Cairbre Nia Fer (also Corpri, Coirpre, Cairpre; Nioth Fer, Niafer, Niaper), son of Rus Ruad, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a King of Tara from the Laigin.[1]
The earliest reference to Cairbre is in Tírechán's Memoir of St. Patrick, a 7th-century Latin text found in the Book of Armagh. Patrick finds an enormous grave and raises its giant occupant from the dead. The giant says he was killed by the sons of Mac Con during the reign of Cairbre Nia Fer, a hundred years previously – i.e. in the 4th century.[2] Another early reference is in the annotations to the 7th-century Amra Choluim Chille (eulogy of Colm Cille) by Dallán Forgaill. Here, the saint's mother Eithne is said to be a descendant of Cairbre, and Cairbre a descendant of Cathair Mór.[3]
The 11th century Lebor Gabála Érenn places him during the reign of the High King Eterscél, which it synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperorAugustus (27 BC - AD 14) and the birth of Christ, and makes him a contemporary of the provincial kings Conchobar mac Nessa of the Ulaid, Cú Roí of Munster and Ailill mac Máta of Connacht.[4] Mac Con of the Dáirine, placed a generation before Cairbre by Tírechán, is dated many generations after him, to the late 2nd century, in the Lebor Gabála, while Cathair Mór, his ancestor in the Amra Choluim Chille, is placed many generations later.[5]
Alongside Conchobar, Cú Roí and Ailill, Cairbre appears as king of Tara in stories of the Ulster Cycle, where he is the brother of Ailill mac Máta, husband of Medb of Connacht. His wife is Fedelm Noíchrothach, daughter of Conchobar, and they have a son, Erc, and a daughter, Achall. In Cath Ruis na Ríg ("The Battle of Rosnaree"), he and his brother Find mac Rossa, king of the Gailióin of Leinster, fight a battle against Conchobar and the Ulaid. The Ulaid hero Cúchulainn kills him with a spear from distance, then decapitates him before his body hits the ground. After the Ulaid win the battle, Cairbre's son Erc swears allegiance to Conchobar, marries Cúchulainn's daughter Finnscoth, and becomes king of Tara in his father's place.[6]
Erc is later part of the conspiracy to kill Cúchulainn. After avenging Cúchulainn, Conall Cernach brings Erc's head back to Tara, where Achall dies of grief for her brother.[7][8]
^Ludwig Bieler (ed. & trans.), The Patrician Texts in the Book of Armagh, Tírechán 40
^J. O'Beirne Crowe (ed. & trans.), The Amra Choluim Chili of Dallán Forgaill, Dublin: McGlashan & Gill, 1871, pp. 72-75
^R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 299-301
^R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, pp. 331, 337
^Edmund Hogan (ed. & trans), Cath Ruis na Ríg for Bóinn, Todd Lecture Series, 1892
^Whitley Stokes (ed. trans.), "Cuchulainn's death, abridged from the Book of Leinster", Revue Celtique 3, 1877, pp. 175-185
^Edward Gwynn (ed. & trans.), The Metrical Dindshenchas Vol 1: "Achall", Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1902
November 23, 2023
cairbre, also, corpri, coirpre, cairpre, nioth, niafer, niaper, ruad, according, medieval, irish, legend, historical, tradition, king, tara, from, laigin, earliest, reference, cairbre, tírechán, memoir, patrick, century, latin, text, found, book, armagh, patri. Cairbre Nia Fer also Corpri Coirpre Cairpre Nioth Fer Niafer Niaper son of Rus Ruad was according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition a King of Tara from the Laigin 1 The earliest reference to Cairbre is in Tirechan s Memoir of St Patrick a 7th century Latin text found in the Book of Armagh Patrick finds an enormous grave and raises its giant occupant from the dead The giant says he was killed by the sons of Mac Con during the reign of Cairbre Nia Fer a hundred years previously i e in the 4th century 2 Another early reference is in the annotations to the 7th century Amra Choluim Chille eulogy of Colm Cille by Dallan Forgaill Here the saint s mother Eithne is said to be a descendant of Cairbre and Cairbre a descendant of Cathair Mor 3 The 11th century Lebor Gabala Erenn places him during the reign of the High King Eterscel which it synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperor Augustus 27 BC AD 14 and the birth of Christ and makes him a contemporary of the provincial kings Conchobar mac Nessa of the Ulaid Cu Roi of Munster and Ailill mac Mata of Connacht 4 Mac Con of the Dairine placed a generation before Cairbre by Tirechan is dated many generations after him to the late 2nd century in the Lebor Gabala while Cathair Mor his ancestor in the Amra Choluim Chille is placed many generations later 5 Alongside Conchobar Cu Roi and Ailill Cairbre appears as king of Tara in stories of the Ulster Cycle where he is the brother of Ailill mac Mata husband of Medb of Connacht His wife is Fedelm Noichrothach daughter of Conchobar and they have a son Erc and a daughter Achall In Cath Ruis na Rig The Battle of Rosnaree he and his brother Find mac Rossa king of the Gailioin of Leinster fight a battle against Conchobar and the Ulaid The Ulaid hero Cuchulainn kills him with a spear from distance then decapitates him before his body hits the ground After the Ulaid win the battle Cairbre s son Erc swears allegiance to Conchobar marries Cuchulainn s daughter Finnscoth and becomes king of Tara in his father s place 6 Erc is later part of the conspiracy to kill Cuchulainn After avenging Cuchulainn Conall Cernach brings Erc s head back to Tara where Achall dies of grief for her brother 7 8 References edit T F O Rahilly Early Irish History and Mythology Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies 1946 pp 11 138 ff 143 ff 168 177 9 201 285 Ludwig Bieler ed amp trans The Patrician Texts in the Book of Armagh Tirechan 40 J O Beirne Crowe ed amp trans The Amra Choluim Chili of Dallan Forgaill Dublin McGlashan amp Gill 1871 pp 72 75 R A Stewart Macalister ed amp trans Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V Irish Texts Society 1956 p 299 301 R A Stewart Macalister ed amp trans Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V Irish Texts Society 1956 pp 331 337 Edmund Hogan ed amp trans Cath Ruis na Rig for Boinn Todd Lecture Series 1892 Whitley Stokes ed trans Cuchulainn s death abridged from the Book of Leinster Revue Celtique 3 1877 pp 175 185 Edward Gwynn ed amp trans The Metrical Dindshenchas Vol 1 Achall Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies 1902 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cairbre Nia Fer amp oldid 1082662196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
