Nuada Airgetlám, first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland, was the son of Echtach according to the genealogies of the Book of Invasions.
Macha was the wife of Nuada Airgetlám, and she fell alongside him in the Second Battle of Moytura when Balor's forces overwhelmed the Tuatha Dé Danann's king.
⚠ Macha appears in multiple distinct iterations across Irish sources — as wife of Nemed, wife of Nuada, and wife of Cruinniuc. The Lebor Gabála Érenn identifies this Macha specifically as Nuada's consort.
Nuada and the Dagda stood together against the Fir Bolg at the First Battle of Moytura and against the Fomorians at the Second, king and chief druid marshaling the Tuatha Dé Danann through the wars that won and held Ireland.
Sreng and Nuada clashed on the Plain of Moytura, where the Fir Bolg champion's broad blade sheared through Nuada's shield and severed his arm at the shoulder — a wound that cost the victorious king his throne under the law that no blemished man could rule.
Balor of the Evil Eye slew Nuada Airgetlám and his wife Macha at the Second Battle of Moytura, his poisonous gaze cutting down the king and queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann before Lugh could fulfill the prophecy and strike Balor down in turn.
Nuada Airgetlám held the High Kingship of the Tuatha Dé Danann at Tara for seven years before the First Battle of Moytura, lost it when Sreng's blow cost him his arm, and reclaimed it after Dian Cécht fashioned him a silver hand — only to yield the throne willingly to Lugh when the Fomorian war demanded a champion without equal.
Nuada led the Tuatha Dé Danann to Ireland and reigned as their first king until he lost his arm at the First Battle of Mag Tuired, for no blemished man could hold the sovereignty.
The Tuatha Dé Danann descended through the sky in a dark cloud upon Ireland, bringing with them the arts of sorcery, druidry, and every craft — a divine race who conquered the Fir Bolg and ruled until the coming of the Milesians.
When Nuada lost his arm and his kingship, Bres the Beautiful seized the throne of the Tuatha Dé Danann and ruled as a tyrant, starving and shaming the gods until Nuada's silver hand restored him and the people rose to cast Bres out.
After Sreng severed Nuada's arm at the First Battle of Moytura, the physician-god Dian Cécht fashioned him a silver hand that moved like living flesh, restoring him in body though not yet in kingship.
Nuada Airgetlám recognized Lugh's mastery of every art and yielded the High Kingship of the Tuatha Dé Danann to him for thirteen days before the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, stepping aside so the Ildánach could lead them against the Fomorians.
Nuada Airgetlám fell at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, slain by the terrible gaze of Balor's evil eye before Lugh could reach the Fomorian champion.
Nuada wielded the Sword of Light, Claíomh Solais, one of the Four Treasures brought by the Tuatha Dé Danann from the northern city of Findias — a blade from which no enemy could escape once it was drawn.
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