Naoise
Encyclopedia
In Irish mythology
, Noíse or Noisiu (modern spelling: Naoise; Irish pronunciation: ') was the nephew of King Conchobar mac Nessa
of Ulster
, and a son of Usnech (or Uisliu), in the Ulster Cycle
.
When Deirdre
was born, Cathbad
the druid
prophesied that she would be beautiful, but that kings and lords would go to war over her. Conchobar decided to have her brought up in seclusion, and that when she was old enough, he would marry her. However, she met and fell in love with Naoise, a handsome young warrior, hunter and singer, and eloped with him, accompanied by his two brothers.
They fled to Scotland
, (or Alba in the Old Irish translations), but Conchobar tracked them there and sent Fergus mac Róich
to them with a message of safe conduct home. On the way back to Emain Macha
, however, the group was waylaid by Conchobar, who had Naoise and his brothers murdered so he could forcibly marry Deirdre. Fergus, outraged by this betrayal of his word, went into exile in Connacht
. Deirdre committed suicide by leaning out of her chariot
and dashing her head against a rock. In later versions of the story, she died of grief.
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
, Noíse or Noisiu (modern spelling: Naoise; Irish pronunciation: ') was the nephew of King Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha .-Birth:...
of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, and a son of Usnech (or Uisliu), in the Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle , formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Down and...
.
When Deirdre
Deirdre
Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology and probably its best-known figure in modern times. She is often called "Deirdre of the Sorrows." Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle, the best-known stories of pre-Christian Ireland.-Legendary Biography:Deirdre was the...
was born, Cathbad
Cathbad
Cathbad or Cathbhadh is the chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology.In his younger days he was a warrior, leading a landless band of twenty-seven men. Once he led a raid on the house where the Ulster princess Ness was brought up, killing all twelve...
the druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
prophesied that she would be beautiful, but that kings and lords would go to war over her. Conchobar decided to have her brought up in seclusion, and that when she was old enough, he would marry her. However, she met and fell in love with Naoise, a handsome young warrior, hunter and singer, and eloped with him, accompanied by his two brothers.
They fled to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, (or Alba in the Old Irish translations), but Conchobar tracked them there and sent Fergus mac Róich
Fergus mac Róich
Fergus mac Róich is a character of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
to them with a message of safe conduct home. On the way back to Emain Macha
Emain Macha
]Navan Fort – known in Old Irish as Eṁaın Ṁacha and in Modern Irish as Eamhain Mhacha – is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. According to Irish legend, it was one of the major power centers of pre-Christian Ireland...
, however, the group was waylaid by Conchobar, who had Naoise and his brothers murdered so he could forcibly marry Deirdre. Fergus, outraged by this betrayal of his word, went into exile in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
. Deirdre committed suicide by leaning out of her chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
and dashing her head against a rock. In later versions of the story, she died of grief.