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