Bresal Bó-Díbad

Bresal Bó-Díbad, son of Rudraige, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, Finnat Már, and ruled for eleven years, during which there was a plague on cattle (Old Irish bó díbad, "extinction of cows")[1] which left only one bull and one heifer alive. He was killed by Finnat's son Lugaid Luaigne. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Ptolemy X Alexander I (110–88 BC) in Egypt.[2] The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 151–140 BC,[3] that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 210–199 BC.[4]

Preceded by
Finnat Már		 High King of Ireland
LGE 2nd–1st century BC
FFE 151–140 BC
AFM 210–199 BC 		Succeeded by
Lugaid Luaigne

References

  1. ↑ Dictionary of the Irish Language Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, 1990, pp. 76-77, 208
  2. ↑ R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 295
  3. ↑ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.30
  4. ↑ Annals of the Four Masters M4990-5001