Ailill mac Máta facts for kids
Ailill mac Máta was a legendary king from ancient Ireland. He was the king of the Connachta people. In old Irish stories, he is known as the husband of the powerful queen Medb. They ruled from a place called Cruachan, which is now Rathcroghan in County Roscommon. Ailill is a key character in the Ulster Cycle, a famous collection of Irish myths.
Family and Marriage
Ailill's name, mac Máta, means "son of Máta". This shows his mother, Máta Muirisc, was very important. She was from a group called the Fir Ol nEchmacht. Ailill's father was Rus Ruad, who was a king of the Laigin people.
In the famous story Táin Bó Cúailnge, Queen Medb chose Ailill to be her husband. She picked him because he was seen as fair and brave. He was not mean, jealous, or afraid, unlike other kings she could have chosen.
Another old story, Cath Boinde, tells a different tale. It says Ailill was raised by Medb from a young age. He grew up to be a strong warrior. He became a trusted leader in Medb's army. After a challenge, Ailill became Medb's husband and king of the Connachta.
Ailill and Medb's Children
Ailill and Medb had seven sons. All of them ended up being named Maine! This happened because Medb asked a druid (a wise person with special knowledge) which of her sons would kill a king named Conchobar. The druid replied, "Maine."
So, Medb renamed all her sons to Maine:
- Fedlimid became Maine Athramail ("like his father")
- Cairbre became Maine Máthramail ("like his mother")
- Eochaid became Maine Andoe ("the swift")
- Fergus became Maine Taí ("the silent")
- Cet became Maine Mórgor ("of great duty")
- Sin became Maine Mílscothach ("honey-speech")
- Dáire became Maine Móepirt ("beyond description")
The prophecy came true, but not in the way Medb expected. Maine Andoe killed a different Conchobar, not the famous Conchobar mac Nessa. Ailill and Medb also had a daughter named Findabair.
The Great Cattle Raid
Ailill played a big part in the Táin Bó Cúailnge, which means "the cattle raid of Cooley". This was a huge journey to steal a special bull called Donn Cúailnge from the Ulaid people.
The story says the raid started because Ailill and Medb argued about who was richer. They had almost the same amount of wealth. But Ailill had a special bull named Finnbhennach. This bull had once belonged to Medb, but it decided it didn't want to be owned by a woman. So, it joined Ailill's herd. To make things equal again, Medb wanted the only bull as great as Finnbhennach: Donn Cúailnge.
Fergus mac Róich, a former king of the Ulaid, helped Medb and Ailill. He led part of their army. Ailill sent his charioteer to watch Medb and Fergus. The charioteer secretly took Fergus's sword while he was distracted. Ailill kept the sword hidden but decided to forgive Medb. He thought she might be trying to make sure Fergus stayed loyal.
The Ulaid people were under a special curse, so only their young hero, Cú Chulainn, could fight. He bravely stopped the army by challenging their warriors to one-on-one fights. Medb and Ailill even offered their daughter Findabair in marriage to anyone who could defeat Cú Chulainn, but no one could.
Even so, they managed to get the bull. Eventually, the Ulaid army gathered. Ailill gave Fergus his sword back, and a big battle began. The Connachta army had to retreat. But Donn Cúailnge was brought back to Cruachan. There, he fought Finnbhennach, killed him, and then died from his own wounds.
Ailill's Death
Ailill had promised Medb he wouldn't be jealous, even though she had many close friends. But one day, he saw Medb and Fergus together by a lake. Ailill's brother, Lugaid Dalléces, was nearby and couldn't see. Ailill tricked him, saying a deer was in the lake. He told Lugaid to throw a spear at it. Lugaid threw the spear and accidentally killed Fergus.
Later in life, a hero named Conall Cernach came to stay with Ailill and Medb. Medb found out Ailill was seeing another woman. She asked Conall to kill Ailill, and Conall agreed, partly to get revenge for Fergus. Ailill was killed on May 1st, a day known as Lá Bealtaine. Conall then ran away, but Ailill's men chased him and killed him at a river crossing in Ballyconnell, County Cavan.
