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For other uses, see Conchobar. Conchobar ( Conchobor, Conchobur, Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr, Conchúir, pronounced /'kɒn(əxəwər/ /'kɒn(əxuːr/

Conchobar[1] mac Nessa (son of Ness) is the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Ness (also written Neas, Nessa) is a princess of the Ulaid and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish The Ulaid (pron /'ʊləɣ′/ were a people of early north-eastern Ireland, who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster: modern Irish Cúige Texts in translation Most of the important Ulster Cycle tales can be found in the following publications Thomas Kinsella, The Táin, Oxford University The Mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved shorn of its religious meanings He rules from Emain Macha (Navan Fort, near Armagh). Navan Fort should not be confused with Navan in County Meath. The City of Armagh ( is an ancient religious site of worship of both celtic paganism and Christianity and the oldest of the five cities in Northern Ireland,

Contents

Legendary biography

Birth

There are several version of how Conchobar was conceived. In the earliest, Ness, daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide, the then king of Ulster, asks the druid Cathbad what it is an auspicious time for. Eochaid Sálbuide (Eochaid Yellow-heel was king of Ulster prior to the events of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. A druid was a member of the priestly and learned class in the ancient Celtic societies Cathbad ( Old Irish pronunciation /ˈkaθvað/ is the chief Druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology Cathbad replies, "for begetting a king on a queen". There are no other men around, so Ness takes Cathbad to bed and conceives a son. [2] In a later version, Ness is brought up by twelve foster-fathers, and while all twelve are at a feast, Cathbad, leading a fian or landless war-band, attacks the house and kills them all. In early Ireland, fianna (singular fian) were small semi-independent warrior bands who lived apart from society in the forests as Eochaid is unable to avenge them as the culprit cannot be identified, so Ness forms her own fian to hunt Cathbad down. But while she is bathing alone in a pool, Cathbad appears, stands between her and her weapons, and bares his sword. He spares her life on the condition that she becomes his wife. They settle near a river called Conchobar, and Ness soon conceives a son, but in this version the father is the High King Fachtna Fáthach, who is Ness's lover. A High King of Ireland ( Ard Rí na hÉireann) is a historical or legendary figure who claimed lordship over the whole of Ireland. Fachtna Fáthach ("the wise" son of Cas (or Ross son of Rudraige, was according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition a High King of Ireland As she and Cathbad set out to visit Fachtna, Ness goes into labour. Cathbad tells her if she can manage not to give birth until the following day, her son will be a great king and have everlasting fame, for he will be born on the same day as Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Ness sits on a flagstone by the river Conchobar, and the following morning gives birth. The baby falls into the river, but Cathbad lifts him out, names him Conchobar after the river, and brings him up as his own son. [3]

Conchobar becomes king

By the time Conchobar is seven, Fergus mac Róich is king of Ulster, and falls in love with Ness. Fergus mac Róich (son of Ró-ech or "great horse" also mac Róig, mac Rossa) is a character of the Ulster Cycle of Irish She agrees to become his wife, on one condition: that Fergus allows Conchobar to be king for a year, so his children will be called the sons of a king (under Medieval Irish law inheritance passed through the male line, and only those who had a king as a male-line ancestor were eligible for kingship). Early Irish law refers to the statutes that governed everyday life and politics in Ireland during the Gaelic period. [4] The nobles of Ulster advise Fergus that this will not affect his standing with them, as the boy will be king in name only, so he agrees. But Conchobar, advised by his mother, rules so well that by the end of the year decide he should be king permanently. [5] Fergus makes an alliance with the new High King, Eochu Feidlech, and they make war on Ulster. Eochu or Eochaid Feidlech ("the enduring" son of Finn, was according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions a High King of Ireland After a series of bloody battles, Conchobar makes overtures for peace. Fergus is offered land, the Champion's Portion at Emain Macha, and the position of Conchobar's heir. The Curadmír or Champion's Portion was an ancient custom referred to in Early Irish literature, whereby the warrior acknowledged as the bravest present Conchobar demands compensation from Eochu for the killing of his father, Fachtna Fáthach, and is granted land, status and the High King's daughter in marriage. Ericfine (or eric-fine) was the Irish equivalent of the Welsh Galanas and the Anglo-Saxon and Scandic Weregild [6]

Marriages and family

In fact, Conchobar marries several of Eochu's daughters. Medb, later queen of Connacht, is the first. Medb ( Old Irish spelling mɛðv Meḋḃ Meaḋḃ modern Meadhbh mɛɣv reformed modern Irish Meabh, Meːv sometimes Anglicised Maeve or Maev She bears him a son called Amalgad, but soon leaves him. Eithne conceives a son by him, Medb murders her by drowning her in a stream, and her son Furbaide is delivered by posthumous Caesarian section. Furbaide Ferbend (or Ferbenn) is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. A Caesarean section (or Cesarean section in American English) also known as C-section, is a form of Childbirth in which a surgical Mugain bears him a son called Glaisne, and remains his chief wife. Mugain, daughter of Eochaid Feidlech, is the wife of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. The mother of Conchobar's eldest son, Cormac Cond Longas, is either Eochu's daughter Clothru, or Conchobar's own mother Ness. Cormac Cond Longas ( Connlongas, Connloinges, "Exiled Prince" was the eldest son of Conchobar mac Nessa by his own mother Ness, in [7] Cormac is given to Fergus to foster. His other sons include Cúscraid Mend Macha and Folloman. Cúscraid, known by the epithet Mend Macha (the "stammerer" or "inarticulate one" of Macha) is a son of Conchobar mac Nessa in the His daughter Fedelm Noíchrothach marries Cairbre Nia Fer, king of Tara, and they have a son, Erc, and a daughter, Achall. See also Fedelm Fedelm Noíchrothach ("nine times beautiful" also known as Fedelm Noíchride ("nine-hearts" Cairbre Nia Fer ( Niafer, Niaper) was the King of Tara in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. Erc mac Cairpri is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Achall, the daughter of Cairbre Nia Fer, committed Suicide (or died of grief after her brother Conchobar's has two sisters, Findchóem [8] and Deichtine. Findchóem (also spelled Finnchóem, Findcháem, Finncháem, Fionnchaomh) is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology In Irish mythology, Deichtine or Deichtire was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and the mother of Cúchulainn. [9] Findchóem marries the poet Amergin, and they have a son, Conall Cernach. Amergin ( Amairgin, Amairgen, Amorgen) is the name of two Poets from Irish mythology. Conall Cernach is a heroic warrior of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Deichtine is the mother of Cúchulainn, by either her mortal husband Sualtam or the god Lugh. Cúchulainn /kuːˈxʊlɪnʲ/ ( ( Irish for "Hound of Culann " also spelled Cú Chulainn, Cú Chulaind, Cúchulain, or Súaltam ( Súaltaim, Súaldam, Súaldaim, Súaltach) mac Róich is the mortal father of the hero Cúchulainn in the Lugh (ˈluː modern Irish Lú, earlier Lug) is an Irish Deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant [10]

Deirdre

When Conchobar is visiting the house of his storyteller Fedlimid mac Daill, Fedlimid's wife gives birth to a daughter. Fedlimid mac Daill was a harper and the chief-storyteller in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. Cathbad, now Conchobar's chief druid, prophesies that she will be so beautiful that kings will go to war over her, and she will bring nothing but sorrow. The child is named Deirdre, and Conchobar decides to have her brought up in seclusion from men, intending to marry her when she comes of age. Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology. However, she elopes with a young warrior called Naoise. In Irish mythology, Naoise (also spelled Noisiu) was the nephew of King Conchobar mac Nessa of Ulster, and a son of Usnech (or Along with Naoise's two brothers, the couple go into hiding, and are eventually forced to flee to Scotland. Wherever they settle, the local king tries to have the brothers killed so he can have Deirdre for himself, and they have to move on. Eventually Conchobar tracks them down to a remote island, and sends Fergus to them with his guarantee of safe passage home. On the way home he arranges for Fergus to be separated from his charges by having him invited to a feast, so they are escorted back to Emain Macha by Fergus's son Fiachu. When they arrive, Fiachu, Naoise and his brothers are murdered on Conchobar's orders by Éogan mac Durthacht, and Deirdre is forced to marry Conchobar. Éogan mac Durthacht is king of Fernmag (Farney county Monaghan) in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

Fergus, outraged by the death of his son and the betrayal of his honour, makes war against Conchobar, alongside Cormac Cond Longas, who sides with his foster-father against his father, and Dubthach Dóeltenga. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Dubthach Dóeltenga ("beetle-tongue" Beetles being proverbially black was a cynical ally of Fergus They burn Emain and slaughter the maidens of Ulster, before going into exile with Medb and her husband Ailill in Connacht. Ailill ( Aillell, Oilioll) mac Máta was king of Connacht and husband of Medb in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology

Deirdre lives with Conchobar for a year, but during that time she never smiles, rarely eats or sleeps, and refuses to be comforted. Conchobar asks her what it is she hates, and she replies, "you, and Éogan mac Durthacht. " Conchobar gives her to Éogan. The next day, riding in Éogan's chariot, she commits suicide by dashing her head against a stone. [11]

The Cattle Raid of Cooley

When Medb raises an army from four of the five provinces of Ireland and launches an invasion of Ulster to steal the bull Donn Cúailnge in the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Conchobar, like all the Ulstermen but Cúchulainn, is unable to fight, disabled by the curse of Macha. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Donn Cúailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley, was an extremely fertile stud bull over whom the Táin Bó Cúailnge Macha (/ˈmaxə/ is a presumed Goddess of ancient Ireland, associated with war horses sovereignty and the sites of Armagh and Emain Macha Cúchulainn fights a series of single combats against Connacht champions, hoping to give the Ulstermen time to recover and take the field.

Eventually Cúchulainn's father, Sualtam, comes to Conchobar at Emain Macha to warn him of the devastation the Connacht army is creating and demand he raise his army before it's too late. Conchobar and his druids agree that Sualtam should be put to death for breaking the protocol of the court - no-one is permitted to speak before Conchobar but the druids - and Sualtam runs out, but falls and decapitates himself on the sharpened edge of his shield. His severed head is brought back in on his shield, still crying out his warning. Conchobar raises his army and leads them into battle. During the fighting, Fergus has him at his mercy, but Cormac Cond Longas prevents his foster-father from killing his biological father, and Fergus strikes off the top of three hills instead. Medb is eventually forced to retreat by Cúchulainn, but manages to bring the bull back to Connacht, where it fights her husband Ailill's bull Finnbhennach, kills it, and dies of exhaustion. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Finnbhennach ("white-horned" sometimes rendered as "Whitehorn" was an extremely fertile stud [12]

The Battle of Ros na Ríg

After the Táin, Conchobar falls ill, and doesn't eat or sleep. The Ulaid ask Cathbad to find out what's wrong with their king. Conchobar tells Cathbad that he is ill because the other four provinces of Ireland have made war against him with impunity. Although he was victorious against Ailill and Medb, neither of them were killed in the battle, and he still lost his bull. He wants to make war against Connacht, but it is now winter, so Cathbad advises him to wait until summer when his men and horses will be fresh and energetic, and in the meantime, call on all his foreign allies to bring reinforcements. He sends word to Conall Cernach, who is raising tribute in the Scottish islands, and he raises a great fleet of the Ulaid's allies in Scandinavia and the Faroe Islands and brings them home to Ulster. Conall Cernach is a heroic warrior of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. This is a list of the Islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s or Faeroes (Føroyar meaning " Sheep Islands" Færøerne Old Norse

In response to this build-up, the other provinces mobilise. Eochu mac Luchta, king of Munster, convinces Ailill and Medb, very much against Medb's better judgement, to offer reparations to Conchobar. Ailill sends a man the Ulaid have reason to mistrust as their envoy to make the offer. Conchobar rejects the offer, and says he will not be satisfied until he is able to pitch his tent anywhere in Ireland. When asked where he wants to pitch his tent that night, he selects Ros na Ríg (Rosnaree) on the River Boyne. The River Boyne ( Abhainn na Bóinne) is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about 112 Kilometres (70 Miles long A battle ensues at Ros na Ríg between the Ulaid on one side, and on the other side the kingdom of Meath, led by Conchobar's son-in-law Cairpre Nia Fer, king of Tara, and the Gailióin of Leinster, led by their king Find mac Rossa. Cairbre Nia Fer ( Niafer, Niaper) was the King of Tara in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. The Hill of Tara ( Irish Teamhair na Rí, "Hill of the Kings" located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of The battle goes badly for the Ulaid until Conall Cernach joins the fray, because the wavering Ulstermen are too scared of him to retreat. Conall kills a thousand men in the battle. Cairpre Nia Fer kills 800 before Cúchulainn kills him with a spear thrown from a distance, and then beheads him before his body hits the ground. The Gailióin retreat and the Ulaid take Tara. Erc, Cairpre's son and Conchobar's grandson, is installed as the new king of Tara. He swears allegiance to Conchobar and is given Cúchulainn's daughter Fínscoth in marriage. [13]

Death

Conchobar is eventually killed as a result of a wound inflicted by the Connacht warrior Cet mac Mágach. Cet mac Mágach is a Connacht warrior in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. Cet had stolen one of Ulster's trophies of battle, the petrified brain of Mesgegra, king of Leinster, and shoots it from his sling so it embeds itself in Conchobar's head; this is supposed to have taken place at Baile Ath in Urchair, (Ardnurcher). In Irish mythology, Mesgegra ( Mes Gegra, Mes Gedra) was king of Leinster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of A sling is a projectile Weapon typically used to throw a blunt Projectile such as a stone Horseleap (An Chapail is a town situated upon the Offaly, Westmeath county border in Ireland, on the R446, formerly the main Dublin to Galway [14] Conchobor's physicians are unable to remove it, but sew up the wound and tell the king he will survive so long as he doesn't get excited or over-exert himself. Seven reasonably peaceful years later, Conchobar is told of the death of Christ, and becomes so angry that the brain bursts from his head, and he dies. The blood from the wound baptises him as a Christian, and his soul goes to heaven. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings [15]

The Ulstermen invite his son Cormac Cond Longas, still in exile in Connacht, to succeed him as king, but on his way to Emain Macha Cormac is forced to break his geasa or taboos, and is killed in battle at Da Choca's Hostel. In Irish mythology and folklore a geis ( plural geasa) is an idiosyncratic Taboo, whether of obligation or prohibition similar to being under [16] On Conall Cernach's recommendation the kingship is then given to Conchobar's other son, Cúscraid Mend Macha. [17]

References

  1. ^ Also spelled Conchobor, Conchubar, Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr, Conchúir, Conor, Connacher
  2. ^ Thomas Kinsella (translator), The Táin, Oxford University Press, 1969, p. Thomas Kinsella (born May 4, 1928) is an Irish poet, Translator, editor and publisher 3
  3. ^ Whitley Stokes, "Tidings of Conchobar mac Nessa", Ériu 4, 1910, pp. Whitley Stokes ( February 28, 1830 - April 13, 1909) was a British Lawyer and Celtic scholar Ériu is an Academic journal of Irish language studies It was launched in 1904 as the journal of the School of Irish Learning in Dublin 18-38; Kuno Meyer, "Anecdota from the Stowe MS. Kuno Meyer ( 20 December 1858 &ndash 11 October 1919) was a German scholar distinguished in the field of Celtic literature No 992", Revue Celtique 6, 1884, pp. The Revue Celtique was a Journal on Celtic linguistics and philology founded by Henri Gaidoz and published in Paris, France between 178-182
  4. ^ Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Early Medieval Ireland, Longman, 1995, pp. 65-66
  5. ^ Stokes 1910
  6. ^ Maighréad Ní Conmidhe Dobs (ed. & trans. ), "La guerre entre Fergus et Conchobar", Revue Celtique 40, 1923, pp. 404-423
  7. ^ Joseph O'Neill, "Cath Boinde", Ériu 2, 1905, pp. 173-185
  8. ^ In some stories Findchóem is a Connachtwoman unrelated to Conchobar: see Whitley Stokes (ed. & trans. ), "Cóir Anmann", Irische Texte series 3 vol. 2, 1897, p. 393-395
  9. ^ In some stories Deichtine is Conchobar's daughter: see A. G. van Hamel, Compert Con Culainn and Other Stories, 1978, pp. 1-8
  10. ^ James MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 88-89
  11. ^ Vernam Hull (ed & trans), "Longes mac n-Uislenn: the Exile of the Sons of Uisliu", Modern Language Association of America, 1949
  12. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 52-253
  13. ^ E. Hogan (ed & trans), Cath Ruis na Ríg for Boinn, Todd Lecture Series, 1892
  14. ^ Eugene O'Curry, Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History, (Dublin 1861), page 593.
  15. ^ Kuno Meyer (ed. & trans. ), "The Death of Conchobar", The Death Tales of the Ulster Heroes, 1906, pp. 2-21
  16. ^ Whitley Stokes (1900), "Da Choca's Hostel", Revue Celtique 21, pp. 388-402
  17. ^ R. I. Best (1916), "The Battle of Airtech", Ériu 8, pp. 170-190

Links to texts in translation

Dictionary

Conchobar mac Nessa

-proper noun

  1. (Irish mythology) The king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle, supposed to have ruled from Emain Macha somewhere around the time of Jesus Christ.
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