Crimthann mac Fidaig

Crimthann, son of Fidach, was a semi-mythological king of Munster and High King of Ireland of the 4th century. He gained territory in Britain and Gaul, but died tragically, poisoned by his sister, Mongfind. As grandchildren of Daire Cearba in most sources, also an ancestor of the Uí Fidgenti and Uí Liatháin, they are sometimes regarded as belonging to an early branch of the Eóganachta which later became peripheral or went extinct.

In addition to having his reign described by Geoffrey Keating and mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, Crimthann mac Fidaig also plays a major role in many stories belonging to the Cycles of the Kings. In these he is typically succeeded by Niall of the Nine Hostages as High King of Ireland and by Conall Corc as King of Munster, while his sister Mongfind, the first wife of Eochaid Mugmedon, becomes the ancestor of the true Connachta. Thus this otherwise obscure kindred is central in the mythologies of three of the greatest medieval Irish dynasties.

Below a possible and simplified pedigree for Crimthann mac Fidaig, based on Rawlinson B 502:

                           Mug Nuadat
                               |
                               |
                         Ailill Aulomm
                               |
                               |
                           Eógan Mór
                               |
                               |
                        Fiachu Muillethan
                               |
                               |
                        Ailill Flann Bec
                               |
 ______________________________|
|                              |
|                              |
Lugaid                        ???
|                              |
|                              |
Conall Corc               Dáire Cearba
                               |
 ______________________________|
|                              |
|                              |
Fidach         Fiachu Fidgenid & Eochu Liatháin
|
|______________________________
|                              |
|                              |
Crimthann mac Fidaig           Mongfind = Eochaid Mugmedón = Cairenn
                                        |                  |
                                        |                  |
                                    Connachta         Niall Noígiallach

References

• Cross, Tom Peete and Clark Harris Slover (eds.), "The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon", in Ancient Irish Tales. Henry Holt and Company. 1936. Pages 508-13.
• Hull, Vernan, "Conall Corc and the Corcu Loígde", in Proceedings of the Modern Languages Association of America 62 (1947): 887-909.
• Hull, Vernan, "The Exile of Conall Corc", in Proceedings of the Modern Languages Association of America 56 (1941): 937-50.
• Keating, Geoffrey, with David Comyn and Patrick S. Dinneen (trans.), The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating. 4 Vols. London: David Nutt for the Irish Texts Society. 1902-14.
• MacKillop, James, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford. 1998.
• Meyer, Kuno (ed.), "The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories", in Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 8. Halle/Saale, Max Niemeyer. 1912. Pages 291-338.
• Monaghan, Patricia, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. New York: Facts On File. 2004.
• Ó Corráin, Donnchadh (ed.), Genealogies from Rawlinson B 502 University College, Cork: Corpus of Electronic Texts. 1997.
• O'Donovan, John (ed. and tr.), Annala Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. 1848-51. 2nd edition, 1856.
• O'Grady, Standish H. (ed. and tr.), "Death of Crimthann son of Fidach, and of Eochaidh Muighmedóin's three sons: Brian, Ailill, Fiachra", in Silva Gadelica Williams and Norgate. 1892. Pages 373-8. (also available here)
• O'Grady, Standish H. (ed. and tr.), "The Story of Eochaidh Muighmedóin's Sons", in Silva Gadelica Williams and Norgate. 1892. Pages 368-73.
• O'Rahilly, Thomas F., Early Irish History and Mythology. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1946.
• Stokes, Whitley (ed. and tr.), "Aided Chrimthaind Maic Fhidaig: The Death of Crimthann mac Fidaig", in Revue Celtique 24. 1903. Pages 172-189.
• Stokes, Whitley (ed. and tr.), "Echtra Mac nEchach Muigmedóin: The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Muigmedóin", in Revue Celtique 24. 1903. Pages 190-207.

External links

• Aided Chrimthainn meic Fhidaig 7 Trí Mac Echach Muigmedóin
• Echtra Mac nEchach Muigmedóin
• Conall Corc 7 Ríge Caisil
• Genemain Chuirc meic Luigdech
• Irish Kings
• High Kings of Ireland