Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
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Caithréim Chellacháin ChaisilDonnchadh Ó Corráin
writes that this title "was first given it by Eugene O'Curry in his transcript of the text. It has no title in the earliest copy, that in the Book of Lismore. A variety of titles occurs in the late manuscript tradition in which the tale is normally divided into two parts entitled respectively 'Cathughadh Ceallachain re Lochlannuibh' and 'Toruigheacht na tTaoiseach air Cheallachain' ( Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim' p.1 (fn 1)) ((The Victorious Career of Cellachán of Cashel) is an Irish pseudo-historical
tract from the first part of the 12th century. It is most likely written some time between 1127 and 1134,According to Caoimhín Breatnach (p.222) it "appears to have been written between 1127 and 1134", while Letitia Campbell (p.288) states that it was commissioned between 1128 and 1131. commissioned by Cormac Mac Carthaigh, king of Munster and claimant to the title High King of Ireland
. The tale is ostensibly a biography of Cormac's 10th century ancestor Cellachán Caisil
, but in reality a propaganda tract.
It is written as an Eóganacht riposte to the Dál Cais/Ua Briain chronicle, Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib, but reflects the current political situation where former rivals Dál Cais and Eóganachta are allied against Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, with an emphasis on colloboration between Cellachán Caisil and Cennétig mac Lorcáin
against their common foe, the Vikings.
A copy of Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil is contained in the Book of Lismore
, as well as in several other manuscripts. The most recent edition of Caithréim was made by the Norwegian
scholar Alexander Bugge
in 1905. This edition is based on the text contained in Book of Lismore and R.I.A. 23 H 18 (707), with critical variants from British Library Egerton 106 occasionally cited.
Donnchadh Ó Corráin
Donnchadh Ó Corráin is an Irish historian and Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at University College Cork. He is an early Irish and mediaeval historian and has published on the Viking Wars, Ireland in the pre-Hiberno-Norman period and the origin of Irish language names.-Works:Ó Corráin's...
writes that this title "was first given it by Eugene O'Curry in his transcript of the text. It has no title in the earliest copy, that in the Book of Lismore. A variety of titles occurs in the late manuscript tradition in which the tale is normally divided into two parts entitled respectively 'Cathughadh Ceallachain re Lochlannuibh' and 'Toruigheacht na tTaoiseach air Cheallachain' ( Ó Corráin, 'Caithréim' p.1 (fn 1)) ((The Victorious Career of Cellachán of Cashel) is an Irish pseudo-historical
Pseudohistory
Pseudohistory is a pejorative term applied to a type of historical revisionism, often involving sensational claims whose acceptance would require rewriting a significant amount of commonly accepted history, and based on methods that depart from standard historiographical conventions.Cryptohistory...
tract from the first part of the 12th century. It is most likely written some time between 1127 and 1134,According to Caoimhín Breatnach (p.222) it "appears to have been written between 1127 and 1134", while Letitia Campbell (p.288) states that it was commissioned between 1128 and 1131. commissioned by Cormac Mac Carthaigh, king of Munster and claimant to the title High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
. The tale is ostensibly a biography of Cormac's 10th century ancestor Cellachán Caisil
Cellachán Caisil
Cellachán mac Buadacháin , called Cellachán Caisil, was King of Munster.The son of Buadachán mac Lachtnai, he belonged to the Cashel branch of the Eóganachta kindred, the Eóganacht Chaisil. The last of his cognatic ancestors to have held the kingship of Munster was Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind Cellachán...
, but in reality a propaganda tract.
It is written as an Eóganacht riposte to the Dál Cais/Ua Briain chronicle, Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib, but reflects the current political situation where former rivals Dál Cais and Eóganachta are allied against Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, with an emphasis on colloboration between Cellachán Caisil and Cennétig mac Lorcáin
Cennétig mac Lorcáin
Cennétig mac Lorcáin was an Irish king. He was the father of Brian Boru.-Reign:Cennétig was king of the Dál gCais, one of the tribes of the Déisi, subject peoples in Munster. Their name was new, first recorded in the 930s, and they had previously been an undistinguished part of the northern Déisi...
against their common foe, the Vikings.
A copy of Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil is contained in the Book of Lismore
Book of Lismore
The Book of Lismore is a Medieval Irish manuscript.-Overview:The Book of Lismore is an Irish vellum manuscript, compiled in early 15th century, Lismore, Ireland. Its original name was Leabhar Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh...
, as well as in several other manuscripts. The most recent edition of Caithréim was made by the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
scholar Alexander Bugge
Alexander Bugge
Alexander Bugge was a Norwegian historian. He was professor at the Royal Frederick University from 1903–1912, and his main fields of interest were culture and society in the Viking era and the development of trade and cities in Norway in mediaeval times.-Personal life:Alexander Bugge was son...
in 1905. This edition is based on the text contained in Book of Lismore and R.I.A. 23 H 18 (707), with critical variants from British Library Egerton 106 occasionally cited.