Fedlimid Rechtmar

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Fedlimid Rechtmar ("the lawful, legitimate" or "the passionate, furious") or Rechtaid ("the judge, lawgiver")[1] son of Tuathal Techtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. His mother was Báine, daughter of Scál. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer, Mal mac Rochride.[2] He is said to have instituted the principle of an eye for an eye into Irish law, after which the behaviour of the Irish improved.[3] The completion of the road construction around Tara is attributed to him.[4] He ruled for nine or ten years before dying in his bed, and was succeeded by Cathair Mór. One of his sons, Conn Cétchathach, would succeed Cathair. Two other sons, Fiacha Suigde, ancestor of the Dal Fiachrach Suighe, and Eochaid Finn, are named in medieval sources.[5] The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 104-113, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 110-119.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dictionary of the Irish Language, Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, 1990, pp. 502, 503
  2. ^ R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 331
  3. ^ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.40
  4. ^ Alice Stopford Green, Making of Ireland and Its Undoing 1200-1600, Ayer Publishing, 1975, p. 42. ISBN 0-8369-6720-8.
  5. ^ Reverend P. Power & Eleanor C. Lodge, The Life of St. Declan of Ardmore, Kessinger Publishing, 2004, p. 8. ISBN 1-4191-6980-7
  6. ^ Annals of the Four Masters M110-119
Royal titles
Preceded by
Mal mac Rochride		 High King of Ireland
LGE 2nd century AD
FFE AD 104-113
AFM AD 110-119		 Succeeded by
Cathair Mór
Languages