Eochaid Ollamhaidh

Eochaid Ollamhaidh (/ˈoç ɪdʒ ˈɒ lɪv ǝ/), "the Scholar," was an exceedingly wise and fabulously wealthy king of the Archaic Period of Érevish history, who founded the Fourth Dynasty and established the Second Kingdom. Of all the kings and emperors of Érevon he is unquestionably the best remembered and the most beloved. He reigned as Eochaid V from 1064 – 1021 BCS, having reunited the four ancient Cordanna into a single nation after nearly two centuries of division and civil war.

Genealogy:

Son of Gallchobhar, son of Gonchobhar, son of Lachtna, son of Uaithne, son of Fachtna, son of Doran, son of Ninian, son of Finn, son of Torin, son of Damháin, son of Odhrán, son of Énna Airgthech (hence: ÓhÉnnan).

Childhood:

Eochaid was born in a Rath on a grand estate outside of Naus in Cuid n’Irialach c. 1100 BCS. He was the second son of Gallchobhar, son of Gonchobhar, of the venerated ÓhÉnnan Treibh. His mother was Aoibheann, daughter of Cionaodh of the House of ÓFreasúr, and widow of the Taoiseach of neighboring ÓDubháin. He is known to have had an older brother, who died in his youth and whose name is lost to history. As the son of a nobleman, he enjoyed a privileged childhood. He was tutored by the celebrated Draoi Mághnus Féasógliath, and even spent a year at the Acadamh in Oileán Darach studying under the great Ollamh Faolán Cosnochta.

Reunification of Érevon:

In 1073 BCS, Eochaid Ollamhaidh ascended the throne of Cuid n’Irialach at Naus. In the tenth year of his reign, he took advantage of a revolt in northern Cuid Mumneagh to launch an attack upon Kindee, which met with little resistance. After toppling the Kindee kingdom, Eochaid Ollamhaidh consolidated his power over all of Érevon and is regarded as the founder of the Second Kingdom.

Wisdom:

Eochaid Ollamhaidh is perhaps best remembered for his legendary wisdom. It is said that as a young boy studying under the Druid Mághnus Féasógliath he performed an incantation to the god Ecnaí, for which he was blessed with the enlightenment of the ages. Throughout the centuries and into modern times, one who shows uncommon mental acuity or exercises keen judgment is said to possess "the wisdom of Eochaid."

Undoubtedly the best known example of his sharp mind is found in the oft-told tale of the Judgment of Eochaid Ollamhaidh: One day an old widow's sheep wandered into the garden of a highborn Lady of Cuid Mumneagh and ate of the Lady's lettís. Upon hearing her complaint, the Prince of Cuid Mumneagh shared her outrage, and ordered that the widow's sheep be forfeit to the Lady. When the widow appealed to king Eochaid he set aside the Prince's verdict as unjust, as for the loss of a few vegetables he would deprive the widow of her livelihood. The wise king ordered that the wool of the sheep should be forfeit, and the sheep returned to the widow, since both the wool and the lettís would grow again, long after the hurt was forgotten.

Eochaid Ollamhaidh is traditionally considered to be the author of the ancient religious text An Leabhar Seanmóirí (The Book of Sermons), as well as the Amhrán Eochaid (Song of Eochaid) and a collection of ancient proverbs called Teagasca (Precepts).

Wealth:

The wealth displayed by king Eochaid was legendary. His family is said to have owned and operated silver mines for generations and to have amassed extraordinary wealth long before he became king in the east, which allowed him to finance the large army required to dominate the entire country and reunify its petty kingdoms.

Construction:

Eachaid Ollamhaidh is credited with designing and building the Temple of Lugg and the Sanctuary of Teagla in Oileán Darach, as well as many other buildings of importance in the city, and in other cities throughout the kingdom. He is also described as the founder of the port of Galbhlain on Lough Seolta, and of Grandarry, which he built in the western wilderness as a commercial depot and military outpost.

Death and Succession:

After a successful reign of forty-three years, King Eochaid V died in 1021 BCS. He was succeeded by his son, Élim Deargsneachta, who died of plague after ruling for fourteen years.

Élim was followed by Eochaid's second son, Eochaid Slánoll (Eochaid VI). It is said there was no disease during his reign. He was found dead in his bed of unknown causes. When his body was dug up 33 years later by his son Ailill, it showed no signs of decomposition.

Géde Ollgothach, third son of Eachaid Ollamhaidh, was king after his brothers. He ruled for seven years, dying in 989 BCS.

Eochaid V

King Eochaid Ollamhaidh in Old Age
Gaétan Durée (1866)

Reign:

1064 – 1021 BCS

Coronation:

1064 BCS

Predecessor:

Interregnum

Successor:

Élim I

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Tríainm:

Eochaid macGallchobhar ÓhÉnnan

Born:

c. 1100 BCS

Cuid n’Irialach, Érevon

Died:

1021 BCS

Oileán Darach (Lantara), Érevon

Burial:

Unknown

Spouse:

Guinefion of the Dáirainn

Issue:

Élim Deargsneachta

Eochaid Slánoll

Géde Ollgothach

House:

House of ÓhÉnnan

Father:

Gallchobhar macGonchobhar ÓhÉnnan

Mother:

Aoibheann nicCionaodh ÓFreasúr

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^{Image Credit:
Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.}