Eochu Apthach

For other people with the same name, see Eochaid.

Eochu (or Eochaid) Apthach ("outlaw" or "fatal")[1] of the Corcu Loígde of County Cork, a distant descendant of Breogán, the father of Míl Espáine, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing the previous incumbent, Bres Rí. He only ruled for a year, and it is said there was a plague every month during that year. He was killed by Finn mac Blatha, a descendant of Ollom Fotla. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Darius the Great of Persia (522–485 BC).[2] The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 726–725 BC,[3] that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 953–952 BC.[4]

Preceded by High King of Ireland
LGE 6th/5th century BC
FFE 726–725 BC
AFM 953–952 BC 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Dictionary of the Irish Language, Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, 1990, p. 46
  2. ^ R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 247-249
  3. ^ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.26
  4. ^ Annals of the Four Masters M4247-4248


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