NAME Ragallach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 7th c / AD 645
RELATIVES Cathal (son)
REMARKS Ragallach was the head chieftain of Connacht.
When his wife bore a child, the druid prophesied that she
would be the cause of Ragallach's death. Ragallach ordered
the swineherd to destroy the child but instead he gave her
to a woman who fostered her.
Ragallach's daughter grew into such a beautiful maiden
that he took her for his concubine and she eventually bore
him a son. When the child grew older he killed Ragallach.
Cathal, who was Ragallach's older son, avenged his father
by killing the boy.
ALTERNATIVE Refloir
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Russia / Ukraine
TERRITORY Scythia
LANDMARKS Caucasus / Caspian Sea / Volga / Black Sea /
Crimean Peninsula
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th c
RELATIVES Noemius (father); Seang (daughter); Gomer,
Rifath Scot, Feinius Farsaid and Nenual
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Golamh
SEE ALSO Feinius Farsaid / Golamh / Gomer / Rifath Scot /
Seang
REMARKS Reafloir was the son of Noemius and descendant
of Rifath Scot. Reafloir was the head cheftain of the
Goidels of Scythia (a territory north of the Caucasus
streaching east around the Caspian Sea to the Volga river
and west around the Black Sea to the Crimean Peninsula).
He had a problem with a Goidel chieftain, Golamh son
of Bile, who wanted the position of head chieftain of the
Goidels. Reafloir tried to placate Golamh by offering him
his daughter Seang in marriage.
In time, Seang gave birth to two males which only
added to the strength of Golamh's claim on the position of
head chieftain. When his daughter Seang suddenly died,
Reafloir accused Golamh of poisoning her and challenged him
to combat. Reafloir was mortally wounded in the thigh
before his warriors drove out Golamh and his followers.
Reafloir and his people are mistakenly called
Scythians. Their territory was the same territory later
occupied by the Scythians.
NAME Red Riders
EPITHET The Three Reds
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Festival of the Dead)
CATEGORY deities / warriors
TYPE supernatural / living dead / champions of the
sidhe
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES Donn Tetscorach's steeds
SEE ALSO Conaire / Le Fer Flaith
REMARKS The 3 Red Riders were of the Danann and were
being punished for perpetrating falsehoods. They had to be
destroyed 3 times by different high chieftains of Ireland,
and Conaire was to be the last. The Three Reds or Red
Riders all had red hair, skin and teeth. They wore red
shirts, mantles and frocks. They carried red spears, small
red shields and rode red steeds.
The Red Riders were ahead of Conaire when he was
travelling to the red hostel of Da Derga. Conaire bade his
son Le Fer Flaith to ride ahead and ask if he and his party
might pass because following the Red Riders was against one
of the high chieftain's gessa.
The Red Riders refused to let him pass, and would only
give predictions of great loss of life to come. They then
continued on to Da Derga's Hostel, remaining at exactly the
same distance ahead of Conaire and his entourage all the
way like a vanguard of death. At the hostel, they settled
in for the night to await the great destruction in which
they killed no one and although they were themselves killed
by the high chieftain of Ireland, they rode away from the
battle and were not among the dead.
NAME Redg
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE chief jester and lampoonist to Sovereign
(Medbh)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Uman-sruth (Copperstream)
SITES Ath Solom Shet (Ford of the Ready Treasure)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Medbh
REMARKS The Host of Connacht thought that Cu Chulainn
would not be quite as dangerous if it were not for his
little copper javelin. Medbh sent Redg, her jester and
lampoonist, to ask Cu Chulainn to give it to him as a
present. Redg, told Cu Chulainn that he would speak ill of
him if he was not given the little javelin as a present.
Cu Chulainn said he would give him treasures instead
but Redg refused. Cu Chulainn became angry and gave Redg a
wound for refusing his gifts. The jester again asked for
the little javelin and this time Cu Chulainn threw it to
him and hit Redg in the neck.
Redg then went back to the camp of Connacht and
managed to say that the precious gift was theirs, then fell
over dead. The site was named Ath Solom Shet (Ford of the
Ready Treasure). The copper head of the javelin was thrown
into the river which has since been known as Uman-sruth
(Copperstream).
NAME Redg Rotbel
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
ENEMIES Goidel
SEE ALSO Brea / Gulban / Grici / Tindell
REMARKS After the defeat of the Danann, the Goidels
divided Ireland into 5 provinces. The Danann left 5
warriors in each of the five provinces to cause as much
trouble for the Goidel as possible. In the province of
Ulster they left Brea, Redg, Grici, Gulban and Tindell.
NAME Regan
GENDER F
CATEGORY rhian (noble woman)
TYPE daughter of the Rix of Britain
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England
TERRITORY Lloegr
CENTERS Caer Troia (Town of Troy) present-day Ilford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 8th c
RELATIVES Leir (father); Henwinus (husband); Cunedagius
(son); Goneril and Cordelia (sisters); Marganus
(nephew)
ENEMIES Cordelia / Goneril
SEE ALSO Cordelia / Cunedagius / Goneril / Leir /
Marganus
REMARKS Regan was the second daughter of Leir and won a
third of his territory by flattering the ancient man and
telling him how much she loved him. She then married
Henwinus, a chieftain of Cornwall, and together they seized
another portion of the territory from her father.
When Leir came to live with Regan and her husband, she
reduced his retinue of 30 warriors to 5. This was such an
insult to the ancient chieftain that he returned to live
with his oldest daughter Goneril.
NAME Rhetogenes
ALTERNATIVE Rectugenos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Celtiberian - Arevaci tribe
COUNTRY Spain
REGION Soria
LANDMARKS Duero river
SITES Numantia
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd c / BC 133 (Roman Invasion)
BATTLES Siege of Numantia
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Avaros
REMARKS During the siege of Numantia, the head chieftain
Avaros sent Rhetogenes over the walls of their fortress and
through the Roman lines to get help from the neighboring
tribes. Rhetogenes first sought help from the Arevaci
tribe but they refused. He then went to the Lutia tribe
and they agreed to help.
The Roman commander Scipio received news of the
situation and surrounded the village of the Lutia with his
soldiers. Scipio then ordered the young warriors of the
tribe to come forward, and when they were under guard he
proceeded to cut off 400 right hands.
ALTERNATIVE Rhian (woman of high place) / Rhiannon
{ree'-an-un, ree-ah-non, ree'-an-non}
GENDER F
SYMBOL white mare / 3 birds
CATEGORY deity
TYPE fertility goddess / mare goddess / Sovereign
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Isle of Man / Wales
REGION Dyfed
TERRITORY The Otherworld - The Underworld (Annwn) / Dyfed
LANDMARKS Mynydd Preseli (Preseli Hills)
CENTERS Gorsedd Arberth (mound of Arberth), Narberth
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES pale white horse / bag of plenty / 3 birds /
vessels
RELATIVES Heveydd (father); Pwyll (1st husband); Arawn
(consort) Pryderi (son); Manawyddan (2nd
husband)
ENEMIES Gwawl / Llwyd
SEE ALSO Arawn / Bran ap Llyr / Cassubellaunos / Gwawl
fab Clud / Heveydd / Llwyd fab Cil Coed /
Manawyddan mab Llyr / Pryderi / Pwyll / Teyrnon
REMARKS Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd Hen (Heveydd
The Ancient), was being forced to marry someone she did not
like. She had heard of the deeds of Pwyll of Dyfed and
decided that she should get his attention. Wearing her
golden cape and sitting upon her white mare, Rhiannon rode
past the mound of Arberth where Pwyll and his nobles were
lounging. It took 3 rides by before Pwyll himself
approached her, and when she told him of her love for him
and that she was being forced to marry someone else he fell
madly in love with her. Rhiannon then invited Pwyll to a
festival in 1 year's time.
When Pwyll arrived for the festival, he was seated
between Rhiannon and her father in the position of the
suitor. While they were enjoying themselves and in a
festive mood, a young red-haired warrior appeared. The
handsome youth said that he had come to ask a favor of
Pwyll, who unwittingly replied that he would grant him
anything in his power. Rhiannon, angry at his stupid
remark, informed Pwyll him that he had just granted a wish
to Gwawl, the suitor from the north that she did not want
to marry. Gwawl said that he would like to have the bride
Rhiannon and the feast for himself. Rhiannon, being quick
of thought, told Gwawl that this was not the bridal feast
and he would have to come back in 1 year's time.
When the time for the next festival arrived, Rhiannon
was prepared. Gwawl was sitting in the seat of the suitor
when a beggar carrying a small bag entered the feasting
room. Gwawl told him to fill his bag and leave, but the
bag never seemed to fill and Gwawl, becoming impatient,
told the beggar to finish filling the bag. The beggar
informed him that the bag would never fill unless it was
stomped down by a champion. Gwawl, being the champion of
the day, stepped into the bag only to have it pulled over
his head by Pwyll, who was the one dressed in the disguise
of the beggar.
Pwyll then hung the bag on a hook by the door of the
banquet hall and called for his warriors to enter. As they
went by the bag, each warrior would ask what was inside
that was making such a fuss. Pwyll would yell that it was
a badger and the warriors would give it a whack with the
flat of their swords. Gwawl finally promised to leave and
demand no retribution for his loss or for the trick played
on him.
Rhiannon and Pwyll were then married and returned to
Dyfed where they lived at the caer of Gorsedd Arberth.
After 3 years when Rhiannon still was not pregnant, the
people of Dyfed became anxious because the prosperity of
the tribe was directly linked to the successful uniting of
the head chieftain and sovereignty.
Finally after a succeful year Rhiannon gave birth to a
boy but he disappeared that night while she slept. The 6
matrons guarding the boy feared for their lives because
they had fallen asleep and when they awoke the boy was
gone. The matrons killed a chicken and smeared the blood
over Rhiannon who was then accused of killing and eating
the boy.
As punishment, she spent 7 years wearing the collar of
a horse and ferrying guests between the gate of the caer to
the hall and then back again, telling the story of how she
had killed her son. Then one day Teyrnon, the chieftain of
Gwent ys Coed, arrived with a boy whom he believed was the
son of Rhiannon and Pwyll. The council all agreed the boy
was the missing child and he was named Pryderi for the
trouble and anxiety his disappearance had caused his
parents.
During the invasion of Ireland against Matholwch,
Pwyll remained in Dyfed as one of the 7 Horseman (Seith
Marchawg) to guard Wales. He was killed in a battle when
Dyfed was attacked by the Belgae chieftain Cassubellaunos.
Rhiannon had 3 brightly-colored birds that were fed on
apples of The Otherworld and sang so sweetly they would
soothe the sick to sleep and wake the dead. The 7 warriors
and Bran's head who escaped the destruction at Ath Cliath
in Ireland spent 7 years with her and her enchanting birds
at Harlech, feasting. The warriors were Manawyddan,
Glinyeu, Talyessin, Ynawag, Gruddyeu, Heilyn and her own
son Pryderi.
After Bran died and his head was taken to Kaerlud to
be buried, Rhiannon married Manawyddan and they were given
Dyfed to rule. Her son also married and one day the four
nobles were sitting on Gorsedd Arberth when everything
disappeared from sight except their caer (fortress).
For a while they lived on their supplies but soon
these were gone and they had to survive by hunting and
fishing. Soon the four tired of this primitive existence
and went to England looking for work as artisans and having
many adventures until they grew weary and went back to
their caer in Dyfed.
One day Manawyddan came home after hunting and told
Rhiannon that he and Pryderi had watched as their dogs
chased a white boar into a strange white fortress. Against
Manawyddan's advice, Pryderi had decided to enter the fort
but he never returned nor did the dogs nor was there a
sound from either.
Rhiannon scolded Manawyddan for letting his best
friend enter alone and she herself went into the fort after
her son. Inside she saw an empty courtyard with a white
fountain and marble base around it. Coming out of the sky
were four chains suspending a golden cauldron above the
marble base. Her son was standing on the base holding the
cauldron but no sound would come from his mouth. As
Rhiannon steped onto the marble base to help Pryderi, her
feet also stuck to the base.
Rhiannon and her son realized that they had been taken
prisoners by a wizard named Llwyd who was extracting
revenge for his friend Gwawl who had been the loser in the
courting of Rhiannon. While Rhiannon was in servitude she
had to wear the collar of an ass. She and her son were
lucky that Manawyddan was able to trick the wizard into
returning them, their people and their possessions to
Dyfed.
NAME Rhitta Gawr
ALTERNATIVE Retho
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE giant
COUNTRY Wales
SITES Mount Arvaius
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES supernatural cloak
ENEMIES Arthur
SEE ALSO Arthur
REMARKS Rhitta Gawr was a fierce giant chieftain who
lived on Mount Arvaius. He captured chieftains whom he
considered to be wrongdoers and reduced them to vassals
when he ripped off their beards. He then wove these beards
into a cloth which he used to make a cloak.
Rhitta Gawr sent a message to Arthur and told him that
because he was such a distinguished chieftain he could rip
off his own beard and send it to him and he would sew it to
the higher part of his cloak. Failing this he challenged
Arthur to a duel, with his beard and cloak as prize if
Arthur should win. After a mighty battle, Arthur was
victorious.
NAME Rhuddlwm Gawr
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE science
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
REMARKS Rhuddlwm Gawr was a druid who left his home on
the Loire river and became a part of the Pictish migration
from Llydaw (Brittany) to Lloegr (England) where they
landed at Cornwall. He learned his skills from Eiddic, Gor
and Coll-Frewi father of Coll. Rhuddlwm became one of the
3 masters of science on the island of Britain.
NAME Rhun
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE son of the Maelgwn (Brenin)
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Maelgwn (father); Bridei (brother); Elffin
(cousin); Ceredig and Cunedda (ancestors)
ENEMIES Elffin / Taliesin
SEE ALSO Ceredig / Cunedda / Elffin / Maelgwn / Taliesin
REMARKS Rhun was a charismatic and crafty character whom
the ladies had a hard time resisting. His father used him
to seduce the wife of Elffin, and when this failed, he
chopped her finger off and brought it to his father's raith
as proof that he had an affair with Elffin's wife. He was
proved to have been a liar and a fool.
EPITHET Father of the Scotic (Gaelic) language
ALTERNATIVE Ibath / Rifaith
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Iraq
LANDMARKS Euphrates
SITES Tower of Babel (Gates of God)
CENTERS Babylon
AGE early-Bronze
DATES BC 21st-20th c
RELATIVES Gomer (father); Dohe and Baath (sons); Iafeth
(grandfather); Feinius Farsaid (great-grandson)
SEE ALSO Feinius Farsaid / Gomer / Iafeth
REMARKS Rifath Scot was one of the 8 chieftains who
helped build the Tower of Babel (Gates of God) around BC
2000. Rifath Scot is considered to be the father of the
Scotic (Gaelic) language.
The tower was built at Birs Nimrud at Borsippa, old
Babylon, on the Euphrates after severe flooding (Noah's
Flood). The temple was dedicated to the god Bel {Baal} the
deity of the city. The tower's Sumerian design was that of
a ziggurat and represented the 7 divisions of heaven and
earth. The name Babel (Babili) means "Gates of God" in the
native Assyrian language but has been misinterpreted as the
Hebrew word "babal" which means "to confuse". Sometimes
the tower is referred to as the Tower of Nimrod because
Nimrod was one of the 8 chieftains of the Tower.
NAME Rigonemetis
EPITHET Lord of the Sacred Grove
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE fertility god of the sacred grove
CULTURE Pictish - Cornovii tribe
COUNTRY England
TERRITORY Lloegr / Linconshire
SITES Nettleham
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 11th c / AD 47
REMARKS Rigonemetis was a fertility god of the sacred
grove at Nettleham in Linconshire. This was in the center
of the Cornovii tribe who were Pictish immigrants from
around BC 11th century and were still there in AD 47 when
the tribe fought against the Romans.
NAME Rinnal
ALTERNATIVE Rindail
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / 7th Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Ben Bulben
SITE Eba Choirpre (died)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th c / BC 18th c / BC 1713-1707 (Kings List)
BATTLES Craeb
RELATIVES Genann (father); Cnucha (mother); Erc (brother);
Dela (grandfather); Magog and Semeon (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fiacha / Fodbgen
SEE ALSO Dela / Erc / Fiacha Cendfindan / Fodbgen /
Genann / Magog / Semeon
REMARKS Rinnal, son of Genann, son of Dela, became the
7th head chieftain of the Firbolg when he killed his cousin
Fiacha.
During his time the Firbolg began to exchange their
heavy blunt-tipped bronze slashing swords for the pointed
thrusting swords (rapiers). They also began to use bronze
heads on their throwing sticks (rith-chrann). The word
"rinn" means "point".
Rinnal ruled the Firbolg for 6 years until he was
killed by his cousin Fodbgen. During the Battle of Craeb
they fought a combat at Eba Choirpre, a plain north of Ben
Bulben.
NAME Ritona
ALTERNATIVE Pritona
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river goddess
CULTURE Belgae - Treveri tribe
COUNTRY Germany
REGION Rhineland
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgae
LANDMARKS Moselle
SITES river ford at Trier
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 9th c / BC 1st c
REMARKS Ritona was a river goddess who was venerated at
a ford on the Moselle river leading into Trier. Trier was
the center of the Treveri tribe who were settled in the
area by BC 9th century and were still there when the Romans
invaded in BC 1st century.
NAME Rivallo
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain of Britain
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
CENTERS Caer Troia (Town of Troy) present-day Ilford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 8th c / BC 776 - (Rix)
RELATIVES Cunedagius (father); Gurgustius (son); Regan
(grandmother); Leir (great-grandfather)
SEE ALSO Cunedagius / Leir / Regan
REMARKS When Rivallo became the high chieftain of
Britain, it rained blood for 3 days, then the island was
infested with flies followed by a plague. Otherwise his
rule was prosperous and peaceful. He was followed by his
son Gurgustius.
NAME Roc
GENDER M
CATEGORY servant
TYPE steward
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Sidhe Brugh na Boyna
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Ethne (daughter)
SEE ALSO Ethne / Manannan
REMARKS Roc's daughter Ethne was born at the same time
as a daughter of Manannan. When Manannan's daughter came
to Sidhe Brugh na Boyna as a foster, Ethne was made her
handmaiden.
NAME Rochad mac Faithemain
EPITHET The Red Chieftain (Rigderg)
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Pictish ?
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster / Rigdonn
SITES Finnabair Slebe (Finnabair of the Mount)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES 150 warriors
RELATIVES Fatheman (father); Finnabair (wife)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cu Chulainn / Ferghus mac Roig
/ Finnabair / Maga / Magach of Connacht / Mane /
Medbh
REMARKS Rochad was a young chieftain from Rigdonn in the
north of Ulster. He was described as a tall handsome youth
with close-chopped red-gold hair. His head was broad above
and slender below with deep blue-gray eyes and white teeth.
He was described as a handsome man with broad shoulders,
narrow hips and very white skin. He wore a red hooded
tunic ornamented with a hem of red gold and a purple cloak
held with a gold fibula. He carried a curved bright-
colored shield with images of animals in gold and silver.
On his left side, hung from a shoulder strap, was a gold-
hilted sword with inlays. He also carried a long gray-
edged spear and a javelin with throwing thongs.
Rochad approached the camp of the Host of Connacht
with 150 loyal warriors to enable Cu Chulainn to have a
much-deserved rest. He was approached by a troop of
warriors who informed him that a tryst with Finnabair,
daughter of Ailill and Medbh, was set up. He went with
them and spent the night with her. They then married and
he paid no bride-price, brought no marriage gifts, and
Ailill and Medbh supplied no dowry.
While he and Finnabair were together, the Host of
Connacht drove off his warriors. A chief from Munster
heard that Finnabair had married and ordered his troops to
prepare to leave because she had been promised to him for
coming on the raid. Other chieftains of Munster, hearing
this, said they had also been promised her hand in marriage
for coming. The Munster chieftains attacked Mane son of
Ailill and Medbh, who was guarding the rear of the Host of
Connacht. Ailill and Medbh heard this and mustered their
troops along with those of the sons of Maga. Ferghus
intervened but before he could settle the matter, 800
warriors were dead.
Finnabair returned to the camp of the Host of Connacht
and Rochad reunited with his warriors, returned to their
hold and waited for the great battle at Gairech &
Irgairech.
NAME Romit Rigoinmit
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE chief jester and fool to Conchobar (Ri Ruirech)
CULTURE Ethiopian
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Temair Luachra
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra
ACCESSORIES bronze crook / horsewhip / bell
SEE ALSO Conchobar / Cromm Deroil / CuRoi macDaire
REMARKS Romit was with Conchobar when the warriors of
Ulster went on a drunken ride one Samhain eve that landed
them at Temair Luachra in Munster.
Cromm Deroil described Romit as a short black-haired
balding man with a blue Ethiopian face and bulging eyes,
one of which was bright. He wore a dappled cloak fastened
with a bronze pin. Romit carried a bronze crook in one
hand and a horsewhip in the other which he applied to the
warriors of Ulster for the merriment of the others. He
also had in his possession a bell that produced sweet
notes.
CuRoi identified him as the funniest jester at Emain
Macha and no want or sorrow existed which would not depart
in his presence.
NAME Ron Cerr
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / spy
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster / Imale
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 6th-7th c
BATTLES Dun Bolg
RELATIVES son of Dubanach
ENEMIES Aedh
SEE ALSO Aedh mac Ainmireach / Brandubh / Dubhdun
REMARKS When Brandubh, head chieftain of Leinster,
decided that he had had enough of the Boramha Tribute, Ron
Cerr, son of the chieftain of Imale, volunteered to serve
as a spy.
He rubbed calf's blood and rye dough on his body to
create the effect of rotting skin, then put a large cowl
over his head and had a wooden leg attached to his knee. He
then went to Aedh, high chieftain of Ireland, and informed
him that the wagons of tribute from Leinster were on their
way.
The high chieftain told his warriors to prepare for
some sort of trick. When the wagons arrived with the
hidden warriors of Leinster, Ron Cerr threw off his leper
disguise and attacked those protecting the high chieftain.
In the process he killed Dubhdun, chieftain of Oriel, and
Ferghus, son of Flaithri chieftain of Turlach Og. When
Ronn reached the high chieftain he dragged him from his
horse and cut off his head which he then brought to his
chieftain Brandubh. This was the Battle of Dun Bolg over
the Boramha Tribute.
NAME Ronan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
RELATIVES Mael (son); Ethne (1st wife)
ENEMIES second wife
SEE ALSO Aedan / Mael Fhothartaig
REMARKS Ronan had a son by his first wife Ethne. When
she died, he married again. His second wife was the
daughter of Eochaidh, a chieftain of Dunseverick. She
tried to seduce her stepson, and when he rejected her she
accused him of attempting to rape her.
Ronan sent his warrior Aedan to kill Mael. After his
son was dead Ronan found out that his wife had lied and the
ancient man died of a broken heart. His second wife
committed suicide by taking poison.
NAME Root
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Festival of the Dead)
CATEGORY servant / guard
TYPE guardian of Conaire (Ard Righ Eirinn)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES son of Maffer Toll
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Bole / Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa /
Ingcel
REMARKS Root and his brother Bole stood at the side of
the high chieftain of Ireland as his personal protection.
They carried long pointed swords and curved shields. Each
wore a red kilt and and a mantle held with a silver pin.
During the battle of Ath Cliath on Magh Liffey, they
failed.
ALTERNATIVE Rosa Ruaid
EPITHET The Red
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Maga Muresc (wife); Finn, Carbre and Ailill
(sons)
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Carbre Niafer / Finn macMata /
Maga Muresc
REMARKS Ross Ruad was the head chieftain of Leinster and
sired three famous sons by Maga Muresc: Finn, Carbre and
Ailill.
NAME Ross the Red
ALTERNATIVE Red Neil macRudhraidi / Ross Ruad
GENDER M
SYMBOL flag - golden lynx on a green background
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain / The Red
Branch (Craobh Ruadh)
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Rudraige (father); Maga (wife); Fachtna,
Ferghus, Sultaim and Bacc (sons); Congal
Clairingnech, Bresal Bo-dibad, Cass and Ailell
(brothers); Sitric (grandfather); Ir (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Ailell macMailchlo / Fachtna Fathach / Ferghus
mac Roig / Ir / Sualtaim macRoig / Maga
REMARKS Ross the Red was the founder of an elite corps
of warriors called The Craobh Ruadh (Red Branch/Royal
Branch). Noble children from different clans and tribes in
the province of Ulster as well those from other provinces
came to Emain Macha to study.
The children started their training at the age of 7 by
learning the arts of combat, rules of etiquette, etc. Their
symbol was a golden lynx on a green background and when
they finished their training they were known as a Ridire
(rider) and Curad (warrior/hero/champion). At the end of
their active life, they joined the corps of retired
warriors.
NAME Rothechtaid Roth
ALTERNATIVE Righairled / Rothechtaid Rotha
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
SITES Dun Sobairce (died)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 10th c / BC 964-957 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Roan (father); Irard and Elim Olfinechta (sons)
REMARKS Rothechtaid son of Roan became high chieftain
when he slew Sirna Soeglach. He introduced the 4-horse
chariot into Ireland when he had a number of them built for
his wife. He was high chieftain for 7 years before he was
hit by lightening at Dun Sobairce. His son Elim then
ruled Ireland for 1 year until he was slain by Giallchad,
son of Ailill Olchain, who took the position of high
chieftain.
NAME Ruadan
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY warrior / spy
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 Bress (father); Brighid (mother); Eladu and
Daghda (grandfathers); Magog, Iarbonel, Net and
Ordan (ancestors)
ENEMIES Danann
SEE ALSO Bress / Brighid / Daghda / Eladu / Iarbonel /
Magog / Net / Ordan
REMARKS Ruadan followed his father and sided with the
Fomorians against his own people during the second battle
of Magh Tuireadh. He was sent on a mission to spy on the
fighting and to kill the smith Goibhniu.
Ruadan managed to wound Goibhniu with a spear but was
killed before he could escape. His mother Brighid keened
the first lament over her son's grave.
NAME Ruadh
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / mariner
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster / Rigdonn
SITES The Otherworld - Isle of Women (Inis na mBan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
REMARKS Ruadh was a young chieftain from Rigdonn in the
north of Ulster. He was in command of 3 ships off the
coast of northern Ireland when they were becalmed. While
swimming to get assistance he found himself in the
fortunate position of being a guest of The Otherworld on an
island beneath the sea.
Ruadh was invited to spend 9 nights with 9 women on 9
bronze beds. When he left, they gave him a male child
which was his son.
NAME Rucht Chnint
EPITHET Boar's Grunt
GENDER M
CATEGORY herder / filidh
TYPE supernatural swineherd / shape changer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Ai Plain
SITES Garad spring
CENTERS Sidhe of Cruacha
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 16th-15th c / BC 1st c /
ENEMIES Fruich (rival)
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Bodb Dearg / Fruich / Medbh /
Ochall Ochne
REMARKS Rucht was the swineherd for Ochall Ochne,
chieftain of the Sidhe Cruacha. He and Fruich, swineherd
of Bodb Dearg, were great friends. When there was a large
crop of beech and oak nuts in the south Rucht would take
his boars and visit Fruich in Munster. When there was a
crop of nuts in Connacht, Fruich would bring his swine
there to feed.
The two swineherds were both versed in the arts of
sorcery and could change themselves into any shape. Many
people were jealous of the good relationship between the
two herders and began to brag that their swineherd was the
more powerful of the two.
The two friends decided that they would test their
powers and Fruich suggested that he should cast a spell
over the swine of Ochall Ochne's so that even though they
ate well they would not gain any weight. When Rucht
returned home with his pathetic-looking animals, he was the
butt of everyone's humor.
When Fruich drove his swine to Connacht to feast,
Rucht put the same spell on the animals of Munster and they
returned home thin and barely alive. The two swineherds
were driven out by the head chieftains and they continued
the contest in the form of ravens called Ingen (Talon) and
Eitte (Wing). The two sorcerers spent a year in each of
the two provinces, causing unrest and war.
The two then changed forms and became Bled (Whale) and
Blod (Seabeast), one entering the Sinann river and the
other the Siuir. After two years they reincarnated and
fought as stags, warriors known as Rinn (Point) and Faebur
(Edge), phantoms called Scath (shadow) and Sciath (shield),
and dragons and water worms called Cruinniuc and Tuinniuc
In the form of a water worm, Rucht fell from the sky
and landed in the spring Garad in Connacht. Before he was
swallowed by a cow, he told Medbh to marry Ailill macMata.
Rucht was reborn as the bull Finnbennach (White Horned) of
Ai Plain, and Fruich was born as the Dun of Cualnge.
NAME Rud Hud Hudibras
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain of Britain
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
SITES Caerguenit (Winchester) / Paladur (Shaftesbury)
/ Kaerreint (Canterbury)
CENTERS Caer Troia (Town of Troy) present-day Ilford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 10th-9th c (ruled 39 years) / BC 896 ca.
(died)
RELATIVES Leil (father); Bladud (son)
SEE ALSO Bladud / Leil
REMARKS Rud Hud Hudibras ended the civil wars among the
tribes of England and took the position as high chieftain
of Britain. He built numerous forts such as Caerguenit
(Winchester), Paladur (Shaftesbury) and Kaerreint
(Canterbury).
NAME Rudiobos
ALTERNATIVE Rudianos (The Red) / Rudiobus
GENDER M
SYMBOL red horse (symbol of death)
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of war and death / protector of horses
CULTURE Gallic - Carnuti tribe
COUNTRY France
REGION Loiret
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Loire
SITES Saint-Michel-de-Valbonne / Saint-Andeol-en-Quint
/ Neuvy-en-Sullias
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 1st c
REMARKS A sculpture on a menhir found at the Saint-
Michel-de Valbonne site has the image of a man-horse
thought to represent Rudiobos, and 5 decapitated human
heads.
At the Neuvy-en-Sullias site was found a bronze
sculpture of a horse with the inscription "sacred to the
god Rudiobus" across from the sanctuary of Fleury. Also
found were sculptures of male and female dancers, a stag
with velvet antlers and three life-size boars.
This was the territory of the Carnuti tribe who
settled in the area in BC 6th century and were still there
when the Romans invaded in BC 1st century.
NAME Rudraidhe
EPITHET The Wave of Rudraige (Tonn Rudraige)
ALTERNATIVE Rudraige
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
SYMBOL triskele
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Partholean tribe - Clanna Rudraidhe
COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland
SITES Loch Rudraige (burial site)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
RELATIVES Partholon (father); Dealgnaid (mother); Nerbgene
(wife); Senboth, Laighlinne, Slainge, Eber, Er,
Orba, Ferann and Fergna (brothers); Aidne, Aife,
Aine, Fochain, Muchos, Melepard, Glas, Grennach,
Ablach and Gribendach (sisters); Magog
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Cliodna / Dealgnaid / Eber / Laighlinne / Magog
/ Partholon / Senboth / Slainge / Starn / Tuag
REMARKS Rudraidhe, son of Partholon, was one of the four
chieftains who helped lead their people from Turkey to
Ireland. In the 10th year of their arrival, he led his
warriors against the Fomorians during the battle of Magh
Ibha.
Twenty-five years after the Partholean arrived in
Ireland, Rudraidhe drowned when a lake burst over the land.
He is remembered by Tonn Rudraidhe (The Wave of Rudraige)
at Dundrum Bay in county Down. This was known as one of
the Three Great Waves of Ireland. The other two were Tonn
Cliodhna and Tonn Tuag.
NAME Rudraige
EPITHET Of The Road / Mastery of Wiles
ALTERNATIVE Rudraidhe
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Bron Tro Gain
CATEGORY warrior / 2nd Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Imber Domnann (Malahide Bay) / Uisneach / Inber
Colptha / Esa Aedha Ruaidh
SITE Brug Bratruad (New Grange) (buried)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th / BC 18th c / BC 1729-1727 (Kings List)
RELATIVES Dela (father); Liber (wife); Starn (son); Fiacha
(grandson); Fuad (2nd wife); Gann, Genann,
Sengann and Slainge (brothers); Loth
(grandfather); Magog and Semeon (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Dela / Fiacha Cendfindan / Gann / Genann /
Magog / Semeon / Sengann / Slainge
REMARKS Rudraige, son of Dela, son of Loth, was one of
the 5 Firbolg chieftains who took Ireland. They divided
their people into 3 groups. Rudraige and Genann landed at
Imber Domnann (Malahide Bay) with 2000 followers six days
after Slainge made landfall.
When the Firbolg had captured the Island they divided
it into 5 provinces (coiceda) with Uisneach as the hub of
the island. Rudraige's 1/5 was marked on the rim of the
island by Inber Colptha (Boyne Estuary) and Ess Ruaid (Esa
Aedha Ruaidh). This province became known as Ulaid
(Ulster).
When Slainge died, Rudraige became the head chieftain
of the Firbolg and married his sister-in-law. He ruled for
2 years before he died. He was buried at Brug Bratruad
(Hostel of the Red Cloaks) or (Hostel of the Red Broth), an
ealier name for Brugh na Boyna (Hostel of the Boyne).
NAME Rudraige
ALTERNATIVE Rudraidhe
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
SITES Airgedglind
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c / BC 290-220 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Sitric (father); Maelchod (consort); Congal
Clairingnech, Bresal Bo-dibad, Cass, Ailell and
Ross (sons); Cathbad, Fachtna, Ferghus, Sencha,
Sualtaim and Bacc (grandsons); Ir (ancestor)
ENEMIES Crimthann Coscrach
SEE ALSO Ailell macMailchlo / Fachtna Fathach / Ferghus
mac Roig / Ir / Maelchod / Ross the Red /
Sencha macAilella / Sualtaim macRoig
REMARKS Rudraige, son of Sitric, was a descendant of Ir
of the Milesian (Goidel) and was the progenitor of the Dal
nAraide of Ulster. He killed Crimthann Coscrach then ruled
Ireland as its high chieftain for 70 years before he died
of the plague in Airgedglind.
Rudraige was followed by Finnat Mar who ruled for 3
years until he was slain by Bresal Bo-dibad who ruled
Ireland for 11 years.