This is the story of the Battle of Leitir Ruibhe, the red branch of the mythology Irish.
Battle of Leitir Ruibhe
1. A supreme king seized power over Ireland: it was Fachtna Fathach. For it was to the race of Ir and (to that) of Eimir and (to that of) Laegaire Lorc that belonged the supremacy in Ireland from the time of Conall Collamrach until the time of Eochaid Feidlech. Eochaid Feidlech had a huge army assembled and the provincial kings were put to death by him. It was just at this time that Fachtna Fathach was making a royal tour among the Ulates. Eochaid Feidlech took hostages from Tara behind him. This news was brought to Emain. Feargus son of Roth was half-king of the Ulates and Leide, son of Feargus son of Leide, ruled over the northern half of Ulster. Findtan son of Niall Niamglonnach son of Rudraige ruled over Dun Da-beann and Conall over Caille Conaill and Subaltach over Murthemne and the sons of Donn son of Durrthacht son of Failbe over the forests of Farney.
2. Eochaid was then in the province of Genand [Connaught] and the king of Ireland at Emain to the north. The information reached the King of Ireland. It was then that Fachtna Fathach told the Ulates to call an assembly. Here are his words: “The men of Ireland have given you protection from a murder of relatives – and the race of Cobhtach Caol Bregh has risen – and lo and behold the supremacy of the sons of Ir. 'Ah, great king,' said the sons of Rudraige, 'it is ours that ranks first in warlike valor among the Gaels, and in combat among the sons of Mile, as it has been esteemed by our ancestors. Let us be brave and defend Ireland and attack the province of Genand. »
3. The King of Ireland and the Ulates raised a huge army; seven battalions of equal strength of true Ulates and three battalions of foreigners and a thousand guards of the king's people. They walked by the magic palace of Emain and by Druim Raitni (where Raitin, king of Magh Bolg, fell when he came to burn Emain. He fell there by the hand of Eogan son of Donn son of Durrthacht), and by Rath Neachtain, and by the river of Sen-Eochaid which is called Daball (where Eochaid Eolcobar son of Feagar son of Fomar son of Airgeadmar fell), and by Dul na Carbat which is called the plain of Leamna, and by the hill of Breas which is called the hill of Baine (where fell Breas son of Fathemon son of Reochada son of Breasail son of Cirb son of Cais son of Airgeadmar), and by the Black mountain which is called Mount Truim ( where fell Dub son of Horsa son of Eidhisd son of Buidb son of Eileisd son of the king of Scandinavia who came to conquer Ireland). They then took a left hand towards the lake of Laegaire (where Laegaire son of Laegaire son of Conang Buidhe drowned. He had gone to bathe with fifty boys, and a monster agitated the lake so that they drowned). They finally came to camp and settle on the land of Dun Laegaire.
4. The Ulates came to the tent of the king of Ireland to hold council there. There was Feargus son of Ros son of Rudraige etc., and Leide son of Ir son of Rudraige, and Uislend son of Congal Claringnech son of Rudraige, and Cathbad the Druid son of Congal Claringnech etc., and Findtan son of Niall Niamglonnach, and Aengus son of Feargus etc., and Laegaire Buadach son of Conang Buidhe etc., and Irgalach son of Maclach, and Monach and Buan and Fear Corb, the three sons of Cing son of Ros etc. (from these derive the Monach Aradh and the Dal Buan. From the latter derive Baile Bindberlach, son of Buan, from whom derives the "beach of Baile mac Buain") and Fear Cing and Fear Tlachtca, the two sons of Roch and of Ros son of Rudraige, and Conall Cernach son of Aimergen Iarguinnach son of Cas, etc. (Some say that the family of Durrthacht descended from the sons of Congal Claringneth son of Rudraige and this is clearly the truth, as Cathbad said in the quatrain:
“Sons of Congal – hard their condition! –
are from Cathbad and the sons of Durrthacht,
and the sons of Uislend with them,
and the true Ulates of Emain. »
It is clear that this is a lie, since Uislend and Donn son of Durrthacht, and the sons of Aengus son of Rudraige had the same mother, as it says in the quatrain:
"Sons of Aengus full of loyalty
are the sons of Durrthacht the fighter.
They were there – beautiful their fame –
reigning over the forests of Farney. ")
There also had come Dumhannach son of Imchad etc., and Daire and Furbaide and Feargus Foltsnaitheach the three sons of Imros son of Laitim etc. They took counsel together to decide on which coast they would cause the province of Genand to be ravaged and sacked.
5. Cathbad the Druid said to them: “I see a cloud forming a veil over you,” he said. “Let ambassadors be sent to Eochaid and offered him his choice of a partition of Ireland: let him reign over the province of Genand and let the supremacy in Ireland be yours. " " Oh ! Cathbad! said the Ulates. “I give my word,” says Fachtna Fathach, “that what our ancestors did not give, I will never give. I do not allow any sharing of Ireland with anyone other than ourselves. Thus, when Cermna and Sobairche shared, it was among themselves that they shared. When Aed Ruadh and Dithorba and Cimbaeth shared, it was among themselves that they shared. It would be an injustice to ourselves to share now that sharing ***. “It would be a pity, O great king,” said the Ulates, “for, even if the whole world were to rush on you, it is we who will protect you. This man killed the provincial kings and none of them wanted to assist him except the outlaws who accompany him. »
6. The Ulates arose and left their camp. They arrived at the rivers of Sen-Erne by crossing the plain of Ithe (where died Ithe servant of Parthalon). They ravaged, attacked, devastated, burned from the Cascade-of Ruadh son of Badurn to Ceis Corainn. Then they stopped and rested at Druim na nDruagh. The King of Ireland asked: "Have you heard if Eochaid came from the province of Genand?" "He has come," said Cathbad the Druid. “He fought a battle. noon and Airtidh Uchtleathan was killed by him. "Let's send." messengers," said the King of Ireland, "to tell him that he is leaving Ireland or that he book battle. “That is right,” said each, “but who is going to make this request to him? they said. "It is Dub, Dondgus and Diangus who will go >," they said (namely, the three Druids of Duibtrian in Ulster, the three sons of Dub son of Imros etc.). They were sent to confer with the King of Ireland. He said to them, “Where is Eochaid? "To Leitir Saileach above Cruachan," they replied. "Get up and go and speak to him," said the king; "and tell him to cede Ireland to me." Also go to the tent of Ros Ruiadh, son of the King of Leinster and tell him in the presence of his men to remember his yendetta with Eochaid. (That is, Laegaire Lorc and Ailill Aine were killed by Cobhtach Cael Breagh, and Labraid by Melge Molbtach, and Feargus Fortamtail by Aengus Turmeach, and Senna Innarach was hanged by Simon Breac, and Duach son of Senna was killed by Muireadhach Balgrach, and Art son of Lugaid Lamderg by Fiacha son of Muireadhach.)
7. Then the druids went to the place where Eochaid was, at Leitir Sailcach above Cruachan. It was announced that the ambassadors of the King of Ireland were in the square. They were led to Eochaid's tent. They were asked what they wanted. They presented their request: that Eochaid leave Ireland or give battle to the king and the Ulates. Eochaid said, “I will give battle. The Druids were asked which field was the King of Ireland's favorite field. “That of Leitir Ruibhe in the Quran,” said the Druids. (It was the place where Ruidhe son of Imchad etc. died, son of Tuamathen son of the man of the two peaks; that is to say the Pic d'Oigle and the Pic de Boirche, because the kingdom of Ireland was between them.) “When would it please you to give battle? said the druids. "Three days from today," said Eochaid; “all my army will be there and tell the king that the race of Cobhtach Cael Breagh has risen again. The druids returned and reported to the king.
8. As for Eochaid Feidlech, he stood up in the middle of his camp and he ordered his battalions to stand up too. What they did to advance without obstacle and without stopping until they came to camp and establish themselves on the side of Leitir Ruibhe. It was then that this sentence was heard in the tent of the King of Ireland: "Where shall I find scouts to go to the place where the sons of the son of Rogen Ruadh are in order to discover the strength of their army ? "We will go." said Ros; Daire and Imchad, (the three sons of Dolb son of Indolb etc., three great heroes of the marches of Eas Ruadh. Their namesakes were in the Red Branch to which belonged the Bull, Brown of Cooley, and these descended from the Fir Bolg). They advanced to the limits of the camp, turning the left side of their shields towards the army. Just at this time a privy council was held there between Eochaid and the chiefs of his retinue; i.e. Ailill, Eochaid and Conall the sons of Eochaid Feidlech, and Lugaid son of Maghlam etc. and the heroes of Leinster, (for it was Rudraige who had slain Crimthand Cosgrach with the outlaws of Ireland), and Eochaid [son of] Innadhmar son of Nia Segamuin (because Breasal Bodibaidh had slain Innadhmar) and Lugaid son of Luagne Luamne (because Congal Clairingnech had killed Lugaid) and Crimthand the Handsome, son of Lugaid Luagne.
9. Eochaid said: “It is to seek strife and fight that these have come. "It is true," said all; “where are our comrades Eochaid and Aedh and Eolarg? i.e. the three sons of Eochaid son of Urgalach etc. son of Taidean (from whom descend the Tuatha Taitin) son of Eochaid etc. From these three descend the Mairtine, the Sen-Erna and the Tuatha Taiten. That is, the Mairtine descend from Eochaid and the Sen-Erna from Aedh and the Tuatha Taiten from Eolarg. It was then that they stood up, their spearheads in their hands, their brown shields on their backs, and they advanced thus to the place where the other three were. They fought a fierce and terrible fight. And these three good warriors of Connaught fell where their three tombs are; i.e. the mound of Eochaid, the mound of Aedh and the mound of Eolarg in the Quran. At this news Eochaid remained forbidden and the morale of the Ulates was increased. That night they withdrew like this.
10. Ulates and Irish got up the next day and came forward to meet the others. Eochaid declared that he would fight the battle only when the Domnannaig came. (It was they who raised him.) The Ulates said they would attack Eochaid's camp and grant him no truce. When Eochaid heard of this, he was troubled and saddened. Then the ensigns of the king of Ireland and the supreme king of the Ulates were raised to attack Eochaid, and Eochaid arose and ranged his army in line. He gave second commandments to Eochaid Aiream son of Find son of Rogen Ruadh, and to Ailill, Eochaid, and Conall Anglondach, the sons of Eochaid Feidlech, and to the Domnannaigh, to the sons of Uabhmor, and to the Tuatha Taidean, and to Corc Cuirn by Meadha Siuil etc.
11. Everyone attacked their opponent on the side of Leitir Ruibhe and a great clamor arose. Fachtna Fathach passed among the battalions until he met Ailill son of Eochaid Feidlech in battle. Ailill fell there as it says:
"Lathairne the furious and Conaing
fell in the fight,
and Ailill – great his fame –
who was the son of Find's son Roguen's son. "
When Eochaid saw this dreadful thing he attacked the army of Ulates until he met Ros and Daire and Imchad (the three sons of Dub son of Inndolb etc.) and all three fell under his hand. He met Fear Cinde and Fear Tlachtga, the two sons of Ros etc. and, as the wrath of Eochaid boiled at the death of his son like the wrath of a poisonous serpent or the fury of a wounded lion, both fell under his hand. When Conall and Eogan son of Durrthacht and Findtan son of Niall Niamglonnach heard the assault of the champions, they rushed full of ardor on the battalion of the Lagenians until they met the three sons of the king of the Lagenians; that is, Lugaid and Laighlind and Laemach, and the three Lagenian princes fell where their three tombs are at Leitir Ruibhe. Feargus son of Ros, and Leide (son of Feargus son of Leide), and Feargus son of Leide came to battle. They met Fiacha and Fiamain and Forai, three western kings of the province of Genand (three sons of Ruigh son of. Daire Domnannach). Feargus son of Ros fought with Fiacha and Leide with Fiamain, and Feargus son of Feargus with Forai so that four of them fell together: namely Feargus (son of Feargus half-king of the Ulates), Forai, Leide and Fiamain . Fiacha fell under the hand of Feargus son of Roch, and also Eochaid son of Eochaid Feidlech, and Lugaid Londmar also.
12. As for Eochaid Feidlech, when he saw his son dead and the battle nearly lost, he marched on the King of Ireland's battalion with one hundred and fifty. very valiant warriors to test their military strength. Those who stood guard around the King of Ireland were: Uisleand and Cathbad, and Aengus son of Leide, and Daire and Furbaide and Feargus Foltsnaitheach (three sons of Imros etc.), and Subaltach son of Roch,. and one hundred and fifty mercenaries who formed the King of Ireland's guard. Eochaid dispatched all his force to attack the King of Ireland and every man made a furious assault on the warriors. Eochaid assaulted the Supreme King and enveloped him as honeysuckle envelopes the tree. He gave her a blow that took her head off, ut poeta dixit:
“Fachtna Fathach – brave man –
fell from the hand of Eochaid – It was a rude act!
His grave is in Leitir Ruibhe;
its tumulus with the rampart remains. "
13. Then the Ulates, seeing the King of Ireland slain, summoned Feargus to close their retreat, and Feargus closed it. Then Eochaid in a thundering voice ordered to pursue the Ulates relentlessly. The standards of Eochaid, the Crown Prince of Ireland, the Provincial King of Ireland, were erected behind them and the Ulates were overtaken. The first to catch up with them were Lugaid son of Luagne Luamne and Eochaid son of Innadhmar. Three brave warriors of the Ulates turned, namely, Monach and Buan and Fear Corb (the three sons of Cing etc.). They fought with such fury of frenzy of heroism and resistance that they fell hand to hand and side by side where their three tombs are at the north side of the Koran. The Irish halted there.
14. The most distinguished of the Ulates who fell at the battle of Leitir Ruibhe are: Fachtna Fathach king of Ireland; Leide son of Feargus son of Leide, half-king of the Ulates; Feargus son of Feargus, son of Leide; Aengus son of Leide; Daire, Furbaide, Feargus Foltsnaitheach the three sons of Imros; Ros Daire Imchad, the three sons of Dolb etc. ; Fear Cinge and Fer Tlachtca the two sons of Ros etc. The most distinguished of the followers of Eochaid Feidlech who fell are: the two sons of King Eochaid: Ailill and Eochaid; the three sons of the King of Leinster: Lugaid, Laighlind and Lamach; the three western kings of the province of Genand, Fiacha Fiamain and Forai; the three sons of Ruighe etc., Eochaid, Aed and Eolarg, who were slain before the battle became bloody, and who were the three sons of Eochaid son of Urgalach of the Fir Bolg etc. It was then that arose the Gamanrach, the Fir Craibe, the Dal Druithne, the Tuatha Taiten, the Garbraide du Suc, the Tuatha Catraide and the remnants of the Fir Bolg, the Lagenians and the race of Cobhtach Caol Breag, and they advanced to Tara. Eochaid Feidlech was crowned by them and Ireland divided into provinces.
15. Feargus son of Ros reigned over the Ulates for seven years until Conchobar was raised. Feargus fell in love with Conchobar's mother, Ness daughter of Eochaid Salbuide. Ness told him that she would marry him only on the condition that he would grant her a request, whatever it was. Feargus promised to grant it and he granted it. “That is the gift I desire,” she said, “the throne of Ulster for Conchobar for a whole year. Feargus promised to grant it and he granted it. Conchobar reigned a year over the Ulates and his reign was. really prosperous. Great were the products of wheat, milk, acorns and fruits. At the end of the year Feargus reclaimed his throne. The Ulates replied that they would not give their kingdom to a man who used them as a dower, and that Conchobar was a better king than he. The Ulates had Conchobar crowned. This one made a relentless war with Eochaid Feidlech until this last yielded to him the compensation (eraic) of the death of his father. This compensation included: the gift of the kingdom of Ulates in spite of the sons of Rudraige, a large portion of Meath. and four of the daughters of the King of Ireland one after the other, namely Medb, Clothra, Ethne and Mumain etc.
