Conchobar mac Nessa- Celtic FigureMortal"King of Ulster"

Rise to Power

Conchobar mac Nessa was king of Ulster during the heroic age of the Ulster Cycle, ruling from Emain Macha. His mother Nessa was a formidable woman who secured his throne through cunning: when Fergus mac Róich, then king, sought to marry her, she demanded that Conchobar be allowed to rule for one year so his descendants could call themselves sons of a king. Fergus agreed, but Nessa used the year to win such favour for Conchobar through gifts and generosity that the nobles refused to restore Fergus when the year ended. Conchobar thus gained the kingship through his mother's stratagem rather than by conquest.

The Betrayal of Deirdre

Conchobar's greatest dishonour was his treatment of Deirdre. The druid Cathbad had prophesied before her birth that she would bring ruin upon Ulster. Rather than heed those who urged the child's death, Conchobar had her raised in seclusion, intending to take her as his wife. But Deirdre fell in love with the young warrior Naoise and fled with him and his brothers to Alba. Years later, Conchobar promised them safe conduct home, sending Fergus as guarantor. When the exiles returned, Conchobar broke his oath: he had Naoise and his brothers killed and took Deirdre by force. She dashed her head against a stone and died rather than submit. Fergus, whose sworn word had been made worthless, defected to Connacht with three thousand warriors, exiles who would fight against Ulster in the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

Death

Conchobar's death came from a weapon lodged years earlier. The Connacht warrior Cet mac Mágach had slung the brain-ball of Mes Gegra, a missile made from the calcified brain of a slain Leinster king mixed with lime, into Conchobar's skull with such force that it embedded in the bone. His physicians told him he would die if it were removed, so he lived for seven years with it lodged in his head, forbidden to ride, exert himself, or grow angry. According to later tradition, he eventually learned of the crucifixion of Christ from a druid and flew into such a rage at the injustice that the brain-ball burst from his skull and killed him.