It was the sons of Milesius and his two wives, Seang and Scota, who would undertake, and successfully complete a conquest of Eire. They were Heber (variously, Eibhear), Ir, Dond (variously, Donn), Amergin (variously, Amhairghin Glungheal), Airech (variously, Aireach), Colpha, Heremon (variously, Eireamhoin) and Arannan (variously, Erannan).
Eire was then inhabited by the Tuatha de Danann. It is believed that the Tuatha de Danann were descended from the tribe of Dan, one of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel. Legends tell us that at the time of the Assyrian Captivity, circa 725 BC, the tribe of Dan, also known as the Danites, who were accomplished sialors and shipowners, took to their ships and escaped captivity by sailing westward. They sailed through the strait at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea, and eventually landed on the shores of Eire. There they overpowered the Fir Bolg, who were then in control of the island.
Milesius’ uncle, Ithe led the expedition to Eire. And there they encountered the Tuatha de Danann. According to the Annals Of The Kingdom Of Ireland:
| "The Age of the World , 3500. The fleet of the sons of Milidh came to Ireland at the end of this year, to take it from the Tuatha De Dananns; and they fought the battle of Sliabh Mis with them on the third day after landing. In this battle fell Scota, the daughter of Pharaoh, wife of Milidh; and the grave of Scota is to be seen between Sliabh Mis and the sea. Therein also fell Fas, the wife of Un, son of Uige, from whom is named Gleann Faisi. After this the sons of Milidh fought a battle at Tailtinn, against the three kinge of the Tuatha De Dananns, Mac Cuill, Mac Ceacht, and Mac Greine. The battle lasted for a long time, until Mac Ceacht fell by Eiremhon, Mac Cuill by Eimhear, and Mac Greine by Amhergin. Their three queens were also slain; Eire by Suirghe, Fodhla by Edan, and Banba by Caicher. The battle was at length gained against the Tuatha De Dananns, and they were slaughtered wherever they were overtaken. There fell from the sons of Milidh, on the other hand, two illustrious chieftains, in following up the rout, namely Fuad at Sliabh Fuaid, and Cuailgne at Sliabh Cuailgne. The Age of the World, 3501. This was the year in which Eremhon and Emher assumed the joint sovereignty of Ireland, and divided Ireland into two parts between them." |
The Scythians made their landfall at Aileach, near present-day Derry, where the three kings of the Tuatha de Danann were convened to decide who should hold the title of Ard Righ (i.e. High King) over all of Eire or Ireland. The initial confrontation was not beligerent; in fact the three kings of the Tuatha de Danann requested Ithe’s assistance in deciding the outcome of their argument. But after he had done so, and was returning to his ship, the Tuatha de Danann murdered him. Perhaps they feared that if he knew how to settle their argument, he would attempt to take over the High Kingship himself. Ithe’s body was taken back to Galacia, where his own nine sons joined with Milesius’ eight to return and subdue the Tuatha de Danann.
The sons of Mil landed this time on the southwest coast near Inbhear Sceine (present-day Kenmare Bay in County Kerry). Even before they landed, misfortune befell two of the sons of Mil. Arannan had gone up into the mast of his ship to survey the coastline. He slipped and fell to his death. Then, Ir, in haste, rowed ahead of his kinsmen. His oar broke causing him to slip backwards into the sea, where he drowned before he could be saved.
Amergin was the first to set foot on the Irish soil. He led his kinsmen against a Tuatha de Danann force at Sliabh Mis, defeated them, and then proceeded on toward Tara, the seat of the Tuatha de Danann kings. The Tuatha de Danann kings attempted to trick the Scythians with a false truce. They asked that they be permitted to hold the land for a period of three days more, during which time the sons of Mil would wait in their ships at a distance of nine waves from the shore. Amergin agreed to the truce. But it was just a trick to get the sons of Mil back into their ships. Because once they were all onboard, the three kings of the Tuatha de Danann sang spells to raise a storm. The wind lashed out in wild fury and the waves rose high and crashed downward in an attempt to crush the ships to splinters. The ships were swept far out into the open ocean. But the sons of Mil were not ignorant of the druidic arts, and Amergin spoke a verse which calmed the storm. Enraged at the deceit of the Tuatha de Danann, Donn called for his brethren to attack the Tuatha de Danann and put every last one to the sword. Immediately, a wind arose casting Donn and his brother Airech into the waters, and they drowned.
Heremon assumed the command of the expedition and led the ships eastward to land at the mouth of the river Boyne. There they were victorious over the Tuatha de Danann in the Battle of Tailtiu, in present-day County Meath. This led to the final defeat of the Tuatha de Danann.
Heremon divided the island between himself and his brother, Heber. Whatever became of Colpha and Amergin is anyone’s guess; they were not heard from again. Heber ruled in the south, while Heremon ruled in the north. The joint rule of Heremon and Heber began just a year after King Solomon began construction of the great Temple in Jerusalem and lasted from circa 1699 to 1698 BC.
Discord broke out between the two brothers regarding a difference of opinion between their two wives. The two brothers fought at Geshill, and Heremon was the victor, slaying Heber. Heremon continued to rule until his death circa 1683 BC. It was from Heremon that the Dal Riada culture would emerge in the province of Ulster. And it was from Heremon would descend the kings of Clan-na-boy, Connaught, Leinster, Meath, Orgiall, Ossory, Tirconnell and Tirowen; the kings of Dal Riada; the kings and queens of Scotland from Fergus Mor Mac Eirc to the Stuarts; and the kings and queens of England from Henry II to the present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
