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- Conn of the Hundred Battles
http://www.irishclans.com/articles/famirish/conn100battles.html
Clans of Ireland Ltd. Registered Charity No. 11585
"Cead-Cathach was the son of Fedhlimidh Rachtmar, the High King ofIreland and Ughna, daughter of the King of Lochlin (Denmark). Conn isalso known as Conn of the 100 Battles or the 100 Treaties. Hisgrandfather was Tuathal Teachtmar, the Irish High King who made Connachtthe Supreme province of the five in Ireland at the time.
Conn's name is unusual and according to legend, portions were given latein life or after his death. Conn Cead-Cathach means Conn (speed, virtue,champion), Cead (one hundred) and Cathach (of Battles). Conn also had anolder meaning that is referred to as dog, or a warrior with the fightingqualities of a dog.
Little is known of Conn's youth and he did not succeed his father inrule. Between Fedhlimidh and Conn ruled Cathair Mor. Cathair was defeatedin a great battle by Conn in Meath. He then took the reigns as Ard-Righor High King.
During Conn's lifetime he certainly lived up to his name, fightingnumerous battles most of which were against Mogh Nuadat of Munster.
The Ithians and Eberians alternately ruled the province of Munster in anarrangement that worked peacefully until the Earnaan arrived. The Earnaanhad been forced out of Ulster and applied for land in Munster to KingDuach who gracefully assented. But the Earnaan did not repay their host'skindness and instead, took control of the province. The Eberians revoltedand attempted to regain their territory. Conn, the High King, sent aid tothe Earnaan but even with his help they lost the battle.
The Eberian King Mogh Nuadat then sallied forth against Conn himself toaddress Eberian grievances, but he was defeated and forced to retreat toSpain. There he married Beara, daughter of Heber Mor, King of Castile.Later, with the Castillian King's support Mogh Nuadat returned to Irelandwith 2,000 troops under the command of Fraech, the King's son, to claimthe throne. Conn and his allies fought valiantly, but after 10 battleswere forced to relinquish one half (the southern half) of Ireland to MoghNuadat.
But Mogh Nuadat was not satisfied and soon ventured north against Connagain. This time, Conn attacked the enemy army at night hoping forsurprise. All with him joined in the attack except for the forces of GollMacMorna, who had vowed never to attack an enemy by surprise. The attacktook place and was on the point of failing when the sun rose and Goll'sforces joined the fray. Fresh and unhindered by the darkness they turnedthe tide of the battle and defeated Mogh's forces. In the process MoghNuadat and Fraech, the Castillian King's son, were killed.
After the battle Conn gave one of his daughters to his ally in marriageand another to the son of Mogh Nuadat thus permanently linking theIthians, Eberians, Deagades and his own people, the Eremonians, throughfamily alliances. For his crime of the night attack and the unfairslaying of Mogh, Conn was forced by the High Judges to pay a fine of hisown jewelry, sword and shield, as well as 200 each of steeds, chariots,ships, spears, swords, cows, and slaves. Although the price was high,Conn was alive and still High King.
As his name implies, Conn faced many more battles in his lifetime. He isalso rumoured to have a hand in the colonization of Scottish Dalriada orScotia Minor. He was finally killed at Tara in approximately 157 AD whenthe King of Ulster sent 50 robbers dressed as women to dispatch themonarch. Conn's son Conaire II then took the reins as High King ofIreland. "
BW, February 2000
Note. Here it says Conaire was Conn's son where as elsewhere I have seenhim as his grandson?
IRISH ORIGINS from
MILESIAN GENEALOGIES . from the Annals of the Four Masters.
Kindness of Pat Traynor athttp://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/history/milesian.html
"Adam through Kings of Ireland and Scotland To English Lines"
at Southern Style web site at
http://www.southern-style.com/adam_through_kings_of_ireland_an.htm
"Ancient Uladh. Kingdom of Ulster". In "Irelands History in Maps"
By Dennis Walsh (walshdw@ix.netcom.com) Very extensive information.
"With a Special Focus on Ancient and Medieval Irish Tribes and Septs."
At http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/kilkenny/2/ulster.htm
Jim Kinsella (jim@kinsella.org) Ancient Kinsella Lineage
http://kinsella.org/history/famline.htm
"Information taken from O'Hart's "Irish Pedigrees"
and Rev. P.L.O'Toole's "History of the Clan O'Toole" "
The Kinsella Homepage http://www.kinsella.org/
Ancient Irish Royalty by Richard Michael Finn
Very thorough. ( dennis@iwindow.com )
http://www.rich.finn.com/ancient.html
THE HISTORY OF THE SCOTS, THE PICTS AND THE BRITONS
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DavidDale1/Hisco.htm
DAVID F. DALE
e-mail : DavidDale1@compuserve.com
David Dale has done vast amount of research and has produced an excellent
report, which I would highly recommend to anyone interested.
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