Art mac Cuinn

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Art mac Cuinn ("son of Conn"), also known as Art Óenfer (literally "one man", used in the sense of "lone", "solitary", or "only son"),[1] was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland.

Siblings

According to the legend,

Connla, who fell in love with a fairy woman, and went with her to Mag Mell, never to be seen again. After that, Art was alone and gained his nickname, Art Óenfer.[2] Geoffrey Keating says he had two brothers, Connla and Crionna, who were killed by their uncle Eochaid Finn.[3]

Biography

Another fairy woman,

geis on Art, after he loses at a game of fidchell; under which he must leave Ireland never to return until he can find and rescue the maiden Delbchaem ("Fair Shape"). Art travels to the Land of Wonder, facing untold dangers and is forced to kill Delbchaem's mother a fearsome and supernatural figure, who has been foretold by druids that she would be killed by a suitor of her daughter. When Art and Delbchaem return to Tara, Delbchaem banishes Bé Chuille from the land, returning fertility to the region.[5]

Art succeeded to the High Kingship after his brother-in-law

Battle of Maigh Mucruimhe in Connacht.[6] According to legend, Art was given hospitality by Olc Acha, a local smith, the night before the battle. It had been prophesied that a great dignity would come from Olc's line, and he gave Art his daughter Achtan to sleep with. Art's son Cormac was conceived that night.[7] However, according to Keating, Achtan was Art's official mistress, to whom he paid a dowry of cattle; his wife, and the mother of his other children, was Medb Lethderg.[8]

The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises Art's reign with that of the Roman emperor Commodus (180–192).[9] The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 143–173, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 165–195.

Cathaír Mór
Conn Cétchathach
Eithne Táebfada
Achtan
SaruitMacnia mac LugdachSadbConaire Cóem
Lugaid mac Con
Cairbre LifechairDiarmuid Ua DuibhneGráinneFionn mac CumhaillAillbe
Uí Maine

References

  1. ^ Dictionary of the Irish Language, Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, 1990, pp. 299-300, 485
  2. ^ "The Adventures of Connla the Fair", Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 488-490
  3. ^ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.41
  4. ^ "The Adventures of Art son of Conn" Archived 2007-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 491–502
  5. ISBN 9781581128918
    .
  6. ^ Annals of the Four Masters M165-195
  7. ^ "The Battle of Mag Mucrama" (translator unknown)
  8. ^ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.43
  9. ^ R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 335
Preceded by High King of Ireland
LGE 2nd century AD
FFE AD 143–173
AFM AD 165–195 		Succeeded by
Lugaid mac Con
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