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. In some texts his wife is Medb Lethderg.[2]
According to legend, he was not Conn's only son: he had a brother called 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[3] (Geoffrey Keating says he had two brothers, Connla and Crionna, who were killed by their uncle Eochaid Finn).[4] Another fairy woman, Bé Chuille, who had been banished to Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann, fell in love with Art, but, when she learned his father Conn was still alive and a widower, agreed to marry him instead, on the condition that Art be banished from Tara for a year. The injustice caused famine in Ireland, until Art forced by Bé Chuille to leave as a forfeit in a game of fidchell.[5]
Art succeeded to the High Kingship after his brother-in-law Conaire Cóem, was killed by Nemed, son of Sroibcenn, in the battle of Gruitine. He ruled for twenty or thirty years. During his reign Conaire's sons took revenge against Nemed and his allies, the sons of Ailill Aulom, in the Battle of Cennfebrat in Munster. Ailill's foster-son Lugaid mac Con was wounded in the thigh in the battle, and was exiled from Ireland. He made an alliance with Benne Brit, son of the king of Britain, raised an army of foreigners, and returned to Ireland. He defeated and killed Art in the 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]
The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises Art's reign with that of the Roman emperor Commodus (180-192).[8] 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.
| Preceded by Conaire Cóem |
High King of Ireland LGE 2nd century AD FFE AD 143-173 AFM AD 165-195 |
Succeeded by Lugaid mac Con |
[edit] References
- ^ Dictionary of the Irish Language, Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, 1990, pp. 299-300, 485
- ^ James MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 21
- ^ "The Adventures of Connla the Fair", Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 488-490
- ^ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.41
- ^ "The Adventures of Art son of Conn", Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 491-502
- ^ Annals of the Four Masters M165-195
- ^ "The Battle of Mag Mucrama" (translator unknown)
- ^ R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 335
