Érimón,[2] (modern spelling: Éiremhón), commonly Anglicised as Heremon, son of Míl Espáine (and great-grandson of Breoghan, king of Celtic Galicia), according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions, was one of the chieftains who took part in the Milesian invasion of Ireland, which conquered the island from the Tuatha Dé Danann, and one of the first Milesian High Kings.
Before coming to Ireland, he and his older brother Éber Donn were joint rulers of Spain. His great-uncle Íth made a peaceful expedition to Ireland, which he had seen from the top of a tower built by his father Breogan, but was killed by the three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine, and in revenge the Milesians invaded in force, with Érimón and Éber Donn in command. They defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Battle of Tailtiu. Éber Donn had been killed, and the High Kingship was divided between Érimón in the north and his younger brother Éber Finn in the south.
High Kingship of Ireland
A year after the Battle of Tailtiu, Éber Finn became unhappy with his half, fought a battle with his brother at Airgetros, lost and was killed. Érimón became sole ruler of Ireland and built his capital at Ráth Oinn (later site of Rathdown Castle, on the east coast near modern Greystones). He appointed kings of the four provinces. He gave Leinster to Crimthann Sciathbél of the Fir Domnann; Munster to the four sons of Eber Finn, Ér, Orba, Ferón and Fergna; Connacht to Ún and Étan, sons of Uicce; and Ulster to Eber mac Ír. During this time the Cruithne settled in Ireland. He ruled for fourteen, fifteen or seventeen further years, after which he died at Airgetros, and was succeeded by his sons Muimne, Luigne and Laigne, ruling jointly.[3]
In the tradition of comparative mythologist Georges Dumézil, the name of 'Érimón' is ostensibly related to the name of a Gaulish god 'Ario-manus',[6] who is only known of from 1st-century BC Roman reports in Austria. This assumption derives from now-defunct 18th-century theories related to the etymology of 'Éire'.
Personal life
Érimón had two wives, Odba, mother of Muimne, Luigne and Laigne, whom he left behind in Spain, and Tea, mother of Íriel Fáid, who accompanied him to Ireland, and died there. Tea was a daughter of Lugaid[7] and gave her name to Tara, where she was buried – the Lebor Gabála Érenn explains its Old Irish name Temair as "Tea mur", "Tea's Wall". Through his son, Íriel Fáid, Érimón was the progenitor of the Heremonians and provided many High Kings of Ireland. Kinship groups of Irish Gaels which are classified as Heremonians were most powerful in Connacht, Leinster and parts of Ulster and include the Connachta, Uí Néill, Clan Colla, Uí Maine, Laighin, Dalcassians and the Érainn.[1]
The Red Lion of Heremon features in Irish heraldry and Scottish heraldry as a device in the coat of arms of many of Heremon's claimed descendants, including:
O'Neill
O'Melaghlin
MacGeoghegan
Magawly
O'Kearney
McCaughey
Kavanagh
Donegan
O'Dwyer
MacMahon
Dunkeld
MacDuff
References
^ abThe Stem of the Irish Nation - Irish Pedigrees
Érimón, modern, spelling, Éiremhón, commonly, anglicised, heremon, míl, espáine, great, grandson, breoghan, king, celtic, galicia, according, medieval, irish, legends, historical, traditions, chieftains, took, part, milesian, invasion, ireland, which, conquere. Erimon 2 modern spelling Eiremhon commonly Anglicised as Heremon son of Mil Espaine and great grandson of Breoghan king of Celtic Galicia according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions was one of the chieftains who took part in the Milesian invasion of Ireland which conquered the island from the Tuatha De Danann and one of the first Milesian High Kings The Red Lion of Heremon 1 Contents 1 Background 2 High Kingship of Ireland 3 Personal life 4 References 5 See alsoBackground EditBefore coming to Ireland he and his older brother Eber Donn were joint rulers of Spain His great uncle Ith made a peaceful expedition to Ireland which he had seen from the top of a tower built by his father Breogan but was killed by the three kings of the Tuatha De Danann Mac Cuill Mac Cecht and Mac Greine and in revenge the Milesians invaded in force with Erimon and Eber Donn in command They defeated the Tuatha De Danann in the Battle of Tailtiu Eber Donn had been killed and the High Kingship was divided between Erimon in the north and his younger brother Eber Finn in the south High Kingship of Ireland EditA year after the Battle of Tailtiu Eber Finn became unhappy with his half fought a battle with his brother at Airgetros lost and was killed Erimon became sole ruler of Ireland and built his capital at Rath Oinn later site of Rathdown Castle on the east coast near modern Greystones He appointed kings of the four provinces He gave Leinster to Crimthann Sciathbel of the Fir Domnann Munster to the four sons of Eber Finn Er Orba Feron and Fergna Connacht to Un and Etan sons of Uicce and Ulster to Eber mac Ir During this time the Cruithne settled in Ireland He ruled for fourteen fifteen or seventeen further years after which he died at Airgetros and was succeeded by his sons Muimne Luigne and Laigne ruling jointly 3 Geoffrey Keating dates his reign from 1287 to 1272 BC 4 the Annals of the Four Masters from 1700 to 1684 BC 5 In the tradition of comparative mythologist Georges Dumezil the name of Erimon is ostensibly related to the name of a Gaulish god Ario manus 6 who is only known of from 1st century BC Roman reports in Austria This assumption derives from now defunct 18th century theories related to the etymology of Eire Personal life EditErimon had two wives Odba mother of Muimne Luigne and Laigne whom he left behind in Spain and Tea mother of Iriel Faid who accompanied him to Ireland and died there Tea was a daughter of Lugaid 7 and gave her name to Tara where she was buried the Lebor Gabala Erenn explains its Old Irish name Temair as Tea mur Tea s Wall Through his son Iriel Faid Erimon was the progenitor of the Heremonians and provided many High Kings of Ireland Kinship groups of Irish Gaels which are classified as Heremonians were most powerful in Connacht Leinster and parts of Ulster and include the Connachta Ui Neill Clan Colla Ui Maine Laighin Dalcassians and the Erainn 1 The Red Lion of Heremon features in Irish heraldry and Scottish heraldry as a device in the coat of arms of many of Heremon s claimed descendants including O Neill O Melaghlin MacGeoghegan Magawly O Kearney McCaughey Kavanagh Donegan O Dwyer MacMahon Dunkeld MacDuffReferences Edit a b The Stem of the Irish Nation Irish Pedigrees Also spelled Eremon and Heremon R A Stewart Macalister ed amp trans Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V Irish Texts Society 1956 pp 11 185 D Comyn amp P S Dinneen ed amp trans The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating Irish Texts Society 1902 1914 Book 1 Chapters 21 22 23 24 John O Donovan ed amp trans Annala Rioghachta Eireann Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters Dublin 1848 1851 Vol 1 pp 25 35 Puhvel Jaan Mitra as an Indo European Divinity Etudes Mithraiques Leiden E J Brill 1978 Part 2 of The Metrical Dindshenchas www ucc ie Retrieved 9 April 2018 See also EditRathbeaghRoyal titlesPreceded byMac Cuill Mac Cechtand Mac Greine High King of Ireland jointly with Eber Finn for the first year AFM 1700 1684 BCFFE 1287 1272 BC Succeeded byMuimne Luigne and Laigne Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erimon amp oldid 1093967271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
