Cormac mac Airt

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Cormac mac Airt [ 'kormak mak aRʴtʴ ], also called Cormac Ulfada ("Cormac with the long beard"), was according to the Celtic mythology of Ireland a high king who had his seat in Tara . He was the son of Art mac Cuinn and his wife Akhtan and the grandson of King Conn Cétchathach (in the story Cath Maige Mucrama ["The Battle of Mag Mucrama"], however, Eogan, the son of Ailill Aulom , is named as Cormac's grandfather). Cormac is said to have ruled from 254 to 277 and was the father of Gráinne and the grandfather of Conaire Mór .

mythology

Cormac mac Airt was chosen to be the High King through his association with Medb , who is here regarded as the rulership of Ireland .

Until Medb slept with him, Cormac was not King of Ireland.

The story Scéla Eogain agus Cormaic (“The story of Eogan and Cormac”) describes his childhood and youth until he came to power, Geneamuin Cormaic Ua Chuind (“The birth of Cormac mac Airt”) his entire life until death. These traditions call him an ideal ruler, during whose reign justice, prosperity and peace would have reigned. A journey to the fairies is told by Echtra Cormaic i Tír Tairngire (“Cormac's journey to the land of hope / promise”). Esnada Tige Buchet (“The Song of the House of Buchet”) reports on the acquisition of a bride . These legends are recorded in Leabhar Buidhe Lecain ("The Yellow Book of Lecan"), the last also in Lebor Laignech ("The Book of Leinster").

According to a legend of the 3rd century ("The Siege of Knocklong "), Cormac tries to conquer the province of Munster , which is ruled by King "Fiachu Muillethan". Cormac wants to win by using magic and lets all waters dry up, whereupon King Fiacha asks the blind magician Mog Ruith for help, who lets the water flow again. The attempt at invasion therefore fails.

The sea god Manannan kidnaps Cormac with his wife and children to an Otherworld island , keeps them for a while and then brings them back to Tara.

In the saga Diarmuid and Gráinne , Cormac wants to reconcile with his adversary Fionn mac Cumhaill and therefore agrees to Fionn's advertisement for Gràinne. At the engagement party, however, she decides in favor of young Diarmuid , with whom she escapes from her father's castle that night. After a long chase, the god Oengus brings peace and Cormac gives Fionn his younger daughter to wife. Years later, however, the deeply offended Fionn lures Diarmuid into a trap in which the latter dies.

The collection of doctrines Tecosca Cormaic describes a dialogue between Cormac and his son Cairbre Lifechar , in which he informs him about the rights and duties of a king.

The Expulsion of the Déisi is a medieval tale. It dates from around the 8th century, but only survived in later manuscripts. It describes the fictional story of the Déisi Muman, who gained political power in parts of Ireland during the early Middle Ages and were driven out by Cormac mac Airt.

reception

It is quite possible that Cormac mac Airt was a historical figure. His reign is given in the span from the 2nd to the 4th century. In the annals of Clonmacnoise (translated in 1627) he is described as the wise, just and mild king, [...] absolutely the best who ever ruled Ireland before he came [...] .

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 , p. 531.
  2. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 , p. 681.
  3. ^ Ingeborg Clarus: Celtic myths. Man and his otherworld. Walter Verlag 1991, ppb edition Patmos Verlag, Düsseldorf, 2000, 2nd edition, ISBN 3-491-69109-5 , S, 232.