Notes

Note N222 Index

Lugaid Riab nDerg ("the red-striped"), son of the three findemna, triplet sons of Eochu Feidlech, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland.

Conception
He was conceived of incest. The night before the three findemna, Bres, Nár and Lothar, made war for the High Kingship against their father in the Battle of Druimm Criaich, their sister Clothru, concerned that her brothers could die without heirs, seduced all three of them, and a son, Lugaid, was conceived.[1] His epithet came from two red stripes around his neck and waist, dividing him into three: above the neck he resembled Nár; from the neck to the waist he resembled Bres; and from the waist down he resembled Lothar.[2] Incest features further in Lugaid's story: he slept with Clothru himself, conceiving Crimthann Nia Náir.[3]

Rise to power
The Lebor Gabála Érenn says he came to power after a five year interregnum following the death of Conaire Mór (six years according to the Annals of the Four Masters).[4] His foster-father, the Ulster hero Cúchulainn, split the Lia Fáil, the coronation stone at Tara which roared when the rightful king stood or sat on it, with his sword when it failed to roar under Lugaid. It never roared again except under Conn of the Hundred Battles.[5]

Marriage
His wife was Derbforgaill, a daughter of the king of Lochlann (Scandinavia), who had fallen in love with Cúchulainn from afar and come to Ireland with a handmaiden in the form of a pair of swans, linked by a golden chain, to seek him out. Cúchulainn and Lugaid were at Loch Cuan (Strangford Lough) and saw them fly past. Cúchulainn, at Lugaid's urging, shot a slingstone which hit Derbforgaill, penetrating her womb, and the two women fell on the beach in human form. Cúchulainn saved Derbforgaill's life by sucking the stone from her side, and she declared her love for him, but because he had sucked her side he could not marry her - evidently he had violated some geis or taboo. Instead he gave her to Lugaid. They married, and she bore him children.

Deaths of Derbforgaill and Lugaid
One day in deep winter, the men of Ulster made pillars of snow, and the women competed to see who could urinate the deepest into the pillar and prove herself the most desirable to men. Derbforgaill's urine reached the ground, and the other women, out of jealousy, attacked and mutilated her, gouging out her eyes and cutting off her nose, ears, and hair. Lugaid noticed that the snow on the roof of her house had not melted, and realised she was close to death. He and Cúchulainn rushed to the house, but Derbforgaill died shortly after they arrived, and Lugaid died of grief. Cúchulainn avenged them by demolishing the house the women were inside, killing 150 of them.[6]

Lugaid's reign
He had ruled for twenty, twenty-five or twenty-six years. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperor Claudius (AD 41-54). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éireann dates his reign to 33-13 BC,[7] that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 33-9 BC.

References
Joseph O'Neill (ed. & trans), "Cath Boinde", Ériu 2, 1905, pp. 173-185; Edward Gwynn (ed. & trans.), The Metrical Dindshenchas, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1906, Vol 4, Druimm Criaich Poem 13: Druimm Criach, pp. 43-57; Vernam Hull, (ed. & trans.), "Aided Meidbe: The Violent Death of Medb", Speculum v.13 issue 1, Jan 1938, pp. 52-61
Whitley Stokes (ed. & trans.), "Cóir Anmann", Irische Texte series 3 vol. 2, 1897, p. 22
R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 301-303
Annals of the Four Masters M5165-5191
Lebor Gabála Érenn §57
Carl Marstrander (ed. & trans.), "The Deaths of Lugaid and Derbforgaill", Ériu 5, 1911, pp. 201-218
Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éireann 1.37

Notes

Note N239 Index

Reference
The general history of Ireland By Geoffrey Keating, Dermod O'Conner - http://books.google.com/books?id=OoMJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA308&lpg=PA308&dq=Gall+Gaodhal&source=bl&ots=X6abWOmrRM&sig=nruGSX2-fIoH6RayOeMSSWqb2_g&hl=en&ei=irVDS-bjF4SoNvGH3c4H&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCQQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=Gall%20Gaodhal&f=false

Notes

Note N246 Index

became Consul in UC 690/BC 63, and was found in
Gaul under Julius Caesar. He later went to Pompey.

Magna Charta, Wurts, 1945

Notes

Note N245 Index

He was Consul in BC 89, a Censor in 88, and the author of the Julian
Law.

Magna Charta, Wurts, 1945

Notes

Note N244 Index

Magna Charta, Wurts, 1945

Notes

Note N243 Index

He was the son of Sextus Julius. He,
along with Sempronius Bloesus, was a Roman Ambassador who worked for
restoring liberty to the people of Abdera in BC 169. He was Consul in
BC 156. (Wurts, 1945)

The Senate was the most powerful institution of the Republic; they
passed laws, declared war and discussed all matters affecting the
city. From its members, two consuls were elected who would take care
of Rome's executive and military matters. The consuls had to be 42
years old and had to have served in other posts. They served for one
year and each consul could veto the edicts of the other.

Magna Charta, Wurts, 1945