DBA Armies

This list covers Irish armies (then usually called “Scots”) of “The Island of the Blessed” from the time of Caesar’s invasions of Britain until Irish methods changed in response to Viking raids and settlement. Ireland was split into kingdoms whose normal interaction was war or raiding. Its most famous leader was CuChullain, champion of the King of Ulster; described as a small dark-haired man riding in a chariot drawn by one gray and one black pony with a red-haired driver. Intermittent contact with Roman Britain existed (e.g. in 81 AD Agricola was requested to help an Irish ruler retain his throne), but was poorly documented except for seaborne raids on Roman Britain. What appears to be a fortified Roman coastal settlement has been found north of Dublin; and one of CuChullain’s legendary enemies was the wizard Clan Calatan who with his 27 sons combined together to have 28 heads, 56 arms and legs and throw a volley of 28 spears (possibly a Roamn testudo). No evidence has been found for either cavalry or body armour. Nobles rode in chariots, until this went out of fashion, then started fighting on foot. Irish infantry equipment was lighter than that of other Celtic nations comprising a short sword or axe and a small shield and javelins; ideal for skirmishing in boggy or wooded terrain. Fianna were professional warrior bands with a reputation for savagery, sometimes of young nobles passing the time between fostering and inheritance. They wore their hair shaved in front and in long plaits behind. Saint Columba was given chief credit for the victory of the Ui Neill in a war of 561, decisively out-praying Saint Finnian on the other side. The Attacotti are covered in the Pictish list II/68. References: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker, Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, The Cattle Raid of Cooley trans J. Dunn, Not For All the Gold in Ireland J. James (novel).