- Airgetmar
Airgetmar, son of
Sirlám , was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, aHigh King of Ireland . The "Lebor Gabála Érenn " [R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), "Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V", Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 259-261] says that, during the reign ofAilill Finn , he killedFíachu Tolgrach in battle, but was forced into exile overseas by Ailill's son Eochu, Lugaid son ofEochu Fíadmuine , and the men ofMunster . He returned to Ireland after seven years, and, with the help ofDui Ladrach , killed Ailill. Eochu became king, but Airgetmar and Dui soon killed him as well, and Airgetmar took power.Geoffrey Keating [Geoffrey Keating , "Foras Feasa ar Éirinn" [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text037.html 1.27] ] tells a slightly different story of Airgetmar's accession. Eochu withstood Airgetmar, made an alliance with Dui and ruled for seven years, but Dui treacherously killed him at a meeting and Airgetmar took the throne.He ruled for thirty years (according to the "Lebor Gabála" and the "
Annals of the Four Masters "), ["Annals of the Four Masters " [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/text015.html M4422-4452] ] or twenty-three or thirty-eight years (according to Keating), after which he was killed by Dui and Eochu's sonLugaid Laigdech . Dui, who had now had a hand in the killing of four High Kings, took the throne.The "Lebor Gabála" synchronises his reign with that of
Artaxerxes III of Persia (358-338 BC). The chronology of Keating's "Foras Feasa ar Éirinn" dates his reign to 570-547 BC, that of the "Annals of the Four Masters" to 778-748 BC.References
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