac's wife bore him a female,
he decided to sacrifice the baby to the pit. His servants
followed other orders and took the child to Findlam the
cowherd of Eterscel to be fostered.
During the destruction at Da Derga's hostel on Magh
Liffey, Cormac fought for the high chieftain of Ireland.
Cormac was described as a large young man with a broad
head, narrow jaw, blond hair, even teeth and a noble look
about him. He wore a mantle fastened with a silver fibula
and carried a sword with a golden hilt. His shield had 5
golden circles on the front and his javelin had 5 barbs.
He had with him 9 comrades that all looked alike and
wore gold wire in their hair. They carried curved shields
of bronze and javelins with ribbed points. They also had
ivory-hilted swords with which they performed a special
feat: they would take the point of the sword and move it
from finger to finger until the hilt was in their hand. The
warriors were the 3 Dungusses, the 3 Doelgusses, and the 3
Dangusses. They fought a noble battle at the hostel
killing 9 enneads (9x9) of the enemy and escaping with only
wounds.
Cormac was so angry at his father for killing the sons
of Usna and Deirdre that he exiled himself to Connacht. He
fought for Medbh and Ailill against his own people in
Ulster during the Cualnge Cattle Raid. He and Fergus
raised 3000 exiled warriors. During the campaign, he
pitched his tent to the right of Ferghus in second position
from Ailill, head chieftain of Connacht.
Cormac was in command of 3 companies of battle-line
soldiers. The first company had close-cut black hair and
wore knee-length golden tunics that were interwoven with
red gold. Over these they wore green mantles and multi-
colored cloaks held together by silver fibulas. They
carried long shields and spears.
The second troop of warriors wore their hair cut close
at the front with long manes at the back. They wore dark
blue cloaks over calf-length white tunics with red
decoration. They wore swords with gold hilts and silver
guards, and carried 5-pronged spears and reflective
shields.
The third company colored their hair gold, red and
black and wore it long to their shoulders. They wore
purple cloaks held with golden fibulas over hooded silken
tunics that swept to the ground. They marched in step and
carried very long-handled spears and curved shields with
the edges honed razor-sharp.
When Cormac's father Conchobar was dying, he invited
Cormac to return to Ulster to become the Ri Ruirech. Cormac
decided to return home even though a filidh had warned him
that death awaited him. On the way home he stopped over at
Da Choca's hostel where he was lulled to sleep by the ghost
of Craiphtine, the Leinster harpist. While he was asleep,
warriors forced their way into the hostel and killed him.
The warrior Anluan recovered his head and took it to
Athlone on the Shannon river.
NAME Cormac macAirt
ALTERNATIVE Cormac ua Cuinn (of Coolin)
GENDER M
SYMBOL wolf
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Caves of Keshcorran
CENTERS Tech Cormaic (Cormac's House) / Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 201-241 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
ACCESSORIES golden cup of truth / musical branch of healing
Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Achtan (mother); Art (father); Medb Lethderg
(consort); Ethne (wife); Cairbre and Celleach
(sons); Ailbe and Grainne (daughters); Nia
(half-brother); Lugna (foster-father); Conn
(grandfather); Olc Siche (grandfather); Eremon
and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Aonghus / Cairbre / Fergus Black Tooth / Lugaidh
SEE ALSO Achtan / Ailbe / Angus Gae-Aduath / Art Aenfer /
Cairbre Lifechair / Celleach / Conn Cetchathach
/ Eremon / Ethne / Fergus Dubdetach / Fionn /
Grainne / Lugaidh mac Conn / Lugna / Mannannan
/ Medb Lethderg / Nia / Olc Siche / Tadg mac
Cein / Tea
REMARKS When Cormac was young and living with his
foster-father Lugna, he was teased by one of the other
fosters about not knowing the identity of his clan and race
because he was without a father. He went to his foster-
father to complain and discovered that he was the son of
Art Aenfer, son of Conn Cetcathach and descendant of Eremon
and Tea of the ancient Milesian (Goidel). His father, Art
had been the high chieftain of Ireland and had died in
battle before he was born. When Cormac was a baby, he was
stolen by a she-wolf and reared in the Caves of Keshcorran
with her litter.
The position of high chieftain of Ireland at this time
was filled by Lugaidh mac Conn, who had married Cormac's
mother Achtan. Lugna took the boy and his wolves to Tara
where he was taken into fosterage by Lugaidh.
One day Lugaidh was making a judgment on a situation
where a sheep had eaten a woman's woad crops. Lugaidh said
the sheep would be compensation for the woad. Cormac said
the wool of the sheep would be fair compensation for the
eaten woad because both the wool and the woad would grown
back. The people claimed Cormac's decision as true and his
side of the house stood. Lugaid's judgment was false and
his side of the house fell down the hill. Lugaid was
deposed and Cormac would have become the new high chieftain
of Ireland of Ireland except that he was driven from Tara
by Fergus Black Tooth, the head chieftain of Ulster.
While in exile, he approached Tadg mac Cein and asked
him to be his war leader in return for all the land Tadg
could encircle in one day. Tadg agreed to this, so Cormac
then went to Lugaidh mac Conn, put a spear to his heart and
demanded compensation for his father's life which he had
taken. Cormac demanded that Lugaidh be his champion and
bring him the head of Fergus.
During the battle that followed, Cormac stayed hidden
out of sight while a scapegoat dressed in his clothing took
his place. Lugaidh, hoping to deceive Cormac, presented
the heads of three other warriors before he finally
acquired Fergus Blacktooth's head. Cormac (the scapegoat)
accepted this head as that of the head chieftain of Ulster.
Lugaidh killed the boy, thinking it was Cormac. Tadg, the
war leader of the high chieftain of Ireland, defeated the
army of Ulster in 7 battles. Although he was badly
wounded, he managed to encircle a large territory which he
named Cianachta in honor of his father.
Cormac was still young when he mated with the goddess
Medb Lethderg, Sovereign of Ireland, finally securing his
position as high chieftain of Ireland. Cormac married
Ethne, the daughter of Cathaer Mor the head chieftain of
Leinster. During his reign, cows produced more milk than
they had containers. Calves were born after only 3 months'
gestation, salmon were abundant in the rivers and the wheat
yield was higher than usual. Cormac built the Palace of
the Single Pillar at Tara for his daughter. At this time,
Fionn mac Cumhaill was made the leader of the Fianna,
warriors and hunters of the high chieftain of Ireland.
One spring morning Cormac was alone on the rampart
when he noticed a richly-dressed warrior approaching. He
carried on his shoulder a silver branch with three golden
apples. The music that the instrument made when shaken was
so soothing that the sick, wounded and women in childbirth
would fall into a sound and healing sleep. The warrior
gave the instrument to Cormac in exchange for 3 wishes
before disappearing.
A month later the warrior returned and asked Cormac
for his daughter as one of his wishes. Cormac gave her to
him and shook the branch so the household would not feel
sorrow. A month later the warrior returned and asked for
Cormac's son. Again he complied with the agreement and
shook the spell-binding instrument. The next month the
warrior arrived at Tara and asked Cormac for his wife
Ethne. This time, although Cormac complied, he followed
the warrior as he rode from his raith.
A mist settled over the land and Cormac became lost
and found himself alone on a great plain. As he wandered
about he came to a fortress with a wall of bronze, and a
house of silver with a half-thatched roof of white bird
feathers. There were people thatching the roof but as soon
as they laid the feathers a wind would blow them off again.
Continuing his search, he saw a person kindling a fire and
using whole trees as fuel. Then he saw a fortress with 4
houses and a spring surrounded by 9 ancient hazel trees
with their branches overhanging the water. In the spring
were 5 salmon who ate the hazelnuts as they dropped into
the water. The shells from the nuts floated down the 5
streams and made sweet-sounding music.
Cormac went inside the fortress and saw a noble
warrior and a beautiful woman. He bathed in water heated
by stones that came and went by themselves (coal). Later,
a man came into the room carrying an axe in his right hand
and a club in his left hand, with a boar following behind
him. He killed the boar, cut it into quarters and put the
pieces into a cauldron. Then he chopped firewood and
placed it around the cauldron. He looked at the 3 people
in the room and explained that the meat would not cook
until a truth was told over each quarter of it.
The man with the axe, the warrior and the woman each
told a story and three quarters of the boar were cooked.
Cormac then told the story of the stranger who came to his
fortress and the disappearance of his family and the fourth
quarter cooked. When his portion was served he told the
others that he never ate without the company of his wife,
his son, his daughter, and 50 of his warriors. The warrior
then sang him to sleep and when he awoke his family and
warriors were all in attendance.
During the feast Cormac noticed the beauty of the gold
cup in his host's hand. The warrior explained that if 3
lies were told it would break into three pieces. If 3
truths were spoken it would be whole again. To show his
guest he spoke 3 lies and the cup broke into 3 pieces. Then
he said that neither Cormac's wife or daughter had seen a
man nor had his son seen a woman since they left Tara. The
cup became whole again.
The warrior then revealed himself to be the Danann god
Manannan. He gave the cup to Cormac so that he could
distinguish truth from falsehood and he gave him the branch
for his delight. He explained that the people whom Cormac
had seen thatching the house in vain were poets of Ireland
who had accumulated perishable wealth, the man kindling the
fire was a thriftless lord, the spring was the well of
knowledge, and the five streams were the five senses
through which one could obtain knowledge. The special ones
of many arts were those who drank from the streams of
knowledge. When Cormac awoke he was on the green of Tara
with his family, the branch and the cup.
Cormac was the first high chieftain to include women
of noble class as part of the Boramha Tribute (cattle
counting) paid yearly by Leinster. After serving 40 years
as the high chieftain of Ireland, Cormac had to step down
when he lost an eye trying to quell a quarrel between his
son Celleach and Angus Gae-Aduath of the Desi. Eochu
Gunnat took the position as high chieftain for a year until
he was killed by Cormac and his son Cairbre Lifechair
became the high chieftain of Ireland. Cormac finally died
when he choked to death on a salmon bone.
NAME Cornelius Nepos
GENDER M
CATEGORY vate
TYPE historical poet
CULTURE Gallic - Insubres tribe
COUNTRY Italy
TERRITORY Cisalpine Gaul
SITES Ticinum
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 100-25
REMARKS Cornelius was a Celt who grew up in Cisalpine
Gaul after it had been conquered by the Romans. He became
literate and wrote biographies, poems and histories. He
was a good friend of Marcus Tullius Cicero.
NAME Corotiacus
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of war
CULTURE Briton - Trinovantes
COUNTRY England
REGION Suffolk
TERRITORY Lloegr
SITES Martlesham
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / AD 407
ACCESSORIES horse
REMARKS Corotiacus was a Celtic war god of the Pictish
culture. A sculpture found at Martlesham east of Ipswich
depicted him as a warrior astride a horse. This was the
territory of the ancient Trinovantes tribe of Gaul that
settled in England in BC 6th century and were still in the
area after the Romans left in AD 407.
NAME Correus
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE freedom fighter / war leader
CULTURE Belgae - Bellovaci tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Seine / Oise / Somme
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 51-50
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Comm / Gutruatus
REMARKS Correus, Gutruatus and Comm were three freedom
fighters who continued to defy Rome after the defeat at
Alesia. Correus and Comm had succeeded in getting help
from the Ambiani, Aulerci, Caleti and Veliocasses tribes as
well as all their own tribes.
Correus decided to attack the territory of the
Suessiones who were dependents of the Remi. They brought
all the warriors together on high ground in a forest
surrounded by swamps. Correus hated the Romans and he
decided to fight them in battle if there were no more than
three legions. If the Romans came with more than three
legions, they would fight a hit-and-hide type of guerrilla
warfare.
Caesar discovered their plan and built a camp across
the marsh from them. They had daily skirmishes, and one
day Correus ambushed a troop of Remi cavalry in the woods
with his infantry, killing their chieftain Vertiscon. The
Romans brought up more legions and a large cavalry of
Germani, then began to build siege trenches and walls. The
Celts wanted to avoid another Alesia so they came up with
an ingenious plan to escape.
At night they laid out all the dry hay and twigs they
could find, then the next day when the troops were facing
them they lit the straw on fire and it gave off such a
fierce flame that they escaped in the dense smoke. Again
and again they ambushed the Romans until a traitor informed
Caesar of an upcoming ambush and the Celts were ambushed
instead. Correus fought so valiantly that he angered the
Roman troops and they shot him down with an arrow. Correus
was such a great warrior that his death caused the
Bellovaci to lose hope.
NAME Corvinwr
EPITHET The Bard of Ceri Hir
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE ship architect
CULTURE Pictish / Briton
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Brittany / Cornwall
TERRITORY Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Loire
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 550 ca.
SEE ALSO Coll / Mordial
REMARKS Corvinwr was a Pictish druid from Llydaw around
the Loire river. He migrated to Lloegr (England) and was
given credit for building the first ship with a sail and a
helm. He was considered to be one of the 3 great modellers
of Britain, along with Coll and Mordial.
NAME Cotos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE cavalry
CULTURE Gallic - AEdui tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Loire / Saône
SITES Alesia (Alise Ste Reine)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
BATTLES Alesia
ENEMIES Caesar
SEE ALSO Convictolitavis / Cotos / Vercingetorix
REMARKS In BC 52, Cotos was involved in a typically
Celtic dispute with another Celtic chieftain named
Convictolitavis as to who should be head chieftain of the
tribe.
Caesar intervened on the side of Convictolitavis,
hoping to win him over to a pro-Roman stance. Cotos took
his cavalry and teamed up with Litaviccus, another AEdui
chieftain, to help Vercingetorix against the Romans at the
Arverni fortress of Gergovia. Cotos also led his horse
warriors against the Romans during the battle of Alesia,
where he was finally captured.
NAME Cotuatos
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE cavalry
CULTURE Gallic - Carnutes tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Loire
SITES Cenabum
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
SEE ALSO Acco / Conconnetodumnus / Vercingetorix
REMARKS In BC 52, Cotuatos and Conconnetodumnos of the
Carnutes met with the leaders of other Gaulish tribes who
were tired of being subjected to Roman rule. The
chieftains were angry at the death of Acco by the hand of
Rome after having committed only a minor offence.
Cotuatos and Conconnetodumnos volunteered to strike
the first blow, and during winter while Caesar was away the
warriors attacked the fortress of Cenabum (south of modern-
day Paris) and killed all the Romans. This action inspired
Vercingetorix to begin his rebellion.
NAME Cotytto
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Cotyttia
CATEGORY deity
TYPE goddess of unchastity
CULTURE Thracian
COUNTRY Turkey / Bulgaria / Greece / Albania
TERRITORY Thrace
REMARKS Cotytto was an ancient Thracian deity whose
veneration spread to Athens and Corinth.
NAME Covetina
ALTERNATIVE Coventina
GENDER F
SYMBOL dolphin
CATEGORY deity
TYPE water goddess / healer goddess
CULTURE Hallstatt - Volcae Arcomici tribe / Pictish -
Brigantes tribe
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Northumberland / Aude
TERRITORY Gaul / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Mediterranean / Hadrian's Wall
SITES curative springs of Narbonne and Halliwells
AGE Iron
DATES BC 13 th c / BC 5th c
REMARKS The healing goddess Covetina was venerated in
the ancient town of Narbo (Narbonne) on the Mediterranean
in the region of France called Aude. This was the
territory of the Volcae Arcomici since BC 5th century.
There was also a shrine at a spring called Halliwells
near Brocolitia (Carrawburgh), a fort near Hadrian's Wall
in England. This was in the territory of the Brigantes who
were settled in England since BC 13th century. When the
well was excavated, it was robbed of 14,000 coins, glass
pottery, a human skull, a bronze sculpture of a horse and
dog, bent pins and 24 idols, all dating from early
prehistory to Roman times.
NAME Craiphtine
ALTERNATIVE Craftiny / Craiftine
GENDER M
CATEGORY bard
TYPE harper to the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow / Meath
TERRITORY Leinster / Aremorica / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITE Dinn Rig (Burgage Motte)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
BATTLES Dind Rig
RELATIVES Sceanb (wife)
ENEMIES Cobhthach Coel
SEE ALSO Cobhthach Coel / Ferchertne / Labraid Loingsech
/ Moriath / Scoriath
REMARKS Craiphtine and the poet Ferchertne provided the
excuse that Cobhthach needed to rid himself of Labraid, his
last relative. During a feast when the druids were
praising Cobhthach for his generosity, he asked if there
was anyone more generous. Craiphtine answered that Labraid
was more generous because when he visited him in the
spring, Labraid sacrificed his only oxen for the occasion.
Craiphtine followed Labraid into exile in Gaul. While
at the court of Scoriath, the head chieftain's daughter
Moriath ordered him to play sleep-inducing music so that
she and Labraid could escape from the all-seeing eye of her
mother. When the parents found out that she had slept with
a man, the druids were ordered to find out who it was or
lose their heads. Craiphtine was ordered by Labraid to
tell his love story, which he did so eloquently that the
parents accepted the love between the two and gave their
blessings.
During the siege of Dinn Rig, Labraid and his Galian
warriors were failing to defeat Cobhthach until Craiphtine
played sleep-inducing music to the weary warriors inside
the fortress. Labraid then succeeded in capturing Dinn
Rig.
Craiphtine had a new harp made from the branch of the
same tree from which Labraid's barber had been hanged. The
barber had seen that his head chieftain had the ears of a
horse and because this was a disfigurement that would
disqualify him as head chieftain, the barber was hanged
after he was finished. However, before he died, he had
told the story to the spirit of the willow tree and when it
was fashioned into a harp, it repeated the secret the first
time Craiphtine plucked its strings.
NAME Cred
ALTERNATIVE Credne / Credhe / Credhne / Creide / Creidhne /
Creidne
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Loch Crede (died)
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 7th c / AD 656
RELATIVES Marcan (husband); Colcu (stepson)
ENEMIES Colcu
SEE ALSO Cano / Guaire
REMARKS Cred was the young wife of an ancient chieftain
named Marcan. While attending a feast hosted by Guaire,
the head chieftain of Connacht, she met a young chieftain
from Scotland named Cano and fell madly in love with him.
During the feast, Cred put sleeping draught in the wine so
she and Cano could be alone. Cano would not dishonor the
law of hospitality but he did give her a supernatural stone
which contained his soul.
Sometime after Cano had returned to Albainn, he and
Cred planned a tryst by a lake. The meeting was thwarted
by her stepson Colcu. In frustration she killed herself by
throwing herself onto the rocks by a lake which now bears
her name. In the process she also broke Cano's soulstone
and 3 days later in Albainn, Cano died.
NAME Creddylad
ALTERNATIVE Cordelia / Credyladd / Creiddylad / Creyddlad /
Greidd
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY deity / rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE goddess of fertility
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES unparallelled beauty
RELATIVES Nudd (father); Gwynn (brother or half-brother)
SEE ALSO Arthur / Gwynn / Gwythyr ap Greidyawl / Nudd
REMARKS Creddylad was about to be married to Gwythyr
when Gwynn kidnapped her. She was fought over by the red
and white dragons Gwynn son of Nudd and Gwythyr son of
Greidyawl.
Eventually she was rescued by Arthur and sent home to
her family. Arthur then told the two suitors they must
fight over her every Beltainn forever.
NAME Credhe
ALTERNATIVE Cred / Credne / Credhe / Credhne / Creidhne /
Creidne
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Cael (husband); Luchra (son)
SEE ALSO Cael
REMARKS Credhe was the daughter of a chieftain from
Kerry. She fell in love with Cael when he recited a poem
that praised her possessions. In time she bore him a son
whom they called Luchra. When Cael died, she recited a
poem over his grave that spoke of his valor in battle. She
then committed suicide and they were buried in the same
grave.
NAME Creide Firalaind
EPITHET Truly Beautiful
ALTERNATIVE Cred / Credne / Credhe / Credhne / Creidhne /
Creidne
GENDER F
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE seer
CULTURE Amazon
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Isle of Women (Inis na mBan)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
SEE ALSO Art Aenfer / Coinchend / Delbchaem / Morgan
REMARKS Creide lived on an island in the ocean. It was
covered with apple trees and was full of bees and beautiful
birds. Her dwelling had a roof thatched with bird
feathers, a bower of crystal and vats that never ran dry.
When Art Aenfer arrived on her island during his search for
Delbchaem, Creide gave him a mantle to try on. Because it
fit so well, Creide knew that he was Art Aenfer, as his
coming had been divined.
In the six weeks that Art stayed on the Island of
Women, Creide explained to Art the dangers he would have to
face and how to defeat them. She told him that he would
have to cross an ocean, a gulf of demons and a dense and
dangerous oak forest with a narrow trail through it. There
was a hut at the beginning of the trail with 7 hags and a
lead bath waiting, an icy mountain, giant cats, an icy
river and a giant doorman that no weapon could kill. She
warned him that he would also meet two of her sisters, each
with a golden cup. One cup represented life and the other
represented death. When he reached his destination he must
slay Coinchend and Morgan to win the love of their
daughter.
NAME Creidhne
EPITHET Divine Brazer
ALTERNATIVE Cred / Credne / Credhe / Credhne / Creide /
Creidne
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / hero / druid
TYPE god of hinges, locks and rivets / artificer /
Tri De Dana
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES Esaire (mother); Luchtine, Goibhniu, Diancecht
and Samhain (half-brothers); Net (grandfather);
Magog and Iarbonel (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Diancecht / Esaire / Goibhniu / Luchtine /
Iarbonel / Magog / Net / Samhain
REMARKS Creidhne, son of Esaire, and his 2 brothers
Goibhniu and Luchtine were referred to as the Tri De Dana
(3 for the Danann). The three artificers built an arsenal
of weapons in preparation for a war with the Fomorii.
Creidhne supplied the rivets for the spears and sword
hilts, and the bosses and rims for the shields.
Diancecht and Creidhne designed and built the silver
arm for Nuadha when he lost his real one during the first
battle of Magh Tuireadh. He was credited with discovering
gold and smelting it. Creidhne venerated a deity named
Credo or Carded who was the goddess of hinges.
Creidhne survived the battle of north Moytura but
drowned while importing gold from Spain to Ireland.
NAME Creidne
ALTERNATIVE Cred / Credne / Credhe / Credhne / Creide /
Creidhne
GENDER F
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE battle-line / champion
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
SITES Allen Hill
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
REMARKS Creidne bore 3 sons sired by her father who then
expelled them from the territory. Creidne was described as
an able warrior who wore her hair in braids and was the
leader of 3 companies of 9. She went on the warpath and
for 7 years she fought her father on land and sea in
Ireland and Scotland. Creidne and her warriors then joined
the Fianna.
NAME Crimhthan
EPITHET Of the Yellow Hair
ALTERNATIVE Crimhthan {Crivhan}
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / appointed head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd-3rd c
BATTLES Cnucha
ENEMIES Cumhal
SEE ALSO Conn Cetchathach / Cumhal / Goll mac Morna
REMARKS When the high chieftain Conn Cetchathach made
Crimhthan the head chieftain of Leinster, it caused a war
between the different factions of the Fianna. Goll mac
Morna was the chieftain of the Fianna of Connacht and
Cumhal was the chieftain of the Fianna of Munster. Cumhal
was against the high chieftain of Ireland appointing a
chieftain to the province of Leinster.
NAME Crimmal
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line
CULTURE Danann / Fomorii / Fianna - Clanna Baoisgne
{Bascna} / Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd-3rd c
BATTLES Cnucha
RELATIVES Tadhg (father); Murna and Tuireann (sisters);
Fionn (nephew)
ENEMIES Goll
SEE ALSO Cumhal / Fionn mac Cumhaill / Goll mac Morna /
Murna / Tadhg mac Nuadat / Tuireann
REMARKS Crimmal and other warriors escaped the
destruction during the battle of Cnucha in which Cumhal and
many other warriors lost their lives and the Munster Fianna
was destroyed.
Crimmal and his comrades hid out in the woods and were
found in a very sorry state by a young Fionn. Crimmal and
his friends became loyal followers of Fionn, son of Cumhal,
when he organized the Clanna Ui Tarsigh.
NAME Crimthann macFintain
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Imorach Smiromrach
CENTERS Dun da Benn (Fort of the Two Gables)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / The Tooth Fight / Gairech
& Irgairech
ACCESSORIES spear with a tip on each end
RELATIVES Fintan (father); Cethern (brother)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Cethern / Fintan
REMARKS During the Tooth Fight at Imorach Smiromrach
during the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Crimthann was taken hostage
and his father was forced to a truce. Fintan and his
troops were obliged to retire to the north and wait for the
great battle that the druid had prophesied would take place
at Gairech and Ilgairech. When the agreed realignment was
made, Crimthann was freed.
NAME Crimthann Nia Nair
EPITHET The Modest Warrior
ALTERNATIVE Crebhan
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead) - died
CATEGORY warrior / filidh / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / sage / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara / Dun Crimthann
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st-1st AD c / BC 7-10 AD (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Lugaid Riab nDerg (father/half-brother); Clothra
(mother/grandmother); Nair (wife); Feradach
(son); Eochaidh (great-grandfather)
SEE ALSO Clothra / Eochaidh Feidhleach / Feradach
Fechtnach / Lugaid Riab nDerg / Nair
REMARKS Crimthann was a son of his grandmother Clothra
and her son Lugaid Riab nDerg. He was referred to as Nia
Nair (nephew of shame) in reference to his uncles, the 3
Finns (Bress/Nar/Lothar). He became the high chieftain of
Ireland when he slew Conchobor Abrat-ruad, son of Finn
File, son of Ros Ruad of Leinster.
Crimthann married Nair, a woman of The Otherworld. They
went on a 6-week adventure to Edar in The Otherworld and
returned with many treasures including a gilded chariot, a
golden fidchell board and the mantle of Crimthann. He died
after he returned to his own world but his son became the
high chieftain for 20 years.
NAME Critognatus
ALTERNATIVE Critognatos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Gallic - Arverni tribe
COUNTRY France
SITES Alesia (Alise Ste Reine)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
BATTLES Alesia
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Comm
REMARKS During the battle of Alesia when the Romans were
starving the Celts into submission, Critognatus suggested
that they could eat their own dead so as not to starve or
have to surrender. He said that some of the Gauls had been
forced to resort to this method of survival in BC 103 when
the Cimbri and the Teutoni sieged their oppida.
The main difference between the two situations was
that the Germani tribes had been just passing through,
while the Romans were staying with the intentions of
enslaving them. Luckily, the army commanded by Comm
arrived and they did not have to eat anyone.
NAME Cromm Deroil
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE seer
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Temair Luachra (Tara of the Rushes)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra
RELATIVES Cathbad (foster-father); Cromm Darail (brother)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cathbad / CuRoi macDaire /
Eochaid mac Luchta / Foenglinde /
Gabalglinde /
Medbh
REMARKS Cromm Deroil and Cromm Darail were the two
druids guarding Medbh and acting as watchmen on the wall of
the raith at Temair Luachra while the Connacht people were
there for a birthday party. Cromm Deroil kept seeing the
approach of warriors and assumed they were under attack,
but Cromm Darail saw only trees and pillars.
The approaching warriors caused the earth to tremble
so that the thatching fell off the roofs of the buildings
and Cromm Darail fell over the wall. Cromm Deroil went
inside and described what he saw to Medbh, Ailill, CuRoi,
and Eochaid son of Luchtae. CuRoi then identified the
warriors including 3 Danann who had come to stir up trouble
but could not be seen by the Host of Ulster.
Cromm Deroil and Foenglinde were sent to talk with
Gabalglinde, the ancient blind man who guarded Temair
Luachra for the Clanna Dedad. He had been in charge of the
raith for over 30 years and they consulted him to see if
there was a contingency plan to deal with the unexpected
arrival of warriors from Ulster. They were then sent to
inquire of the warriors their purpose. The Ulster warriors
told them they had not come for war; they had simply become
lost while going from one Samhain party to another.
NAME Cromm Dubh
EPITHET The Dark Bent One / The Bowed One of the Mound /
Bloody Crescent / Head of the Mound / Crooked
One of the Mound / Bleeding Head
ALTERNATIVE Cenn Cruach / Cenn Cruaich / Crom Croich / Cromm
Cruach / Cromm Cruaich / Cenn Croich
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice / Samhain (Night of the Dead) /
Lughnasadh (Lugh's Wedding)
CATEGORY deity / warrior
TYPE triple god (death/fertility/abundance) / god
of the harvest / Corn Festival
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland / Isle of Man / England
REGION Sligo / Cavan
TERRITORY Munster / Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
SITES Plain of Adoration (Magh Slecht) / Chief Mound
(Penno Crucium)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
ACCESSORIES Coinn Iothair (The Hound of Rage) and Saidhthe
Suaraigne (Bitch of Evil)
RELATIVES Carman (mother); Calma the Fierce and Olc the
Evil (brothers); Teideach and Clonach (sons)
ENEMIES Danann / Lugh
SEE ALSO Carman / Lugh / Tigernmas
REMARKS Cromm Dubh was a Fomorian chieftain during the
battle of North Moytura. Cromm survived the battle and
escaped to the Isle of Man where he was killed by Lugh in
combat. Cromm Dubh's two brothers may have been a
personification of himself.
A chieftain named Tigernmas commenced worship of Cromm
Dubh on the festival of Samhain. He was venerated on the
Plain of Adoration (Magh Slecht) in county Cavan in the
ancient provinces of Munster and Connacht. He was dubbed
Cromm Cruaich (Bloody Crescent) where he stood as a golden
idol on a mound surrounded by 12 standing stones.
The firstborn of each family were sacrificed. All
prostrated themselves to him and mutilated themselves by
breaking noses, cutting off fingers and flaying themselves.
They beat their palms and thumped their bodies, all the
time wailing and keening. The blood of the children was
sprinkled over the idols.
In Ireland, Cromm Dubh was sometimes referred to as
Cenn Croich (God of Harvest). In England he was venerated
at Penno Crucium (Chief Mound) and in the Isle of Man he
was venerated at the August Corn Festival.
NAME Cronanach
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE shapechanger / healing piper / diviner
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Tipperary
TERRITORY Munster
CENTERS Sidhe ar Femuin
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
SEE ALSO Fionn mac Cumhaill
REMARKS Cronanach visited Fionn and his warriors after a
battle when they were recovering at their fishing mound. He
arrived at dusk in the form of a deformed black churl. He
played two pipes which caused the wounded men and women to
fall asleep and their pains to leave their bodies. In the
morning he wore the shape of a charming youth and divined
Fionn's life and death.
NAME Cronn
EPITHET The Round
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river goddess
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Muirthemni
SITES Ath Cruinn (Ford of Cronn) / Glaiss Cruinn
(Cronn's stream) / Cronn Mountain (round
mountain) / Cluain Carpet (chariot-meadow)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Uala
REMARKS The goddess Cronn came to the rescue of Cu
Chulainn when she raised the level of the water in Glaiss
Cruinn so that the warriors of Connacht could not cross the
river into Magh Muirthemni.
When the host camped beside the river at Cluain Carpet
(chariot-meadow), the level of the water rose to the tops
of the trees and carried away 100 chariots and 50
charioteers. Before Cronn allowed the river level to fall
she drowned a Connacht warrior named Uala. Cu Chulainn
killed many Connacht warriors when they tried to cross at
the Ath Cruinn (Ford of Cronn).
NAME Cruachniu mac Ruadluim
ALTERNATIVE Cruachan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Cruachnaib Conalad
CENTERS Conalad Luachra
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Senlaech Arad (brother); Ruadluim (father)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Senlaech Arad
REMARKS Cruachniu was killed on a cattle raid into
Ulster at Cruachnaib Conalad.
NAME Cruithnechan
EPITHET father of the Cruithine
ALTERNATIVE Cruidne / Cruithne / Cruithnig
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / druid
TYPE artificer / wright
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Thrace / Leinster / Albainn
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cat, Ce, Circinn, Fib, Fidach, Fortrenn and
Fotla (sons); Loichet (father); Cinge and
Luchtine (grandfathers); Hercules (descendant)
ENEMIES Goidel
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Ce / Circinn / Eremon / Fib /
Fidach / Fortrenn / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS When the Cruithne were expelled from Ireland to
Albainn by the Goidel they were led by Cruithnechan. He
traced his lineage on his mother's side to Luchtine of the
Danann and to Hercules (Belenos) on his father's side.
Cruithnechan sired 7 sons by Danann women and they
became the head chieftains of the 7 territories of Albainn
(Scotland/northern England). His followers became known as
the Cruithine (Picts) and it was Cruithnechan who returned
to ask Eremon for Goidel women as brides.
The Goidel chieftain Eremon, knowing that the line of
descent for the Cruithne was through the females, allowed
them to take widows from the war with the Danann.
NAME Crumthand Niad Nair
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead) (died)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Clanna Erainn
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Temair Luachra / Crich Uathne
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra
RELATIVES Riches (foster-mother)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Laeg
REMARKS Crumthand was one of the three Connacht warriors
to escape the massacre inside Temuir Luachra. He met his
foster-mother Riches who was a filidh (satirist) and they
hurried to cut off the warriors returning to Ulster. She
stood naked in front of Cu Chulainn and told her foster-son
to kill him quick because he could not move from the sight
of her nakedness.
Before Crumthand could reach Cu Chulainn, Laeg killed
Riches with a stone. Crumthand then lost his weapons and
his head to Cu Chulainn at the ford in Crich Uaithne.
NAME Crunnchu mac Agnomain
EPITHET Crunn of the Flocks
ALTERNATIVE Crundchu {crun'-hoo} / Crunniuc / Crunnagh /
Crunniac
GENDER M
CATEGORY herder
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Emain Macha (Navan)
CENTERS Dun of Crunnchu
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Agnoman (father); Macha (wife); 4 sons
SEE ALSO Macha
REMARKS Crunnchu was a wealthy rancher who lived with
his 4 sons in the forested mountains of Ulster. One day a
beautiful woman strolled into his empty life. Without a
word she took over the tasks of the household, slept with
Crunnchu and prosperity was evident.
One day, against his wife's wishes, Crunnchu went to
the fair that was being held in Ulster and while watching
the chariot races he was heard to exclaim that his wife was
a faster runner than the head chieftain's horses.
Crunnchu was immediately brought to the head chieftain
and his wife was sent for. Macha had warned him not to
mention her presence and now she must either race the Ri's
horses or Crunnchu would die. Macha raced against the
horses, giving birth to twins at the finish of the race.
She then cursed the males of Ulster so that during a crisis
they would be as weak and helpless as a woman is during
childbirth.
NAME Cu Chulainn
EPITHET The Wolfhound of Culann / Dragon of Combat /
The Contorted One (Riastartha) / The Wildman
ALTERNATIVE Cu / Cuacain / Cucu / Cucan / Cucuc / Cucucan /
Cucucue / Cuchulain {koo-chull-in,
koo'-khoo-lin} / Cuhulin / Cu Chulaind / Cu
Chulainn macSualtaim / Sedanta / Sentanta
/
Setanta mac Dechtire (Setanta Son of 3 Years) /
Setantae (One Who Knows The Way)
GENDER M
SYMBOL wolfhound
FESTIVAL Tailteann Games / Samhain (Night of the Dead)
(died)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / supernatural champion of
heroes
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Louth
TERRITORY Ulster - Magh Muirthemni
LANDMARKS Dun Rudrige / Magh Emania / Slieve Gallion
(Sliabh gCuilinn)
SITES Tech Midchuarta / Temair Luachra / Fert Sciach
/ Great Wood (Coill Mor)
CENTERS Dundalk (Dun Dealgan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech
ACCESSORIES horses (Dubh Saingliu and Liath Macha) / spears
(Del Chliss and Cletine) / belly spear (Gae
Bulga) / swords (Caladin and Cruadin) / Veil of
Concealment / sling / shield (Duban)
RELATIVES Conchobar (father/uncle/foster-father); Dechtire
(mother); Cathbad (grandfather/foster-father);
Lugh (god-father); Sualtaim (step-father);
Mughain (foster-mother); Elba (aunt); Findchaem
(aunt/foster-mother); Amorgen, Sencha and Bla
Briugas (foster-fathers); Ferghus (step-
father/foster-father); Aife and Uathach
(consorts); Condlae (son); Emer (wife); Fedlimid
(consort/half-sister); Elbha (half-sister);
Conall and Naoise (half-brothers/cousins/foster-
brothers); Findchad, Follomain, Glas, Mane,
Conaing, Diarmait mac Conchobar, Beann, Furbude
Fer Bend, Fiachra (half-brothers); Lugaid
macNois and Ferbaeth (foster-brothers); Furbude
(foster-son); Ir and Anghus (ancestors)
ENEMIES Calatin / Erc mac Cairbre / Fedlimid Nocruthach
/ Forghall / Lughaid mac Curoi
SEE ALSO Aife / Amorgen Iarngiunnach / Anghus mac Og /
Beann / Bla Briugas / Bricriu / Calatin Dana/
Cathbad / Conall Cernacht / Conchobar mac Nessa
/ Condlae / Cronn / Culann / CuRoi macDaire /
Dechtire / Delga / Diarmait mac Conchobar /
Domhnall / Dornoll / Elbha / Emer / Erc mac
Cairbre / Err / Fandall / Fedlimid Nocruthach /
Ferbaeth / Ferdiad mac Damain / Ferghus mac Roig
/ Fiachra / Findchad / Findchaem / Finnabair /
Foill macNechta / Follomain / Forgall / Furbude
Fer Bend / Glas / Innell / Ir / Loeghaire
Buadhach / Lugh / Lugaid macNois / Lugaid mac
Curoi / Morrighan / Mughain / Naoise / Necht
Scene / Scathach / Sencha macAilella / Sualtaim
macRoig / Tuachall / Uathach
REMARKS Cu Chulainn was the double grandson of Cathbad
and a descendant of the Milesian (Goidel) Ir. He was born
and died during the reign of Conaire Mor who was the high
chieftain of Ireland from BC 108-38. The circumstances
surrounding Cu Chulainn's birth gave him the mark of a
hero.
Cu Chulainn was born as the result of an incestuous
union between his mother and her half-brother. The sun god
Lugh was accredited with being the father and Cu Chulainn
displayed many of the characteristics of a sun god.
Simultaneously with his birth, 2 foals were born, the Gray
of Macha and the Black of Saingliu, giving him a
supernatural relationship with animals. A hero was
vulnerable but Cu Chulainn died unconquered leaving no
descendants. A Celtic hero had to suffer or he would be
lessened in the eyes of the people. Cu Chulainn was a hero
and did suffer.
Cu Chulainn's birth name was Setanta, after the
distaff of his mother's people of the Tabhaira clan of the
Setantii tribe from Britain. Cu Chulainn was the first-
born of the head chieftain's sister, and in a matriarchal
lineage (such as practiced by the Danann and Pictish
cultures) this indicated an important position. He lived
with his mother and step-father Sualtaim macRoig, an Ulster
chieftain, on the Plain of Muirthemni in the province of
Ulster. His fortress was called Dun Dealgan (Dundalk) and
was originally built by the Fomorian Delga around BC 19th-
18th century. His territory was from Uisneach Mide (Cnocc
Uachtair Forcha) to the middle of Traig Baile.
Like all Celtic warriors, Cu Chulainn was taught the
art of war by his mother until he was old enough to be
fostered. He left home when he was five and forced his way
into his uncle's (father) fosterage two years early by
putting the 3x50 fosterages of Emain Macha under his
protection.
In his sixth year he was invited to attend a feast in
honor of his Conchobar which was being given by the famous
smith Culann. Setanta arrived late at the raith of the
smith and, finding the gates locked, he scaled the walls
and was attacked by enormous wolfhound on guard. He drove
a hurley ball down the dog's gullet and the dog died.
The warriors had forgotten about his coming and when
they heard the dog they thought Setanta would have been
torn to pieces. Culann was relieved but also distraught
over the loss of his watchdog. Setanta promised that he
himself would guard Culain's smithy and his cattle until a
new dog could be trained. From this time on he was called
the Hound of Culain (Cu Chulainn) . The promise to protect
the land and property of his people was the responsibility
of a hero.
Cu Chulainn had a number of foster-fathers. Amorgen
raised him, Sencha taught him wisdom, Ferghus taught him
weapons, Cathbad taught him sorcery and Bla Briugas taught
him self-esteem. One day when Cu Chulainn was 7 years old
he overheard Cathbad the Druid prophesying that the person
who took up arms on this day and won a combat would become
the greatest of heroes. Cu Chulainn begged Conchobar to
arm him and after 17 tries with inferior weapons, he took
his father's own armor. When his father warned him of the
consequences of his decision, he said that he preferred to
have the short exciting life of a hero.
Cu Chulainn borrowed his uncle's chariot and
charioteer and went looking for someone to fight. He came
upon the sons of Necht Scene and challenged each to single
combat. He defeated all 3 warriors and turned toward home
with the heads of Fandall, Foill and Tuachall hanging from
the chariot. On the way back to Emain Macha, he captured a
stag and a flock of swans, proving he was a warrior with
command over the wild beasts.
When he reached the walls of the raith he was so hot
from battle lust that to keep him from destroying his own
people fifty naked women led by Mughain paraded before him.
The warriors then grabbed him and threw him into a tub of
cold water which turned to steam. He had to be immersed 3
times before he cooled down enough to bring him out of his
Riastartha (warrior's heat). Cu Chulainn was led away by
his foster mother Mughain, and bathed and properly dressed
for his feast.
When he reappeared it was as a handsome young man. His
hair was of 3 colors: dark at the roots, blond in the
middle and red at the tips. His cheeks were colored
yellow, blue, green and red. He wore 100 strings of jewels
on his head and 100 golden ornaments on his upper body. He
had 7 pupils in each eye, 7 fingers on each hand and 7 toes
on each foot. He was now accepted into his society as a
warrior.
Cu Chulainn needed his own horses for his chariot and
one day when he was by the shore of Loch Duib Saing, one of
the horses that was born at the same time as himself came
out of the lake. Cu Chulainn reached up and put his arms
around the neck of the horse and circled Ireland with him
until they became friends. He called this horse the Black
of Saingleann (Dubh Saingliu). His second horse, a roan,
came to him one day by the shore of Lind Leith near Sliabh
gCuilinn (Slievegallion). Cu Chulainn became friends with
this horse in the same way and named it The Gray of Macha
(Liath Macha).
Finnabair once described the Black of Saingleann (Dubh
Saingliu) as being compact with a narrow chest but broad
back with a braided mane and a long flowing tail. He had
strong thighs and narrow hooves and was a fast runner with
a strong, arrogant and high-spirited personality. She
described Liath Mache (The Roan of Macha) as a gray high-
headed horse with a broad chest and a curly mane. He was a
ferocious horse with broad thighs who seemed to fly with
war leaps causing a thunderous sound. Finnabair then
described Cu Chulainn's chariot as being made of spruce and
wicker and having wheels of rusted iron. The arching body
was of copper and the poles were of white gold. The curved
yoke was pure gold and the reigns were double-braided and
pure yellow.
Cu Chulainn was of small stature and dark skin with
black hair. He was handsome and became the favorite of the
ladies of the court but he fell in love with Emer, the
young daughter of Forgall. He asked for Emer's hand in
marriage but Forgall refused, stating that he was not a
fully-trained warrior and must go to Albainn to study with
the champion Domhnall.
Cu Chulainn travelled with Conall and Loeghaire to
Scotland where he was trained by Domhnall. During Cu
Chulainn's time there, he was pursued by Domhnall's
daughter Dornoll, whom he rejected. When he finished his
studies, Domhnall advise him to go to the Land of Shadows
to study weapons and sorcery from the celebrated Scathach.
He studied with her and became a mighty warrior of many
feats. He became foster-brother to Ferdiad to whom
Scathach taught everything as well, except the feat of the
Gae Bulga or belly spear which was thrown with the foot
from under water. During Cu Chulainn's time with Scathach
he came into contact with her sister Aife who was
considered to be the greatest of warriors. Aife bore him a
son that was named Condlae. After years of training, Cu
Chulainn returned home to find that Emer's father still
would not allow her to marry him. He abducted her and they
were married in a life bond.
Because Cu Chulainn was a favorite of the ladies at
court, those loyal to him would close one eye in respect
for his disfigurement when he was in his warrior heat.
Buan, a maiden who fell in love with Chulainn, met her
death when she tried to jump into his moving chariot.
Cu Chulainn possessed the 3 faults: youth, good looks
and bravery. He also had the 3 supernatural gifts: sight,
understanding and exact reckoning. He acquired the 15
excellences of superb physique, noble bearing, honor,
valor, eloquence, giving counsel, exact judgment, playing
fidchell, horsemanship, swimming, winning contests, combat,
battle, laying waste and taking plunder. Cu Chulainn also
had command of 30 feats or Clessa. These included:
crossing on a tightrope, the wheel turn (five spokes), the
feat of killing 8 warriors with one throw of a javelin and
leaving the 9th one untouched, and the feat of juggling 19
severed heads. Cu Chulainn was also familiar with the
secret language called berla na filed (jargon of poets)
which was a mixture of keenings and riddles.
Cu Chulainn acquired many supernatural items like the
Veil of Concealment which was a gift from the head
chieftain of Tir na Sorcha (Land of Light) brought to Cu
Chulainn by Manannan. The gift was a face guard in the
form of a purple-red fan, with a visor which had 7 pupils.
Cu Chulainn was credited with inventing the game of hammer-
throw at the Tailteann Games when he grabbed a chariot
wheel by the axle end, whirled it around his head and let
it go.
Cu Chulainn was a berserker warrior and when his
warrior heat (Riastartha) overtook him he was referred to
as The Contorted One or The Wildman. He body would spin
around in his skin so that his feet and knees faced the
rear and calves and buttocks to the front. His hair stood
on end (with the help of lime and clay) and the tip of each
hair exuded blood. His mouth spurted fire and from the top
of his head a jet of black blood rose to the height of a
ship's mast. On his forehead appeared the crescent of the
hero's moon. In his battle frenzy he presented a
terrifying sight. His fury would cause him to shake, one
eye would recede and the other would protrude red and
inhuman.
During Bricriu's Feast when he was nearing the Raith
Cruachan, Finnabair described him as being a sad-looking
dark man wearing a scarlet tunic with a golden fibula and
having 8 dragon-red gems in his two eyes. He was
performing the Salmon Leap as they neared. During the
feast, he was one of the 3 heroes competing for the
position of champion of Ulster. When the Wild Man (Geilt)
challenged them in the contest of chopping off heads, he
was the only one of the 3 who put his own head on the
chopping block and for this he was acclaimed the champion
of heroes. His cousin Conall became a champion over
mortals but Cu Chulainn was the undisputed champion over
supernatural opponents such as CuRoi.
When Cu Chulainn was 17 years old he was on guard at
Magh Muirthemni when the Host of Connacht arrived on their
cattle raid into Ulster. He sent his step-father Sualtaim
to rouse the warriors of Ulster. He then made a ring out
of an oak sapling using only one foot, one hand and one
eye. He carved ogham onto it and forced the ring over a
standing stone. The ogham challenged the warriors of
Connacht not to go any further until one of them mastered
this feat. Cu Chulainn then went to meet his half-sister
Fedlimid and spent the night with her.
During his defense of Ulster against the Host of
Connacht, Cu Chulainn made a four-pronged fork from a tree,
pointed and charred the end, then drove it into the creek
bed at Great Wood (Coill Mor). Innell, Err and their
charioteers were the first four to lose their heads. Cu
Chulainn put a head on each prong of the tree fork.
Cu Chulainn made the 3rd most exact reckoning after
Lugh during the 2nd Battle of Magh Tuireadh and Ingcel at
the Destruction at Da Derga's Hostel when he counted the
number of warriors of Connacht who were attacking Ulster.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, when Cu Chulainn was
dying of his wounds, his god-father Lugh appeared to him,
emerging from the sunset. Cucan, as Lugh called his son,
had not slept for more than a dog-nap from Samhain to
Beltainn. Lugh sung him the "Men's Low Strain" and put him
into a healing sleep which lasted for 3 nights and 3 days.
When he was sure his son would wake healed, he returned to
the Land of the Dead.
Cu Chulainn's faithful charioteer watched over him at
Fert Sciach (Thorn-mound) while he was bound with ropes to
keep him together. Here he was awakened by a visitation of
Fethan and Collach, two female filidh. They appeared to
him keening the death of Conchobar and Ferghus and the
defeat of Ulster. Cu Chulainn heard Conchobar's shield cry
out as Ferghus's sword hit it. He grabbed the two filidhs
and crushed their heads together. He rushed in his chariot
to the side of Ferghus and reminded him that they had made
an agreement not to fight each other. Ferghus honored the
pact and led the Ulster exiles away, the mighty Galians of
Leinster followed and then the warriors of Connacht fled.
The death of Cu Chulainn was brought about by Medbh
who had the 3 daughters of Calatin trained in sorcery. The
sons of Calatin had made supernatural spears designed to
kill Cu Chulainn. The 3 daughters of Calatin made him
delirious and caused him to see warrriors descending upon
the Plain of Muirthemni.
On his way to do battle, he stopped at his raith where
he said goodbye to his mother and father. His wife Emer
tried to dissuade him from going but he paid her no
attention. Continuing on his way, he passed a washer-woman
at the ford on the Magh Emania and as he realized that the
clothing she was washing the blood from were his own, she
vanished. Next, Cu Chulainn passed the 3 daughters of
Calatin Dana who tried to trick him into eating dog. He
had conflicting gessa: one was not to pass a hearth without
tasting the food and the other was not to eat dog. He
accepted the dog's shoulder offered him and put it under
his left thigh, but his hand and leg were then robbed of
their supernatural power.
South of Armagh, Cu Chulainn was confronted by his
real enemies near Slieve Fuad. Lugaid mac CuRoi cast one
of the supernatural spears of Calatin's at the Black of
Saingliu and killed him. Lugaid's next spear killed Laeg
and his third killed Cu Chulainn when it hit him in the
stomach. Cu Chulainn asked if he could go to the water for
a drink and to wash his wound. Lugaid agreed and Cu
Chulainn reddened the lake with his blood. A water dog
(otter) drank the bloody water and Cu Chulainn knew it was
time to die. He finished the cycle by killing the water
dog with his sling, breaking his most important geis. Cu
Chulainn bound himself to a pillar stone so he would die
standing with his sword in his hand.
The Gray of Macha guarded him and killed 50 warriors
with his teeth and 30 with his hooves in 3 separate
charges. Erc mac Cairbre killed the Gray of Macha with
another of the spears of Calatin, then the Morrighan in the
form of a raven landed on his shoulder and the hero's moon
faded from his forehead. Only then did Lugaid dare
approach Cu Chulainn to cut off his head. Cu Chulainn's
sword fell from his hand and cut off the sword arm of
Lugaid. In reprisal Cu Chulainn's right arm was cut off
and the head and arm were taken away.
Conall Cernacht, Cu Chulainn's half-brother and
cousin, caught up to Lugaid, killed him and rescued Cu
Chulainn's head. He placed the head on a stone which split
the rock, burying itself deep within. The body was placed
in a tomb along with all the heads Cu Chulainn had taken in
his time. Emer, in true hero fashion, claimed her place in
the tomb with Cu Chulainn and died. The entrance was
filled and Conall erected the ogham stone. Conall then
sang Cu Chulainn's laments on that eve of Samhain. At 17
years the life of the mightiest hero of Ireland was over,
but his spirit was free to be born again, again and again.
NAME Cuan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE battle-line
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
SITES Allen Hill
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
SEE ALSO Diarmuid / Fionn / Grainne
REMARKS Cuan was a loyal follower of Fionn and helped
him in his pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne.
NAME Cuda
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE goddess of health and prosperity
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Gloucester
TERRITORY Lloegr
SITES Cirencester (Corinium)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c
SEE ALSO Genii Cucullati
REMARKS Cuda was a goddess who was venerated at
Cirencester. She was sometimes accompanied by the Genii
Cucullati, 3 tiny women with hooded capes. She was
venerated in the territory of the Catuvellauni tribe who
settled in the area around BC 3rd century.
NAME Cuillius
GENDER M
CATEGORY charioteer
TYPE driver for Ri Ruirech Ailill macMata
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Cul Airthir
SITES Ath Cuillne (Ford of Destruction) (died)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ENEMIES Ulster / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Ailill / Cu Chulainn / Ferghus / Lugaid / Medbh
REMARKS Ailill asked Cuillius his charioteer to spy on
Medbh and Ferghus who were lagging behind the hosts.
Cuillius crept up on them while they were copulating and
saw Ferghus's sword laying to the side. Cuillius slipped
the sword out of the scabbard and took it to Ailill. Ailill
and Cuillius laughed over the situation and both knew that
Medbh was securing Ferghus's loyalty. Ailill had Cuillius
wrap the sword, then hid it in his chariot under the floor
boards.
When Ferghus went to put on his scabbard he realized
that his sword was gone and that Ailill knew where it was.
He borrowed the sword of his charioteer and fashioned one
from wood. When he returned to camp, Ailill teased him
about it.
Later in the campaign, Cuillius was killed by a stone
from Cu Chulainn's sling while he was washing Ailill's
chariot at the river at Cul Airthir. The ford was then
called Ath Cuillne (Ford of Destruction) because of the
number of warriors Cu Chulainn killed there.
NAME Cul
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY charioteer
TYPE principal driver for Ard Righ Conaire
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES bronze goads
RELATIVES Pole (father); Yoke (mother); Frecul and Forcul
(brothers)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Da Derga / Donn Desa /
Ingcel
REMARKS Cul, Frecul and Forcul were the triplet
charioteers to Conaire the high chieftain of Ireland. They
were described as wearing short aprons of gray linen
embroidered with gold, crimson capes, and plates of gold on
their foreheads. They carried bronze goads in their hands.
The charioteers each had 3 apprentice charioteers
called Buadon, Buadchar, Buadgnad; Riade, Riado, Riamcobur;
Argatlam, Eirr and Ineirr. These 9 each wore a cape with
purple trim, a headplate of gold, and carried a goad.
NAME Culann
EPITHET The Smith
ALTERNATIVE Cullan
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE master artificer / blacksmith
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Slievegallion (Slieve Gullion)
CENTERS Sidhe Sliabh gCuilinn (Slieve Gullion)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES wolf-hound guard-dog
SEE ALSO Conchobar / Cu Chulainn / Ferghus mac Roig
REMARKS Culann was the famous smith of Ulster who forged
the weapons for Conchobar and his warriors. His fortress
was Sidhe Sliabh gCuilinn in county Armagh. Culann was
also the proud master of a great wolf-hound from Iberia, a
ferocious dog with the strength of hundreds.
Culann invited Conchobar and 50 chariot chieftains to
a feast at his dwelling. When they arrived he let the dog
loose between the walls of the defences to guard his
property and the nobles began to feast. He had straw and
fresh-cut rushes spread on the floor for his guests to sit
on as they commenced to drink. Cu Chulainn, who was asked
to come along, was late because he had been playing a game
with the other youths. When he did arrive, the gate was
closed so he leaped over the wall and was confronted with
the enormous savage dog. He threw his hurley ball at the
dog with such force that it entered the dog's mouth,
travelled through the dog and came out the rear end, taking
the entrails with it. Cu Chulainn then grabbed the hind
legs of the dog and slammed it against a pillar-stone,
crushing it to death.
When the warriors inside the sidhe heard the commotion
outside, they remembered that the youth was to follow them
and expected to find him in shreds but Ferghus, who had
raced out to the yard, found him intact. Culann was
relieved that his head chieftain's sister's son was unhurt,
but he was in anguish that his guard dog was dead and it
would take him a long time to train another to protect his
cattle and land.
Cu Chulainn insisted that he would personally take on
the role of the watch-dog until Culann could train another.
Conchobar then named him Cu Chulainn (Wolfhound of Culann).
This all happened when Cu Chulainn was six years old.
NAME Culhwch
EPITHET Pig Run
ALTERNATIVE Cilhwch {kil'-hugh} / Culhwch {Kil-hookh}
GENDER M
SYMBOL boar
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
REGION Gwent
TERRITORY Cornwall
LANDMARKS River Usk
SITES Caerleon-on-Usk
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES gray steed / gold saddle / 2 silver spears /
battle axe / 2 gray hounds
RELATIVES Cilydd (father); Goleuddydd (mother); Olwen
(wife); Arthur and Gwyar (cousins); Custenhin
(step-uncle)
ENEMIES Isbaddaden
SEE ALSO Arthur / Bedwyr / Cei / Cilydd / Custenhin /
Cynddylig Cyfarwydd / Goleuddydd / Gwalchmai mab
Gwyar / Gwrhyr / Gwyar / Isbaddaden / Menw ap
Teirgwaedd / Olwen
REMARKS Culhwch's mother had lost her senses when she
became pregnant and only recovered when she was about to
give birth. The birth took place in a pig-run and because
of this the male child was named Culhwch. Nora Chadwick
has suggested that the term pig-sty was a symbolic name for
a barrow or grave of a deity related to the boar and a good
place to acquire meaningful dreams.
Culhwch's story begins when his mother died and his
father remarried. His step-mother wanted him to marry her
daughter and when Culhwch refused she placed a geis on him
so that he could only marry Olwen, daughter of Isbaddaden,
chieftain of the giants.
Culhwch tried to find the whereabouts of the girl but
no one seemed to know where to find her. His father
advised him to travel to the camp of his cousin Arthur and
ask to have his hair cut.
As Culhwch rode into Arthur's camp at Caerleon-on-Usk,
he was described as a handsome youth wearing a purple
mantle with a golden apple at each of the four corners. He
rode a gray horse which was equipped with golden saddle,
bit, stirrups and shoes. Culhwch wore a golden sword and
carried a gold-covered shield with ivory boss. He also
carried 2 silver spears and a large battle-axe. He was
accompanied by two gray hounds with white breasts and red-
gold collars.
Arthur received his cousin well and appointed Cei,
Bedwyr, Garanwyn son of Cei, Cynddylig Cyfarwydd the guide,
Gwrhyr the Interpreter, Gwalchmai mab Gwyar and Menw ap
Teirgwaedd (master of spells) to help Culhwch track down
Olwen.
When Culhwch and his party finally found Olwen, her
father Isbaddaden, "King of the Giants", dictated a long
list of tasks that Culhwch must accomplish before marrying
his daughter. With the help of Arthur's people, Culhwch
accomplished all his deeds, acquired all the necessary
booty for Isbaddaden and married Olwen.
NAME Cumhal
EPITHET One-Eye
ALTERNATIVE Coll (Hazel) / Coul / Cumal / Cumhal {Coowal,
Cumhail}
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / hero / warrior / Rigfeinnid
TYPE battle-line / head chieftain of all the Fianna
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fianna - Clanna
Baoisgne {Bascna}
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Raith of Hazel
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c / AD 122-142 (died)
BATTLES Cnucha (Knock Castle)
RELATIVES Trein Mor (father); Murna (wife); Tuireann
(daughter); Fionn (son); Los Lurgann (sister) /
Eremon, Tea, Ethniu, Nuadha and Cahir Mor
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Goll / Arca Dubh
SEE ALSO Arca Dubh / Cahir Mor / Conn Cetcathach /
Crimhthan / Eber / Eremon / Ethniu / Fionn /
Goll / Los Lurgann / Murna / Nuadha /
Tadhg mac
Nuadat / Tea / Tuireann
REMARKS Cumhal, son of Trein Mor, son of Finn, son of
Art, son of Cahir Mor, was the head chieftain of the
Munster Fianna, the Clanna Baoisgne. It was said that
Cumhal could only die by his own sword, the only weapon to
which he was not immune.
At the time Aedh mac Morna was the head chieftain of
the Connacht Fianna, the Clanna Morna. The two clans were
not the best of friends and Aedh and Cumhal had been rivals
for the position of the head chieftain of all the Fianna
warriors.
Conn Cetcathach was the high chieftain of Ireland at
the time and when he appointed Crimhthan to the position of
head chieftain of Leinster, the Fianna became involved in a
civil war between the Clanna Baoisgne and the Clanna Morna.
The battle of Cnucha took place near Raith Coole in
King's county near Dublin sometime between AD 122-142.
During the war Cumhal took an opportunity to mate with
Murna, daughter of Tadhg. It had been prophesied that he
would die in the first combat after he married and when he
re-entered the battle he engaged in combat with Aedh mac
Morna. In combat between the two leaders, Cumhal was badly
wounded but not before he put out the eye of Aedh mac
Morna, causing him to be called Goll after that time. As
Cumhal lay wounded a fisherman called Black Arky (Arca
Dubh) happened by and offered to carry Cumhal to a safe
haven in exchange for his sword. Once Arca Dubh received
the sword he stabbed him in the back.
NAME Cunedagius
ALTERNATIVE Cunedagios
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain of Britain
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
REGION Cornwall
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
AGE Iron
DATES BC 8th c (ruled 33 years) / BC 776 ca. (died)
RELATIVES Regan (mother); Henwinus (father), Goneril and
Cordelia (aunts); Marganus (cousin); Leir
(grandfather); Rivallo (son)
ENEMIES Cordelia / Marganus
SEE ALSO Cordelia / Goneril / Leir / Marganus / Regan /
Rivallo
REMARKS Cunedagius received control of Cornwall after
the death of his father. He and his cousin Marganus made
an alliance and began to harass their aunt Cordelia who was
at the time the Rix of Britain.
When the cousins defeated their aunt they divided the
island between them, with Cunedagius becoming the head
chieftain of all the tribes south of the Humber river.
Marganus thought that he should be the high chieftain
of all the tribes and soon the two cousins were at war.
After two years of fighting Marganus was killed during a
battle in Wales and Cunedagius assumed the position of Rix
for all the tribes of the island. He proved a worthy
leader for thirty-three years and was succeeded by his son
Rivallo.
NAME Cunedda
ALTERNATIVE Cunedag
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain / Brenin
TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Briton - Votadini tribe
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
SITES Manau Goutodin
CENTERS Traprain Law
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 4th c / AD 380
RELATIVES Edeyrn (father); Ceredig, Tyboin and Meirion
(sons)
SEE ALSO Ceredig
REMARKS Cunedda left his territory in Manau Goutodin
(around Stirling) and he and his 8 sons and 1 grandson came
to north Wales to drive out the Irish and capture the
territory of Gwynedd (present-day Gwynedd and Clwyd). His
son Tyboin died before they reached Wales and his son
Meirion took over as leader when he died.
EPITHET Hound of the Shining One
ALTERNATIVE Cunobelin / Cunobelinos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain / Brenin
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Greater London / Bedfordshire / Buckinghamshire
/ Oxfordshire / Gloucestershire / Hertfordshire
/ Suffolk / Essex / Kent / Surrey / Berkshire /
northern Hampshire / eastern Kent
TERRITORY Lloegr
CENTERS Wheathamstead / Colchester (fort of Camulos) /
Verulamium (St Albans)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 10 (became Brenin) / AD 41 (died)
RELATIVES Lludd (grandfather); Tasciovanos (father);
Epaticcos (uncle); Togodumnos, Caratacus,
Adminius (sons)
ENEMIES Adminius
SEE ALSO Adminius / Camulos / Caratacus /
Epaticcos /
Lludd / Tasciovanos / Togodumnos
REMARKS On the death of his father, Cunobel became chief
of the Catuvellauni and their client tribes. He moved his
headquarters from Wheathamstead to Camulodun (Colchester),
naming it after their deity, and led a campaign that
conquered eastern Kent, northern Hampshire, Berkshire and
the remainder of Oxfordshire. A second center was
established at Verulamium (St Albans). Cunobel made his
territory a leading trading centre outside the Roman Empire
and this attracted their interest. He banished his son
Adminius because of his pro-Roman stance.
Cunobel had artificial shafts leading to caves in the
chalk soil at Gray's Thurrock, Essex. These were called
Cunobel's Gold Mines and were most likely Neolithic flint
mines that he used for storing his treasures.
When Cunobel died, loyal sons and his uncle divided
the territory and began to expand, causing trouble with the
older non-Belgic tribes.
NAME Cur mac Da Lot
EPITHET The Hero
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster exile / cause of Connacht
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
ACCESSORIES wagon-load of assorted weapons
RELATIVES Loth mac Fergusa maic Leti (father); Fergus
mac Leti (grandfather)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cu Chulainn / Fergus mac Leti /
Laeg / Loth mac Fergusa maic Leti / Medbh
REMARKS Cur mac Da Loth was chosen by Medbh and Ailill
to fight a single combat with Cu Chulainn. Cur was
described as a joyless person and whoever he drew blood
from would die on the 9th day. Because he was no fun to be
with while eating, sleeping or sitting, the Connacht
warrior did not care whether he won or lost.
Cur went early to the site of battle with his cart-
load of weapons. Cu Chulainn was already present and in
the processes of practicing his feats of gallantry. These
included the Salmon-Leap (which was done by lying flat then
springing into the air horizontally), Rope Feat, Apple
Feat, Breaking of the Sword, Wheel Feat, Measured Stroke,
Edge Feat, Champion's Cry, Level Shield Feat, Pole Cast,
Gae Bulga (barbed Spear), Little Dart Feat, Leap over a
Blow, Feat of Catt, Folding of a Noble Chariot-fighter,
Vantage of Swiftness, Rim Feat, Over-Breath Feat, Running
up the Lance and Standing Erect on its Point, Side Stroke
and Binding the Noble Hero (around spear point). Cu
Chulainn liked to pratice these feats early each morning.
Cur worked with his weapons for one third of the day
but none of his weapons reached Cu Chulainn because of the
intensity of the feats he was performing. Laeg finally
brought to Cu Chulainn's attention that someone was trying
to kill him. Chulainn threw 8 of his apples into the air
but the 9th he drove at Cur, hitting the edge of his shield
and then his forehead, carrying the brain out through the
back of his head.
NAME Curnach
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES Hua Faich (father)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Da Derga / Donn Desa /
Dublonges /
Ingcel / Trebuat
REMARKS Curnach, Trebuat and Dublonges were 3 exiles
from Pictland who served Conaire the high chieftain of
Ireland. The three were large brown-skinned men and wore
their hair at even length. They wore black-hooded cowls
that reached down to their elbows. They carried huge black
swords, black shields and dark green javelins with thick
shafts. All three were wounded during the battle at Da
Derga's hostel but lived to boast of victories of a raider
chieftain each.
NAME CuRoi macDaire
EPITHET The Wild Man
ALTERNATIVE Cu Rui / Curoi {Koo-ree} / Cu Roi mac Dair,
Daire, Dairi or Dari
GENDER M
SYMBOL dog / salmon
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead) - died
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ri Ruirech / filidh / herder
TYPE supernatural champion / head chieftain /
adventurer / sorcerer / shapechanger
CULTURE Goidel - Clanna Dedad (The Degads)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Tipperary / Kerry
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Slieve Mis (Sliabh Mish) / Dingle Peninsula /
Corco Duibne / Magh Clochair (the Stony Plain)
SITES Cotal Inis Fer Falga / Temair Luachra
(Tara of
the Rushes)
CENTERS Temair Luachra (Tara of the Rushes) /
Caherconree - Cathair Chonroi (stone fort of
CuRoi) / Raith Cashel (Caisel)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES cauldron / 3 supernatural cows / supernatural
sword / gray mantle
RELATIVES Dare (father); Blathnat (wife); Lugaid (son);
Conganchness, Echbel, Li, Gabalglinde and
Foenglinde (uncles); Dedad (grandfather); Mane
Milscothach (foster-son); Eremon and Tea
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Blathnat / Conall Cernacht / Conganchness mac
Dedaid / Cu Chulainn / Dare mac Dedaid / Dedad /
Echbel mac Dedaid / Eterscel / Eremon / Fer
Cerdne / Foenglinde mac Dedaid / Gabalglinde mac
Dedaid / Li mac Dedaid / Loeghaire Buadhach /
Lugaid mac Curoi / Mane Milscothach / Munremar /
Tea / Tigernach Tetbannach
REMARKS CuRoi son of Dare was a descendant of Eremon and
Tea of the Milesian (Goidel). During the reign of Eterscel
Mor he held the position of head chieftain of West Munster
and Tigernach Tetbannach of the Clanna Erainn was the head
chieftain of East Munster. When Conaire Mor came to power
in BC 108, Dedad son of Sin was the head chieftain of West
Munster and CuRoi macDaire was a sorcerer and the
supernatural champion of the Clanna Dedad. The Clanna
Dedad made their headquarters at Temair Luachra, the burial
center for the Clanna Erainn.
CuRoi was described as the man in the gray mantle and
he boasted that from the time he became a warrior at the
age of 7 until he died, he never killed a man in Ireland
nor ate any food of Ireland. CuRoi was an adventurer who
was always on the move, and his fortress Caherconree in the
Slieve Mis (Sliabh Mish) Mountains in county Kerry would
spin so fast at sunset that no one could enter.
CuRoi was joined by Cu Chulainn in an adventure to
Inis Fer Falga (Isle of Man). Here they captured a huge
supernatural cauldron that could hold 30 cows, 3
supernatural cows and Blathnat (Little Flower), daughter of
a head chieftain. When Cu Chulainn and the others refused
to split the booty with him, CuRoi took it all including
the beautiful Blathnat. When Cu Chulainn tried to stop
him, CuRoi buried him up to his armpits and shaved off his
hair and covered his head with cow dung. (This, as odd as
it sounds, may have been an obligatory ritual for Cu
Chulainn, as he was an initiate in the mysteries and CuRoi
was a teacher.)
Cu Chulainn, Conall and Loeghaire came to CuRoi's
fortress to be judged as to who was to be the hero of
Ulster. CuRoi was away in Scythia but his wife Blathnat
made them welcome to Raith Sleemish by washing their feet.
CuRoi was the ugly churl (herdsman) who arrived at
Bricriu's Feast to test the bravery of the Ulster heroes by
making an agreement with them to allow them to cut off his
head if they would allow him to cut off their heads the
next night. Cu Chulainn won the contest and CuRoi
proclaimed him the hero of Ulster.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, CuRoi arrived at Magh
Clochair to defend the Host of Connacht against Munremar
mac Gerrcend. Curoi had positioned himself at Cotal Inis
Fer Falga and Munremar took up a position at Ard of Roch.
The two slung stones at one another for 24 hours but since
most of the stones landed on the warriors fighting for
Connacht, obliging them to sit under their shields all that
time, they finally convinced the two to make peace and
withdraw.
CuRoi's end was brought about when his wife conspired
with Cu Chulainn and helped him find his way into the
fortress. The salmon which guarded CuRoi's soul was killed
by Cu Chulainn with CuRoi's own sword, thus giving Cu
Chulainn the supernatural power. CuRoi's bard Fer Cerdne
settled accounts with Blathnat for her treachery.
NAME Cuscraid Menn of Armagh
EPITHET The Stammerer
ALTERNATIVE Cuscard Mend Machae
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / son of the Ri Ruirech of
Ulster
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel / Mound of Slane in Mide /
Hostel (Bruidhean)
CENTERS Inis Cuscraid (Cuscraid's Island)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle Raid
/ Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES sword (Coscrach) / spear (torch)
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Mughain (mother); Conall
Cernacht (foster-father/half-brother); Cormac,
Fiachna and Fiachu (brothers); Fedlimid
(sister); Cu Chulainn, Fiachna, Findchad,
Naoise, Cormac Condloinges, Cuscraid Menn,
Fiachu, Fiachna, Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing,
Beann, Furbude Fer Bend and Fiachra (half-
brothers); Ir and Rudraige (ancestors)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa / Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Beann / Cet / Conall Cernacht / Conchobar mac
Nessa / Cormac Condloinges / Cu Chulainn /
Da
Derga / Diarmait mac Conchobar /
Donn Desa /
Fedlimid Nocruthach / Fiachna / Fiachra / Fiachu
/ Findchad / Follomain / Furbude Fer Bend / Glas
/ Ingcel / Mac Da Tho / MacRoth / Mughain /
Naoise / Rudraige
REMARKS Cuscraid Menn of Armagh was a young son of
Conchobar, head chieftain of Ulster and a descendant of Ir
of the Milesian (Goidel). He was given as a hostage to the
high chieftain of Ireland and was protected by 8 swordsmen:
2 Flanns, 2 Cummains, 2 Aeds and 2 Crimthans.
Cuscraid was described as a very handsome young man
with black hair. Over his shirt he wore a bright red
mantle fastened by a silver fibula. He had a speech
stammer but everyone listened to what he had to say.
Cuscraid escaped the great destruction at Da Derga's
Hostel.
During the feast at the Hostel of Mac Da Tho, he
challenged Cet for the hero's portion. Cet reminded him
that on his first raid he had received a spear in the
throat and had been called the stammerer ever since and
would not be able to sit on the throne. He sat down.
At the beginning of the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Cuscraid
was suffering the birth pains of Macha on his island. He
was described by MacRoth as having blond hair and a blond
curly beard. He wore a brown warrior's tunic to his knees
and a green mantle held with a silver pin. He carried his
spear which was decorated with bands of silver and gold
from the butt to the head. On the eve of a triumph the
bands began to wind around the shaft. He also carried a
smiting shield with a plaited edge and wore a sword with an
ivory handle and gold ornamentation. Cuscraid was an
expert with weapons and he commanded fear and admiration.
He led a battalion of warriors against Connacht and its
allies.
NAME Custenhin
ALTERNATIVE Custennin
GENDER M
CATEGORY herder
TYPE herder of wild animals
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES mastiff
RELATIVES son of Mynwedig; Isbaddaden (brother); Goreu
(son); Culhwch (step-nephew)
SEE ALSO Culhwch / Cei / Isbaddaden
REMARKS Custenhin was the brother of Isbaddaden and his
wife was the sister of Culhwch's mother. The couple had 23
sons that were killed by Isbaddaden and the 24th, Goreu,
who was kept hidden away, was fostered to Cei. Custenhin
was a herder of wild animals at the entrance to the
Otherworld. He wore the skins of animals and was
accompanied by a huge mastiff.
NAME Custennin Corneu
EPITHET Custennin of Cornwall
ALTERNATIVE Custennyn Gorneu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Briton - Dumnonii tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Cornwall
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th c
RELATIVES Cynan (father); Erbin (son)
SEE ALSO Cynan / Erbin
REMARKS Custennin Corneu was a chieftain of a Dumnonii
tribe in the Cornwall area.
NAME Cyledyr Wyllt
EPITHET The Wild
ALTERNATIVE Cynedyr Wyllt
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / hunter
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES hunting dogs
RELATIVES Nwython (father); Hetwn Tal Ariant the Bruiser
(grandfather); Hetwn Clafyryawg the Scab (great-
grandfather)
ENEMIES Gwynn
SEE ALSO Arthur / Creddylad / Gwynn ap Nudd
REMARKS During a battle over Creddylad, Gwynn killed
Nwython and cut out his heart. He then made Cyledyr eat
his father's heart, causing him to go mad and making him
nine times wilder than a wild animal.
Cyledyr was the only one who could handle the 2 pups
which were the whelps of Rhynhi. Cyledyr and Arthur were
chasing Twrch Trwyth when Cyledyr retrieved the shears from
between the boars' ears.
NAME Cymidei Cymeinvoll
ALTERNATIVE Kymidei Kymeinvoll
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE giant fertility goddess
COUNTRY Ireland / Wales
REGION Meath / Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
SITES Lake of the Cauldron
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES supernatural cauldron
RELATIVES Llassar (husband); Lassar (son)
ENEMIES Matholwch
SEE ALSO Bran / Cassubellaunos / Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid /
Matholwch
REMARKS When Cymidei and her husband Llassar emerged
from the Lake of the Cauldron, they were given support from
Matholwch the high chieftain of Ireland in exchange for her
supplying an army. Cymidei gave birth to a fully armed
warrior every six weeks. By the end of a year, the
children of Cymidei and Llassar were causing such trouble
and distress for the people of Ireland that Matholwch
developed a plan to get rid of them.
Matholwch built an iron house and invited Cymidei,
Llassar and their children to a feast. When all had drunk
their fill and fallen asleep, Matholwch had the iron house
covered with dried wood and charcoal, then fired it until
it was white hot. Cymidei and Llassar used their
incredible strength to break a hole through the wall and
managed to escape, but they lost their children to the iron
house.
Cymidei and Llassar escaped to Wales where the head
chieftain Bran granted the two sanctuary in exchange for
the supernatural cauldron. The cauldron had the ability to
revive the dead but it left them speechless. In Wales the
couple prospered and produced many fine warriors who forged
the best weapons and built many fortresses.
Cymidei and Llassar had a son named Lassar who was one
of the Seith Marchawg (7 horsemen) left to protect Wales
when Bran and his warriors invaded Ireland. He was killed
by the Belgae chieftain Cassubellaunos when he invaded
Wales.
NAME Cynan Meriadoc
ALTERNATIVE Conan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Briton - Dumnonii tribe
COUNTRY England
REGION Cornwall
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th c
RELATIVES Eudaf Hen (father); Custennin (son)
SEE ALSO Custennin
REMARKS Cynan Meriadoc was the son of Eudaf the Ancient
(Eudaf Hen) and he led warriors of his tribe from Cornwall
to Brittany, where they settled.
NAME Cynddylig Cyfarwydd
EPITHET The Best Guide
ALTERNATIVE Cynfawr
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / scout
TYPE horse warrior / guide
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland / France
REGION Brittany / Cornwall
SITES Castle Dor (buried)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Cunomoros (father); Tristan (son)
SEE ALSO Arthur / Culhwch / Tristan
REMARKS Cynddylig Cyfarwydd son of Cunomoros (Hound of
the Sea) was the best guide and could find his way around
in foreign lands as if they were his own and this is why he
accompanied Culhwch on his quest. He became the head
chieftain of tribes in Brittany but was brought back to
Cornwall to be buried at Castle Dor.