Fergus mac Róich facts for kids
Fergus mac Róich is a famous hero from Irish mythology. He is a key character in the exciting stories of the Ulster Cycle. His name means "strong man, son of a great horse." Fergus was once the king of Ulster. However, he lost his kingship and was betrayed by Conchobar mac Nessa. After this, he became a strong ally of Conchobar's enemy, Queen Medb of Connacht. Fergus joined her army in the famous cattle raid called the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Stories describe Fergus as being very large and powerful.
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Becoming King of Ulster
Fergus became king of Ulster after the previous king, Eochaid Sálbuide, died in battle. While he was king, Fergus wanted to marry Ness, who was Eochaid Sálbuide's daughter. Ness agreed to marry him, but only if her son, Conchobar, could be king for one year. This way, Fergus's own sons would be the sons of a king.
The nobles of Ulster told Fergus not to worry. They said Conchobar would only be king in name, and Fergus would still have the real power. So, Fergus agreed. But Conchobar, with his mother's clever help, ruled so well that the nobles decided to keep him as king permanently. Fergus accepted this and remained loyal to Conchobar. He even became the foster-father to Conchobar's oldest son, Cormac Cond Longas, and his famous nephew, Cúchulainn.
Fergus Goes into Exile
Conchobar had planned to marry a woman named Deirdre. But Deirdre ran away with a young warrior named Naoise and his two brothers. After some time, they were found on an island near Scotland. Conchobar announced that he had forgiven them and sent Fergus, Cormac, Dubthach Dóeltenga, and Fergus's son Fíachu, to bring them home safely.
Naoise and his brothers promised not to eat until they had dinner with Conchobar at Emain Macha. However, Conchobar secretly ordered his men to invite Fergus, Cormac, and Dubthach to feasts along the way. It was considered rude to refuse an invitation to a feast. So, Fergus was separated from Naoise and his brothers. Fíachu was left to escort them to Emain alone.
When they arrived, Fíachu, Naoise, and his brothers were sadly killed by Éogan mac Durthacht. Éogan was a former enemy of Conchobar who had recently made peace with him. When Fergus, Cormac, and Dubthach heard about this terrible betrayal, they were furious. They burned down Emain Macha and left Ulster. They took three thousand followers with them and went to Connacht, where they joined the service of King Ailill mac Máta and Queen Medb.
The Great Cattle Raid
When King Ailill and Queen Medb decided to gather a huge army, they launched the Táin Bó Cúailnge. This was a famous cattle raid on Cooley in Ulster, aiming to steal Ulster's special bull, Donn Cúailnge. Fergus knew the land of Ulster very well, so he was chosen to lead the way for the Connacht army.
Fergus led the army on a long, roundabout path. He hoped this would give the Ulstermen enough time to gather their own army. However, the Ulstermen were under a curse that made them weak. Fergus sent a message to Cúchulainn, who then began to defend Ulster all by himself.
The Connacht army split up. Ailill led one part, and Medb and Fergus led the other. Ailill became suspicious of Fergus and Medb. He sent his charioteer to spy on them. The charioteer found Fergus and Medb, and without being seen, he stole Fergus's sword. Ailill kept the sword as proof. To hide that his sword was gone, Fergus made a fake sword out of wood.
Cúchulainn bravely stopped the army's progress by fighting many champions in single combat. Fergus was sent to fight him. But because Fergus was Cúchulainn's foster-father, neither of them wanted to fight the other. Also, Fergus didn't have his real sword. Cúchulainn agreed to let Fergus win this time, on the condition that Fergus would let Cúchulainn win the next time they met.
Eventually, the Ulstermen recovered from their curse, and the final battle began. Ailill gave Fergus his real sword back. Fergus met Conchobar on the battlefield and had him at his mercy. But Cormac stopped Fergus from killing Conchobar. Fergus, full of rage, instead cut off the tops of three hills with his mighty sword.
Cúchulainn, who had been resting from his wounds, then joined the fight and challenged Fergus. Fergus remembered his promise and let Cúchulainn win, pulling his followers away from the battle. When Medb's other allies saw Fergus leave, they panicked and began to retreat. The Connacht army was defeated. Fergus sadly remarked, "It is the usual thing for a herd led by a mare to be strayed and destroyed."
Fergus's Later Life and Death
After Conchobar died, some Ulstermen thought about inviting Fergus back to be their king. But they decided to choose Cormac, Conchobar's son and Fergus's foster-son, who was also living in Connacht. Cormac promised to stay friendly with Ailill and Medb and set off for Ulster. Fergus stayed in Cruachan.
On his journey, Cormac found a Connacht war-party raiding Ulster. Cormac reluctantly attacked and defeated them. News of this got back to Medb, who sent her army after him, while keeping Fergus busy. Eventually, Fergus heard what was happening and rushed off in his chariot. But he arrived too late – Cormac was already dead.
One day, after Fergus had been in exile for fourteen years, Ailill saw him swimming in a lake with Medb. Ailill became very jealous. He told his brother, Lugaid Dalleces, who was blind, that deer were playing in the water. He convinced Lugaid to throw a spear at them. Lugaid threw the spear, and it hit Fergus in the chest. Fergus climbed out of the water and threw the spear back, killing Ailill's hunting dog, before he died.
Other Interesting Stories
There is a story that in the 6th century, a poet named Senchán Torpéist gathered all the poets of Ireland. He wanted to know if any of them knew the full story of the Táin Bó Cúailnge. But they all only knew parts of it. His son, Muirgen, went to Fergus's grave and spoke a poem. Then, Fergus's ghost appeared to him and told him the entire story of the Táin exactly as it happened.
Another legendary king of Ulster, Fergus mac Léti, is thought to be very similar to Fergus mac Róich. Both of them died in water, and both are linked to a famous sword called Caladbolg.
Fergus's Descendants
Many important groups of people in early medieval Ireland believed they were related to Fergus mac Róich. For example, the Ciarraige, who gave their name to County Kerry, traced their family line back to Ciar, a son of Fergus and Medb. The Conmhaícne of Leitrim, Sligo, and Galway also believed they came from Conmac, another son of Fergus.
According to old Irish family records, Fergus had several sons, including:
- Ciar mac Fergus
- Conmac mac Fergus
- Corc mac Fergus
