Áed Ruad
Encyclopedia
Áed Rúad, son of Badarn, Díthorba, son of Deman, and Cimbáeth, son of Fintan, three grandsons of Airgetmar, were, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, High Kings of Ireland
who ruled in rotation, seven years at a time. They each ruled for three seven-year stints. Áed died at the end of his third stint, by drowning in a waterfall which was named Eas Ruaid, "the red's waterfall" (Assaroe Falls
, Ballyshannon
, County Donegal
), after him. Díthorba and Cimbáeth then took their turn, after which Áed's daughter, Macha Mong Ruad, demanded to rule in her father's place. Díthorba and Cimbáeth refused, and battle ensured. Díthorba was killed. Macha forced Díthorba's sons to build her a palace at Emain Macha
. She married Cimbáeth and the pair ruled for a further seven years, at the end of which Cimbáeth died of plague, and Macha became the only queen in the List of High Kings of Ireland.
The sources differ as to how the rotation worked. The reigns of Aéd and Díthorba are missing in the Lebor Gabála Érenn
- after the previous High King, Lugaid Laigdech, is killed by Áed, a dinsenchas story about the founding of Emain Macha
is interpolated, followed by the reign of Cimbáeth, who is said to have succeeded Díthorba and ruled for twenty-eight years. The dinsenchas story tells how the each of the three cousins ruled for seven years in turn, and each ruled three seven-year stints; the Annals of the Four Masters
agrees, but Geoffrey Keating
gives them each a single reign of twenty-one years each, except for Cimbáeth, who rules for twenty. The Lebor Gabála synchronises Cimbáeth's reign to that of Alexander the Great (336–323 BC). The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates their combined reigns to 530-469 BC, the Annals of the Four Masters to 731-661 BC.
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
who ruled in rotation, seven years at a time. They each ruled for three seven-year stints. Áed died at the end of his third stint, by drowning in a waterfall which was named Eas Ruaid, "the red's waterfall" (Assaroe Falls
Assaroe Falls
Assaroe Falls , also known as Cathaleen’s Falls, was a waterfall on the River Erne near Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. It was named after Aodh Ruadh, who according to tradition, slipped and fell from the waterfall and drowned....
, Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
), after him. Díthorba and Cimbáeth then took their turn, after which Áed's daughter, Macha Mong Ruad, demanded to rule in her father's place. Díthorba and Cimbáeth refused, and battle ensured. Díthorba was killed. Macha forced Díthorba's sons to build her a palace at Emain Macha
Emain Macha
]Navan Fort – known in Old Irish as Eṁaın Ṁacha and in Modern Irish as Eamhain Mhacha – is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. According to Irish legend, it was one of the major power centers of pre-Christian Ireland...
. She married Cimbáeth and the pair ruled for a further seven years, at the end of which Cimbáeth died of plague, and Macha became the only queen in the List of High Kings of Ireland.
The sources differ as to how the rotation worked. The reigns of Aéd and Díthorba are missing in the Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...
- after the previous High King, Lugaid Laigdech, is killed by Áed, a dinsenchas story about the founding of Emain Macha
Emain Macha
]Navan Fort – known in Old Irish as Eṁaın Ṁacha and in Modern Irish as Eamhain Mhacha – is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. According to Irish legend, it was one of the major power centers of pre-Christian Ireland...
is interpolated, followed by the reign of Cimbáeth, who is said to have succeeded Díthorba and ruled for twenty-eight years. The dinsenchas story tells how the each of the three cousins ruled for seven years in turn, and each ruled three seven-year stints; the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
agrees, but Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
gives them each a single reign of twenty-one years each, except for Cimbáeth, who rules for twenty. The Lebor Gabála synchronises Cimbáeth's reign to that of Alexander the Great (336–323 BC). The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates their combined reigns to 530-469 BC, the Annals of the Four Masters to 731-661 BC.