Editing Medb

{{Short description|Legendary Irish queen}}
{{Redirect|Queen Maeve|the comic book character|List of The Boys characters#Queen Maeve|the book and video game character Queen Meve|Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Medb
| series = [[Ulster Cycle]]
| image = Maev.jpg
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| caption = Queen Maev by [[J. C. Leyendecker]]
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| species = <!-- for non-humans only -->
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| occupation = Queen
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| spouse = [[Ailill mac Máta]]
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| nationality = Irish
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'''Medb''' ({{IPA|sga|mʲeðv|lang}}), later spelled '''Meadhbh''' ({{IPA|mga|mʲɛɣv|lang}}), '''Méabh'''('''a''') ({{IPA|ga|ˈmʲeːw(ə)|lang}}) and '''Méibh''' ({{IPA|ga|mʲeːvʲ|lang}}),<ref>{{cite book| last=Ua Laoghaire| first=Peadar| title=Táin Bó Cuailnge|pages=2| year=1915}}</ref> and often anglicised as '''Maeve''' ({{IPAc-en|m|eɪ|v}} {{respell|MAYV}}), is [[Queen regnant|queen]] of [[Connacht]] in the [[Ulster Cycle]] of [[Irish mythology]]. Her husband in the core stories of the cycle is [[Ailill mac Máta]], although she had several husbands before him who were also [[List of kings of Connacht|kings of Connacht]]. She rules from Cruachan (now [[Rathcroghan]], [[County Roscommon]]). She is the enemy (and former wife) of [[Conchobar mac Nessa]], king of [[Ulster]], and is best known for starting the ''[[Táin Bó Cúailnge]]'' ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley") to steal Ulster's prize stud bull [[Donn Cúailnge]].

Medb is strong-willed, ambitious, cunning and promiscuous, and is an archetypal warrior queen.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Warrior Queens|last=Fraser|first=Antonia|publisher=Penguin books|year=1990|isbn=0-1400-8517-3|location=Canada Ltd, 20801 John Street, Markham, Ontario L3R 1B4: Penguin Books|pages=15, 16, 17}}</ref> She is believed by some to be a manifestation of the [[sovereignty goddess]].<ref name="o hogain">Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the Irish folk tradition''. Prentice Hall Press, 1991. pp. 294–295</ref><ref name="monaghan">Monaghan, Patricia. ''The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore''. Infobase Publishing, 2004. p.319</ref><ref name="koch">Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, 2006. p.1282</ref> Medb of Connacht is probably identical with [[Medb Lethderg]], the sovereignty goddess of [[Kingship of Tara|Tara]].<ref name="monaghan" />

==Name==
In [[Old Irish]] her name is {{lang|sga|Medb}}; in [[Middle Irish]], {{lang|mga|[[Irish orthography#Diacritics|Meḋḃ]]}}; in [[Early Modern Irish]], {{lang|mga|Meadhbh}} or {{lang|mga|Meaḋḃ}}; and in modern Irish ''Méabh''(''a'') or ''Méibh''. This is generally believed to come from the [[Proto-Celtic language|Proto-Celtic]] ''*medu-'' ("[[mead]]") or ''*medua'' ("intoxicating"), and the meaning of her name has thus been interpreted as "mead-woman" or "she who intoxicates".<ref name="irslinger">Irslinger, Britta. "[https://www.academia.edu/17511465/Medb_the_intoxicating_one_Re-_constructing_the_past_through_etymology Medb 'the intoxicating one'? (Re-)constructing the past through etymology]". ''Ulidia 4: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Ulster Cycle of Tales'', 2013.</ref> This is thought to reflect her role as sovereignty goddess. In ancient and medieval Ireland, the drinking of mead was a key part of a king's inauguration ceremony. In myth, a supernatural woman representing the sovereignty of the land chooses a king by offering him an alcoholic drink, thus bestowing sovereignty upon him.<ref>Monaghan, Patricia. ''Goddesses in World Culture''. ABC-CLIO, 2011. pp. 226–227</ref> However, it is also suggested that the name comes from Proto-Celtic {{lang|mis|*medwa}} ("the ruler").<ref name="irslinger"/>

The name has been anglicised as '''Maeve''', '''Maev''', '''Mave''' or '''Maiv'''. There are several [[place names in Ireland]] containing the name Medb. According to Kay Muhr of the Ulster Place-Name Society, some of these names suggest Medb was also an earth and fertility goddess. They include Ballypitmave ({{lang|ga|Baile Phite Méabha}}, "[[townland]] of Medb's [[vulva]]") in [[County Antrim]] and [[Sawel Mountain|Sawel Pitmave]] ({{lang|ga|Samhail Phite Méabha}}, "likeness to Medb's vulva")<ref name="irslinger"/> in [[County Tyrone]], both in northern [[Ulster]]. Other placenames include [[Miosgán Médhbh|Maeve's Cairn]] in [[County Sligo]], Barnavave ({{lang|ga|Bearna Mhéabha}}, "Medb's gap")<ref>[https://www.logainm.ie/en/1410666 Bearna Mhéabha/Barnavave]. [[Placenames Database of Ireland]].</ref> in [[County Louth]], [[Bovevagh|Boveva]] ({{lang|ga|Boith Mhéabha}}, "Medb's huts")<ref>[http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=710 Bovevagh]. Place Names NI.</ref> in [[County Londonderry]], [[Cnoc Meadha|Knockmaa]] ({{lang|ga|Cnoc Meá}}, "Medb's hill") in [[County Galway]], Meskanmave ({{lang|ga|Meascán Mhéabha}}, "Medb's lump")<ref>[https://www.logainm.ie/en/s?txt=Measc%C3%A1n+Mh%C3%A9abha&str=on&con=100013 Meascán Mhéabha]. [[Placenames Database of Ireland]].</ref> in [[County Donegal]], Milleen Meva ({{lang|ga|Millín Mhéabha}}, "Medb's knoll")<ref>[https://www.logainm.ie/en/1410346 Millín Mhéabha/Milleen Meva]. [[Placenames Database of Ireland]].</ref> at [[Rathcroghan]] in [[County Roscommon]], and [[Rath Meave]] at [[Hill of Tara|Tara]] in [[County Meath]].

==Description==
Medb is described as a fair haired wolf queen, whose form was so beautiful that it robbed men of two-thirds of their valor upon seeing her.<ref>[https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T106500D/text128.html ''The Metrical Dindsenchas'' "Fert Medba" Poem 128]</ref>

==Marriages and rise to power==
How Medb came to power in [[Connacht]] and married [[Ailill mac Máta]] is told in the tale ''Cath Bóinde'' ("The Battle of the Boyne"), also known as ''Ferchuitred Medba'' ("Medb's man-share").<ref name="CathBoinde">[http://www.ucd.ie/tlh/trans/jon.eriu.2.001.t.text.html "''Cath Bóinde''"], tr. [[Joseph O'Neill (1886–1953)|Joseph O'Neill]], ''[[Ériu (journal)|Ériu]]'' 2 (1905) 173–185. [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/boyne.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226101735/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/boyne.html|date=26 December 2013}}</ref> Her father, [[Eochaid Feidlech]], the [[High King of Ireland]], married her to [[Conchobar mac Nessa]], king of Ulster, because he had killed Conchobar's purported father, the former High King [[Fachtna Fáthach]], in battle. They had a son, Glaisne, but the marriage was a bad one and she left him. Eochaid gave Conchobar another of his daughters, Eithne (or Clothru),<ref name="medbdeath">Vernam Hull, [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/medb.html "''Aided Meidbe'': The Violent Death of Medb"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129042653/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/medb.html |date=29 November 2013 }}, ''Speculum'' vol. 13 issue 1, Jan 1938, pp. 52–61</ref> but Medb murdered her while she was pregnant; her son [[Furbaide]] was born by posthumous [[caesarian section]].

Eochaid deposed the then-king of Connacht, Tinni mac Conri, and installed Medb in his place. However, Tinni regained a share of the throne when he and Medb later became lovers. Conchobar raped Medb after an assembly at [[Tara, Ireland|Tara]], and war ensued between the High King and Ulster. Tinni challenged Conchobar to single combat, and lost. Eochaid Dála of the [[Fir Domnann]], who had been Tinni's rival for the kingship, protected the Connacht army as it retreated, and became Medb's next husband and king of Connacht. Medb demanded her husband satisfy her three criteria—that he be without fear, meanness, or jealousy. The last was particularly important, as she had many lovers. While married to Eochaid Dála, she took Ailill mac Máta, chief of her bodyguard, as her lover. Eochaid discovered the affair, challenged Ailill to single combat, and lost. Ailill then married Medb and became king of Connacht.

==Medb's seven sons==
[[File:Maeve&druid.jpg|thumb|upright|''Queen Meave and the Druid'' by [[Stephen Reid (artist)|Stephen Reid]], from [[Eleanor Hull]]'s ''The Boys' Cuchulainn'' (1904)]]

Medb and Ailill had seven sons, all called Maine. They originally all had other names, but when Medb asked a [[druid]] which of her sons would kill Conchobar, he replied, "Maine". She did not have a son called Maine, so she renamed all her sons as follows:

* Fedlimid became Maine Athramail ("like his father")
* Cairbre became Maine Máthramail ("like his mother")
* Eochaid became Maine Andoe ("the swift") and was also known as Cich-Maine Andoe or Cichmuine<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/revueceltique16pari#page/56/mode/1up|title=Revue celtique|year=1870|publisher=Paris}}</ref>
* 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 was fulfilled when Maine Andoe went on to kill Conchobar, son of Arthur, son of Bruide – not Conchobar, son of Fachtna
Fathach, as Medb had assumed the druid meant.<ref name="CathBoinde"/>

==Medb's two daughters==
Medb and Ailill also had a daughter [[Findabair]]<ref>A. H. Leahy (ed. & trans.), [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fraech.html "''Tain Bo Fraech''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230081945/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fraech.html |date=30 December 2013 }}, ''Heroic Romances of Ireland'' vol. II, 1906.</ref> and another daughter called [[Cainnear (name)|Cainnear]] or ''Cainnear Dearg'' (Red Cainnear) who was killed violently with a spear in the [[Táin Bó Flidhais|Tain Bo Flidais]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rua |first=Cainneach |title=Spearhead |publisher=Amazon |year=2023 |isbn=9798397900447 |location=UK |pages=75 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Táin Bó Flidhais |date=2020-10-27 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Táin_Bó_Flidhais&oldid=985694465 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-07-05 |language=en}}</ref>

==Cattle Raid of Cooley==
{{Main|Táin Bó Cúailnge}}
Medb insisted that she be equal in wealth with her husband, and started the Cattle Raid of [[Cooley peninsula|Cooley]] when she discovered that Ailill was one powerful stud bull richer than her. She discovered that the only rival to Ailill's bull, [[Finnbennach]], was [[Donn Cúailnge]], owned by [[Dáire mac Fiachna]], a vassal of Conchobar's. She sent messengers to Dáire, offering wealth, land and sexual favours in return for the loan of the bull, and Dáire initially agreed. But when a drunken messenger declared that, if he had not agreed, the bull would have been taken by force, Dáire withdrew his consent, and Medb prepared for war.

An army was raised including contingents from all over Ireland. One was a group of Ulster exiles led by Conchobar's estranged son [[Cormac Cond Longas]] and his foster-father [[Fergus mac Róich]], former king of Ulster and one of Medb's lovers. It is reported that it took thirty men to satisfy her, or Fergus once.<ref name="aililldeath">[[Kuno Meyer]], "The Cherishing of Conall Cernach and the Deaths of Ailill and of Conall Cernach", ''Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie'' vol. 1, 1897, pp. 102–111</ref> Medb's relationship with Fergus is alluded to in the early poem ''Conailla Medb míchuru'' ("Medb has entered evil contracts") by [[Luccreth moccu Chiara]] (c. 600); it asserts that Medb wrongly seduced Fergus into turning against Ulster "because he preferred the buttocks of a woman to his own people".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-0tcQr3WzqsC&q=%22preferred%20the%20buttocks%20of%20a%20woman%22&pg=PA156|title=Neue Methoden Der Epenforschung|first=Hildegard L. C.|last=Tristram|date=1 January 1998|publisher=Gunter Narr Verlag|isbn=9783823354178|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Because of a divine curse on the Ulstermen, the invasion was opposed only by the teenage Ulster hero [[Cúchulainn]], who held up the army's advance by demanding single combat at fords. Medb and Ailill offered their daughter Findabair in marriage to a series of heroes as payment for fighting Cúchulainn, but all were defeated. Nevertheless, Medb secured the bull. However, after a final battle against Conchobar's assembled army, she was forced to retreat. Donn Cúailnge was brought back to Cruachan, where it fought Ailill's bull, Finnbennach, killing him, but dying of his wounds.

Also, throughout the Táin Bó Cúailnge Medb has several encounters with Cúchulainn in which he kills either her pets or handmaidens and the place in which they were killed is then named after them, which illustrates the importance of landscape throughout the text of the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Examples of this occur when Cúchulainn "slung a stone and killed a pet stoat as it sat on Medb's shoulder by her neck, south of the ford. Hence the name Meithe Togmaill, Stoat Neck"<ref name="Carson, Ciaran 2007">Carson, Ciaran. "Guerilla Tactics." The Tain. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. 56–58. Print.</ref> and when he kills Medb's handmaid: "He slung a stone at her from the heights of Cuincu and killed her on the flat place that bears her name, Reid Locha, Locha's Level, in Cualinge".<ref name="Carson, Ciaran 2007"/> Medb's behaviour further illustrates the importance of the landscape when she goes to great lengths to permanently alter it to show her contempt for Ulster. "She preferred to cross the mountain by leaving a track that would show forever her contempt for Ulster… to make the Pass of the Cualinge Cattle".<ref>Carson, Ciaran. "Guerilla Tactics." The Tain. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. 59–60. Print.</ref>

==Later years==
Out of jealousy for his affair with Medb, Ailill had Fergus killed.<ref>Kuno Meyer, [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fergus.html "The Death of Fergus mac Róich"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822053855/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fergus.html |date=22 August 2010 }}, ''The Death-Tales of the Ulster Heroes''.</ref> In his old age, after Conchobar's death, the Ulster hero [[Conall Cernach]] came to stay with Ailill and Medb, as they were the only household capable of supporting him. Medb tasked him to keep an eye on Ailill, who was seeing other women. Finding Ailill ''in flagrante'', she ordered Conall to kill him, which he was happy to do in revenge for Fergus. However, the dying Ailill sent his men after him, and he was killed while trying to escape.<ref name="aililldeath" />

==Death==
In her later years, Medb often went to bathe in a pool on [[Inchcleraun]] (Inis Cloithreann), an island on [[Lough Ree]], near [[Knockcroghery]]. Furbaide sought revenge for the death of his mother. He took a rope and measured the distance between the pool and the shore, and practised with his [[sling (weapon)|sling]] until he could hit an apple on top of a stake Medb's height from that distance. The next time he saw Medb bathing he put his practice to good use and killed her with a piece of cheese. She was succeeded to the throne of Connacht by her son Maine Athramail.<ref name="medbdeath" />

[[File:Queen Maeves Tomb Knocknarea.jpg|thumb|[[Miosgán Médhbh]] (Medb's [[cairn]]) at [[Knocknarea]]]]

According to legend, Medb is buried in [[Miosgán Médhbh]], a {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} high stone cairn on the summit of [[Knocknarea]] (''Cnoc na Ré'' in [[Irish language|Irish]]) in [[County Sligo]]. Supposedly, she is buried upright facing her enemies in Ulster.  Her home in [[Rathcroghan]], [[County Roscommon]] is also a potential burial site, with a long low slab named 'Misgaun Medb' being given as the most likely location.

==Interpretations==
[[Tomás Ó Máille]] was the first to suggest in 1928, that Medb is probably an allegorical figure representing the sovereignty of Connacht,<ref>Carey, John, "Medb Chruachna", in ''[https://www.dib.ie/ Dictionary of Irish Biography]'', published October 2009, Last revised April 2021</ref><ref>T. Ó Máille, "Medb Chruachna", ''[[Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie]]'', XVII (1928), pp. 129–46</ref> "whom a king would [[hieros gamos|ritually marry]] as part of his inauguration."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Melrose |first1=Robin |title=The Druids and King Arthur: A New View of Early Britain |date=2011 |publisher=McFarland |page=52 |isbn=9780786460052 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_j6Py7x_ctIC&q=sovereignty |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> [[Medb Lethderg]], who performs a similar function in [[Tara, Ireland|Tara]], is probably identical with or the inspiration for this Medb.<ref>Byrne, Francis John, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings''. Four Courts Press, Dublin. 2nd edition, 2001</ref><ref>T. F. O'Rahilly: ''Early Irish History and Mythology'', Dublin 1946 – cited in Thomas Kinsella: ''THE TAIN'' Dolmen Press, Dublin 1969/1986 {{ISBN|0-85105-178-2}}</ref> Her name is said to mean 'she who intoxicates', and is [[cognate]] with the English word '[[mead]]'; it is likely that the sacred marriage ceremony between the king and the goddess would involve a shared drink. Medb's "pillow talk" argument with her consort contains suggestions of [[matrilineality]], as does [[Ailill]]'s taking his name from his mother Máta Muirisc.<ref>Dexter, Miriam Robbins. "The Brown Bull of Cooley and Matriliny in Celtic Ireland" in From the Realm of the Ancestors: Essays in Honor of Marija Gimbutas: 218–236.  Joan Marler, ed. Manchester, Connecticut: Knowledge Ideas and Trends, 1997.</ref> Recently, Irish and Irish-American poets have explored Medb as an image of woman's power, including sexuality, as in "Labhrann Medb" ("Medb Speaks") by Irish-language poet [[Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill]]<ref>Ní Dhomhnaill, Nuala, "Rogha Dánta/Selected Poems", Raven Arts Press, 1988</ref> and "Intoxication" by Irish-American poet [[Patricia Monaghan]].<ref>Monaghan, Patricia, "The Red-Haired Girl from the Bog," New World Library, 2003, pp. 75–106</ref>

The name "Connacht" is an apparent anachronism: the stories of the [[Ulster Cycle]] are traditionally set around the time of Christ, but the [[Connachta]], after whom the province is named, were said to have been the descendants of [[Conn of the Hundred Battles|Conn Cétchathach]], who is supposed to have lived several centuries later. Later stories use the name [[Cóiced Ol nEchmacht]] as an earlier name for the province of Connacht to get around this problem. But the chronology of early Irish historical tradition is an artificial attempt by Christian monks to synchronise native traditions with classical and biblical history, and it is possible that the cycle has been chronologically misplaced.<ref>Francis J. Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High Kings'', Four Courts Press, 2001, p. 50.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Irish mythology in popular culture#Medb|Irish mythology in popular culture]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Medb}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100817065857/http://ijb.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.27/prod.337 Ghosts between the Pages: The Devolution of Medb from Sovereignty Goddess to Comic Book Villainess and the Potential Dangers of the Transcription of Oral Tales]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131226101735/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/boyne.html Medb's Men, or the Battle of the Boyne]
*[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T106500D/text010.html Carn Furbaide] from the [[Metrical Dindshenchas]] Vol 4
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050610073737/http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~dc920/bricriu.html Bricriu's Feast]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131124041701/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/oengus.html The Dream of Óengus]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131230081945/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fraech.html The Cattle Raid of Fráech]
*[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/regamon.html The Cattle Raid of Regamon]
*[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/dartaid.html The Raid for Dartaid's Cattle]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101120101506/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/flidais.html The Driving of Flidais's Cattle]
*[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/nera.html The Adventures of Nera]
*[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T301012/index.html The Cattle Raid of Cooley, recension 1]
*[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T301035/index.html The Cattle Raid of Cooley, recension 2]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100822053855/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fergus.html The Death of Fergus mac Róich]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131129070810/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/cuchulain3.html The Death of Cú Chulainn]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131129042653/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/medb.html The Violent Death of Medb]
*[http://www.orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/Medb/medb.htm Ancient Goddess and Sovereign Queen Of the Celtic People, The White Moon Gallery]

{{Celtic mythology (Ulster)}}
{{Connachta}}

[[Category:Characters in Táin Bó Cúailnge]]
[[Category:Irish-language feminine given names]]
[[Category:Feminine given names]]
[[Category:Irish goddesses]]
[[Category:Kings of Connacht]]
[[Category:Legendary Irish monarchs]]
[[Category:Love and lust goddesses]]
[[Category:Mythological queens]]
[[Category:Ulster Cycle]]