- Bresal Bó-Díbad
Bresal Bó-Díbad, son of Rudraige, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a
High King of Ireland . He took power after killing his predecessor,Finnat Már , and ruled for eleven years, during which there was a plague on cattle (Old Irish "bó díbad", "extinction of cows") ["Dictionary of the Irish Language " Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, 1990, pp. 76-77, 208] which left only one bull and one heifer alive. He was killed by Finnat's sonLugaid Luaigne . The "Lebor Gabála Érenn " synchronises his reign with that ofPtolemy X Alexander I (110-88 BC) in Egypt. [R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), "Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V", Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 295] The chronology ofGeoffrey Keating 's "Foras Feasa ar Éirinn" dates his reign to 151-140 BC, [Geoffrey Keating , "Foras Feasa ar Éirinn" [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text040.html 1.30] ] that of the "Annals of the Four Masters " to 210-199 BC. ["Annals of the Four Masters " [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/text022.html M4990-5001] ]References
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