In Search of Arthur

In Search of Àrtùr -
The Legend and The Man
By J.T. McAlister

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is
the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."
- Albert Einstein

In 300 BCE, Laigin, who are known as the Tuatha de Danann, invaded Ireland from northern Britain,
bringing with them the Iron Age Culture that the Celts of that area had known for over 200 years. The
Bronze Age culture of the Erainn, who were called the Firbolgs and the Cruithin, or Picts, was
completely overwhelmed by these practitioners of the new arts.

Around 100 BCE, the Gaels, or Milesians, invaded Ireland from Spain. The archeological evidence in
Ireland indicates "a remarkable amount of activity associated with much earlier monuments. At Navan,
Tara, Newgrange and many other sites, new constructions, secondary burials and deposits of Roman
coins and other valuables indicate a frenzy of activity. These all seem to begin at 100 BCE, which is also
the same time that trackways across the bogs, like those at Corlea, were being constructed. La Tène
Ireland seems to see a return to communal projects and monumentality completely unlike anything
going on elsewhere in Western Europe." The road building activity could possibly be attributed to the
Gaelic use of chariots, something suggested

The Milesians brought with them Druids trained in the Mystery Schools of the Middle East, a distinctly
different type of religion from that of the Laigin, Erainn and Cruithin. This revival of ancient monuments
would tend to support the Eastern fascination with the past.

In 63 CE, Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury on the first Christian mission to Britain. The Culdees
were established in the British kingdoms, which stretched from Wales to what is now modern Scotland.

In 177 CE, in the reign of Conn Cead Cathach, Conn of the Hundred Battles, the Fianna were founded in
Ireland. Conn’s son, Art Ua Cuinn, is the first “Art” mentioned who can be associated with elements of
the myth, i.e., the Grail:

Conn went up from Teamhair in the early morning to the Rath of the Kings at the rising of the sun, and
his three Druids with him, Maol and Bloc and Bhuice; and his three poets, Ethain and Corb and Cesarn.
And on this day he chanced to stand upon a stone that was in the rath, and the stone screamed under his
feet, that it was heard all over Teamhair and as far as Bregia.

Then Conn asked his chief Druid how the stone came there, and what it screamed for. And the Druid
said, "The Lia Fail is the name of the stone; it is out of Falias it was brought, and it is in Teamhair it
was setup, and in Teamhair it will stay forever. And as long as there is a king in Teamhair it is here will
be the gathering place for games, and if there is no king to come to the last day of the gathering, there will
be hardness in that year. And when the stone screamed under your feet," he said, "the number of the
screams it gave was a foretelling of the number of kings of your race that would come after you. But it is
not I myself will name them for you," he said.

And while they were in the same place, there came a great mist about them and a darkness, so that they
could not know what way they were going, and they heard the noise of a rider coming towards them. "It
would be a great grief to us," said Conn, "to be brought away into a strange country." Then the rider
threw three spears at them, and every one came faster than the other. "It is the wounding of a king
indeed," said the Druids, "any one to cast at Conn of Teamhair."

The rider stopped casting his spears on that, and he came to them and bade Conn welcome, and asked him
to come to his house. They went on then till they came to a beautiful plain, and there they saw a king’s
rath, and a golden tree at its door, and inside the rath a grand house with a roof of white bronze. So they
went into the house, and the rider that had come to meet them was there before them, in his royal seat,
and there had never been seen a man like him in Teamhair for comeliness or for beauty, or the wonder of
his face.

And there was a young woman in the house, having a band of gold on her head, and a silver vessel with
hoops of gold beside her, and it full of red ale, and a golden bowl on its edge, and a golden cup at its
mouth. She said then to the master of the house: "Who am I to serve drink to?" "Serve it to Conn of the
Hundred Battles," he said, "for he will gain a hundred battles before he dies." And after that he bade her
to pour out the ale for Art, the son of Conn; and after that he went through the names of all the kings
of Ireland that would come after Conn, and he told what would be the length of their lifetime. And the
young woman left the vessel with Conn, and the cup and the bowl, and she gave him along with that the
rib of an ox and of a hog; twenty-four feet was the length of the ox-rib.

And the master of the house told them the young woman was the Kingship of Ireland forever. "And as for
myself," he said, "I am Lugh of the Long Hand, son of Ethlinn."

Source: Lady Gregory - Gods and Fighting Men, 1904.

In 184 CE, Lucius Artorius Castus, commander of a detachment of Sarmatian conscripts stationed in
Britain, led his troops to Gaul to quell a rebellion. This is the first appearance of the name, Artorius, in
history and some believe that this Roman military man was the original, or basis, of the Arthurian
legend. The theory says that Castus' exploits in Gaul, at the head of a contingent of mounted troops,
became the basis for later, similar traditions about "King Arthur," and, further, that the name "Artorius"
became a title, or honorific, which was ascribed to a famous warrior in the fifth century. This is quite
possibly true, since the appellation "Tower in Battle", in Gaelic, is Àr-Tùr.

In 200 CE, The Cruithne, or Picts, began to migrate back to Scotland. Possible reasons could be famine
and the continuing difference in attitude between the Milesian Druids and the Druids of the older tribes.

In 265 CE, Fionn MacCumail became the leader of the Fianna, implementing a code of honor among
them, challenging them to become champions of the people; to make of themselves models of chivalry
and justice that others might aspire to. This is the beginning of the code of Chivalry.

Neart inár lámha, fírinne ar ár dteanga, glaine inár gcroí
"Strength in our arms, truth on our tongue, clarity in our heart"

In 300 CE, several migrations began:

o        The Dal Riata ally themselves with the Dal nAraide, a sept of the Cruithne, or Picts, some of which
have migrated to Scotland

o        The Ui Liathain, a sept of the Erainn or Firbolgs, begin their migration to Cornwall and Devon

o        The Brigantes, a sept of the Laigin or Tuatha de Danann, migrate to Scotland

o        The Deisi, another sept of the Laigin or Tuatha de Danann, migrate to Wales

In 336 CE, Niall of the Nine Hostages was born. His mother, Carthann, was the daughter of either a
British or Pictish king, possibly from the area around Loch Ness, as one of Niall's grandsons is described
as a Pict and was killed near there. (Speculation: Carthann Chasdubh was the Royal heiress, from whose
line the matrilinear Pictish kings descended.)

In 367 CE, The Barbarian Conspiracy, which consisted of Teutons from across the North Sea, and the
Picts and Scotti emigrants from the north and west attacked the British Kingdoms. Magnus Maximus
(Macsen Wledig) began fortifying Britain, arranging large defensive areas that could be governed by
client tribes or native Roman officers, called Wledig, or Guardians. All of these are set up in the
militarized zones in the west and north, areas that were never fully Romanized but had been under
military control through several chains of forts.

In 383 CE, Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledig), a Spaniard, was proclaimed Emperor in Britain by the
island's Roman garrison. With an army of British volunteers, he quickly conquered Gaul, Spain and
Italy. Macsen Wledig married the granddaughter of Eudaf Hen, King of Ewyas (Wales) and, through this
alliance, became High King of Britain - again, through the use of the concept of matrilinear succession.

In 400 CE, The Ui Neill and Dal Riata (descendants of Conn Cead Cathach through Niall of the Nine
Hostages) begin migrating to Scotland. Around this time, Pelagius formulated his doctrine, which was
based on the teachings of the Culdees and Druids. It said that man was basically good and did, indeed,
have control of his own eternal destiny. It denied the doctrine of original sin, and by extension, the
necessity for and the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

This was in direct opposition to the doctrine of Augustine, which taught that man was a sinner, by
nature, and that, without the grace of God, his sin could only earn him eternal damnation. Man's
salvation came solely through the grace of God, as presented in the person and sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
and that this grace came only by God's pleasure, to whomsoever he chose to extend it, without requiring
any effort on man's part to complete the transaction.

These opposing and mutually exclusive views divided Britain into factions and produced great tensions
in society.

In 403 CE, Victricius, Bishop of Rouen, visited Britain for the purpose of bringing peace to the island's
clergy, who were in the midst of a dispute, possibly over the Pelagian heresy.

In 408 CE, The Roman legions were withdrawn and Britain endured devastating attacks by the Picts,
Scots and Saxons.

In 410 CE, the governor of Gwynedd, Owain Finddu of Glywysing, was assassinated and Irish incursions
begin into Gwynedd, Powys, Garth Madrun, Dyfed and the Gower Peninsula. About 15 years later,
Cunedda would be posted to this area to hold it for the British.

Sometime during this period, Erc, the daughter of Eochaid Muin-remor, Pictish High King of Alba, was
born. She was the mother of Fergus Mor Mac Erc. Erc had been promised to Sarran, king of Strathclyde,
but was seduced by Prince Muiredach of Ireland and was taken back to Ireland by him. By Pictish
Matrilinear succession, her sons would be High Kings. (Speculation: The so-called seduction had a
political motive, to ensure a right to land in Scotland for the Dalriada.)

In 423 CE, St. Patrick was born in Banna Venta Burniae, thought to be near Birdoswald. As Patrick was a
Culdee later in life, it is probable that this was the faith of his family.

In 425 CE, The Guardian, Cunedda Wledig and his retinue are moved south from Manau Gododdin
(Scotland) to Gwynedd (Wales) in order to expel the invading Irish. Cunedda was probably from the
Laigin or Tuatha de Danann as were the Deisi, who had settled in Wales. It is important to note that
Cunedda claimed descent from the family of Christ by the marriage of Bran the Blessed to Anna of
Arimathea, Joseph's daughter.

About the same time, Amlawdd, a Prince of Dumnonia (the Erainn or Firbolgs who settled in Devon and
Cornwall), was born. A member of a younger branch of the Royal House of Dumnonia, he was probably
a nobleman of Ergyng, though he has also been attached to the North of Britain (Scotland) and Brittany.
(Speculation: One of the meanings of the name of Arran, the Avalon of the Gael, is derived from Rinn,
one of the oldest gods on the Island, who was a Firbolg. Cunedda's daughter, Gwen, was the Lady of
Avalon and the wife of Amlawdd, a Firbolg. Amlawdd brought the worship of Rinn with him when he
came to Arran as its prince.)

According to Welsh sources, Amlawdd was the father of Igaine (Eigyr), who was the mother of Àrtùr;
Amlawdd is also credited with being the father of Goleuddydd and Rieingulid who were, respectively,
the mothers of Àrtùr's cousins, Culhwch and Illtyd.

In 426 CE, Gwen, the daughter of Cunedda Wledig, King of Manau Gododdin (Scotland) and Gwynedd
(Wales) was born. Gwen was the mother of Igaine, the mother of Àrtùr.

In 429 CE, at the request of Palladius, a British deacon, Pope Celestine I dispatches Bishops Germanus of
Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes to Britain to combat the Pelagian heresy.

In 434 CE, St. Patrick, aged 11, is taken to Ireland as a slave. (Speculation: Could the story that Merlin
had no father and was offered as a sacrifice come from the fact that he was a slave?)

In 437 CE, Ambrosius Aurelianus appears as leader of the Pro-Roman faction in Britain (traditionally
returning from exile in Brittany, Ambrosius is the heir of Coel Hen, last Dux Brittanniarum, whose
kingdom was within Strathclyde or Ayrshire). Vortigern's apparent relative, Vitalinus (Guitolinus),
fights against Ambrosius at the Battle of Wallop. Ambrosius wins and is "given all the kingdoms of the
western side of Britain", that is, from the area around Strathclyde and Ayrshire to Wales and Cornwall.
(Speculation: If Vitalinus was Scotti, or Dalriadian, then this defeat may have sent the Scotti back to
Ireland for a time.)

In 440 CE, St. Patrick, aged 17, escapes from his captors and returns to Britain.

440 CE is also the beginning of a ten year period of civil war and famine in Britain, caused by the ruling
council's weakness and inability to deal with Pictish invasions; the situation is aggravated by tensions
between Pelagian and Roman factions. Vacated towns and cities lie in ruin. Migration of pro-Roman
citizens toward west begins, and the country begins to be divided, geographically, along factional lines.

In 445 CE, Vortigern comes to power in Britain. Vortigern is thought to be a title meaning "Overlord". He
has been identified as Prince Muiredach, the father of Fergus Mor Mac Erc. Patrick was about 23 years
old at this time.

In 446 CE, Vortigern authorizes the use of Saxon mercenaries, known as foederati, for the defense of the
northern parts of Britain against barbarian attack.

In 450 CE, Vortigern welcomes Hengest, who arrives with "3 keels" of warriors. This event is known in
Latin as the "adventus Saxonum," the coming of the Saxons.

In 452 CE, Hengest invites his son, Octha, from Germany with "16 keels" of warriors, who occupy the
northern lands, to defend against the Picts. Picts, as such, are never heard from again.

By the next year, 453 CE, Saxon raids on British towns and cities become more frequent.

In 455 CE, Prince Vortimer (Fergus) apparently rebelled against the pro-Saxon policies of his father,
Vortigern, and fought Hengest at the Battle of Crayford. Hengest was victorious and the British army
fled back to London.

In 456 CE, The indecisive Battle of Aylesford between Hengest's Saxons and the British under Prince
Vortimer (Fergus) occurs.

(Speculation: Fergus' son, Domangart, seduces Igaine during this period and Comgall is born at
Tintagel. Why would a Culdee like Patrick abet one of the Dalriada in this? Fergus, the son of Erc, was a
Culdee, or supported their cause. His claim to a kingship in Scotland was based on his mother's lineage.
Igaine was the descendant of Joseph of Arimathea, founder of the Culdees. Her mother was the Lady of
Avalon, revered throughout the Celtic world. An alliance between these two lines would solidify the
kingship claims of the Dalriada and the position of the Culdee as the religion of the High Kings.)

St. Patrick, age 33, leaves Britain once more to evangelize Ireland. (Speculation: With the continuing civil
war and battle over the Pelagian doctrine, why would Patrick choose this time to retreat to Ireland? Did
he carry Comgall, the son of Domangart and Igaine with him to the safety of Domangart's native land?)

In 463 CE, Laeghaire, king of Ireland, dies. Patrick is 40, Comgall, between 3 and 7. Oilioll becomes High
King.

In 483 CE, Oilioll, the High King of Ireland, dies and Lughaidh becomes High King. Patrick, now 60
years old, opposes Lughaidh and supports Fergus Mor Mac Erc. Patrick prophesizes that Fergus' line
will rule a 'greater kingdom' than that of his brother, Lughaidh.

485 CE -96 CE - Period of Àrtùr's "twelve battles" during which he gains a reputation for invincibility.
Comgall was either 25 or 29 at the beginning of this period, 36 or 40 at its end. Just as we call someone "A
tower of Strength", Comgall, the Battle Leader, was known as "A Tower in Battle", An Àr-Tùr. He did not
become High King until his father's death in 496 CE.

Midway in this period, around 490 CE, Fergus Mor Mac Erc moved the throne of Dalriada from Ireland
to Scotland, becoming the first Scots King to reign over Dalriada in Scotland.

According to legend, Fergus brought the Stone of Destiny to Dalriada for his coronation and refused to
return it to Ireland.

485 CE - 490 CE First 4 battles: Linnuis, Glen River, Andred, and Glen River

491 CE - Battle of Celidon Woods in the Upper Tweed Valley

In 491 CE, Fergus dies in battle. (Speculation: The date of Fergus Mor Mac Erc's death is generally
accepted as 501 CE. There is even a reference to him being on Arran [Avalon] as late as 503 CE. The
problem with this is that the events that precipitated the move of the kingship to Scottish Dalriada took
place in 483 CE, when Patrick made his prophecy. It is possible that Fergus did not actually die in 491
CE but may have been wounded and thus no longer 'whole', which would make him ineligible to be
High King by Celtic law. That he was seen on Arran, the island of sanctuary, at a later day suggests this
possibility.)

492 CE - Battle of Gunnion fort: Àrtùr lures the Saxons of Bernicia from the fort and rides them down in
the open

In 493 CE, St. Patrick dies, age 70. Comgall is present at his death. He is either 33 or 37. Àrtùr fought no
battles in 493 CE while Comgall was in Ireland.

494 CE - Battles of Chester and The Hill of Agned or Breguoin

495 CE - Battles of Tribruit River and Cerdices Ora

496 CE - Battle of Mt Badon

In 496 CE, Domangart died in battle. Comgall becomes High King. He ruled for 46 years. Àrtùr is said to
have ruled for 45 years after the Battle of Mt. Badon.

In 537 CE, Battle of Camlann

In 542 CE, Comgall died in exile, quite possibly in Arran [Avalon].

(Speculation: In the Annals, Comgall lost the kingship to his brother, Gabran around 540 CE. The Annals
of Tighernach record the date as 537 AD. Whatever the date, it fits for the battle of Camlann. Gabran is
suggested to have been a sub-king of Manaan (Manau Gododdin in Scotland). The Annals Cambriae
record the battle in 539 AD, mentioning that Arthur and Medraut perished. (Medraut is identified as
Modred, a Pictish prince; hence the legend that Arthur died in battle against the Picts.) But Comgall was
overthrown and was probably banished from the kingdom. The Annals of Ulster give his reign ending
around 538 but his death at 542 or 545 AD. Gildas in his De Excidio Britanniae states: "the despot
Constantine, whelp of the filthy lioness of Damnonia (Àrtùr's mother, Igaine, was the daughter of
Amlawdd, a Prince of Dumnonia)... I know full well that you are alive..." confirming that Comgall
(Constantine) was banished. Gildas also refers to Constantine as a bear, which is a frequent epithet given
to Àrtùr.

Gabran married Luan, daughter of King Brychan, but later divorced her to marry Ingenach, daughter of
Domangart - his own sister and possibly a Lady of Avalon, in an attempt to legitimatize his claim to the
High Kingship.

In 558 CE, Gabran died and was succeeded by Conall, Comgall's son.

In 556 CE, King Diarmait of Tara was cursed by St. Ruadhan and the kingship was removed from Tara.
Diarmait was defeated by ColumCille (St Columba) and the King of Connacht at Cúl Dreimne.

Conall sent for Columba and gave him the Island of Iona. Columba is said to have brought the Stone of
Destiny with him to Iona, but earlier legend says that the Stone had been kept by Fergus when he was
made king in Dalriada in 490 CE. Was the Stone returned to Ireland or not? Were there two Stones of
Destiny?

The legends of the Tuatha de Danaan tell of four cities and the gifts brought from each of them. The
Stone of Fal was from the northern city of Falias, the Cauldron of Renewal from the Western city of
Murias. In the east was the city of Findias from which came the Sword of Light and in the south, Gorias
and the Spear of Victory.

(Speculation: In Avalon, the Grail, which is the bloodline of Christ, replaced the Cauldron of Renewal.
Erc, (By the way, Erc is also known as Nisi or Ness) the mother of Fergus, came from the east and
through her; the Sword was passed to Comgall. From the South, the Spear of Victory was united with
these two by the blood of Amlawdd, prince of Dumnonia. Both Columba and Conall were descendants
of Carthann Chasdubh, daughter of the Scaly One, who was associated with the North. Columba himself
was a candidate for the High Kingship of Ireland through this bloodline.)

Columba's first act upon taking control of Iona was to travel north to the land of his ancestors, to the lake
of the river Nisa: Loch Ness. According to the story told by the Christians, Columba said that the
purpose of his trip was to "meet the holy angels who, that they may carry away the soul of a certain man,
who is keeping the moral law of nature even to extreme old age, have been sent out from the highest
regions of heaven, and are waiting until we have come thither, that we may baptize him in time before
he dies."

In fact, Columba was in such a hurry that he "made as much haste as he could to go in advance of his
companions" until he came to the district which is named Airchart-dan (Urchurdan, now Glen Urquhart).
There he found 'the holy heathen man', Emchath (or Emchat) by name. Supposedly, "on hearing the word
of God preached by the saint, Emchath believed and was baptized, and immediately after, full of joy,
and safe from evil, and accompanied by the angels, who came to meet him, passed to the Lord. His son
Virolec also believed, and was baptized with all his house."

A tentative interpretation of Arochdan is High House or House of the Seeker - indicating that Emchath
may have been the Arch Druid of the Picts and Urquhart the High or Main House of the Pictish Druids.

The discovery of a fragment of a Pictish brooch at Urquhart Castle in the nineteenth century led to
speculation that Emchath's home was where the castle now stands. The subsequent discovery of pieces
of vitrified rock on the steep slopes of the upper bailey (glass-like material produced by intense heat
and associated with late prehistoric forts), together with evidence from radio carbon dating, has
strengthened that view.

The rocky promontory jutting into Loch Ness is an ideal site for a fortified residence. It is surrounded on
three sides by the deep waters of the loch and easily defended from the landward side. And it
commands extensive views. In addition, the surrounding fertile lands and waters provided plentiful
crops, fuels, fish and game.

The burial cairn at Corrimony (a short distance up Glen Urquhart) suggests that the glen was occupied
as early as 2000 BC. It is not known how long the Pictish fort survived. The earliest record of a castle at
Urquhart is the thirteenth century.

(Speculation: It is possible that some sort of worship involving human sacrifice might have occurred in
the area. Columba's famous encounter with the Loch Ness Monster is said to have taken place when the
monster 'attacked' a man. After Columba's visit, the monster no longer was known to attack humans.
Saints and miracles notwithstanding, it is difficult to believe that monsters can be instantly converted.
However, one coming to claim the Arch Druidship of the Picts by right of descent and who was also a
Culdee might have had the authority to stop such sacrifices.)

The whole of Scotland, from Loch Ness to the river Tweed, contains tales of noble women impregnated
by horned serpents while swimming in the waters. These tales are also told in Gaul of the lineage of the
Merovingian kings.

In 574 CE, Columba inaugurated the High king of Dalriada, Aedan mac Gabran, sixth King of Dalriada
and the first Culdee king in Britain. Aedan was the second son of Gabran. Iogenan, the elder son by
Gabran's first wife was put aside in favor of Aedan, son of Gabran's union with his sister, preserving the
Pictish Matrilineal succession.

In 575 CE, Columba and Aedan gained freedom for Dalriada from Irish rule at the Synod of Drumceat

The Synod of Drumceat:

On the grounds of his descent from Carbre Riada, to whom, as we have seen, a grant had been made, in
the middle of the third century, of all those parts of the county of ANTRIM [in Ulster] which formed the
territory called, from thenceforth, Dalriada, king Aidan ASSERTED HIS HEREDITARY RIGHT to the
sovereignty of that territory, and maintained that, as belonging to his family, it should be exempt, if not
in the whole, at least in part, from the PAYMENT OF TRIBUTE to the king of Ireland, and from all such
burdens as affected the rest of the kingdom. The IRISH MONARCH, on the other hand, contended that
the territory in question formed a portion of his dominions, and had always, equally with the rest, been
subject to imposts and contributions; that, before the Dalriadians became sovereigns in Britain
[Scotland], such tribute had been always paid by that principality, nor could the election of its princes to
a throne in North Britain make any difference in its relations to the Irish monarchy. -- The History of
Ireland, pp. 248-249.

It was agreed that the difference between them should be submitted to the states-general of Ireland at the
NEW CENTER of the Irish monarchy in DRUMCEATT, ULSTER, and that the final decision of this case
should be left to Columba -- who was equally concerned on both sides. Columba, therefore, was allowed
to return from his exile to attend.

With the arrival of Columba and King Aidan the assembly commenced judgment on the matter of the
two Dal Riadas, as well as many other issues -- the Convention of Drumceatt is said to have remained in
session for a whole year. Columba, however, declined to be judge in the matter, and referred it to
Colman, the son of Comgallen who decided that "the Irish Dal Riada should be directly and entirely
subject to the Ard-Righ of Ireland, paying him tribute and supplying him with the military levies, but
they should be allies of their brethren over the Channel, the Scottish Dal Riada, and in case of a war of
theirs against the Picts, or the Britons, should supply them with a fleet"

Notwithstanding his known attachment to king AIDAN, so great was the general trust in Columba's
sense of justice, that to him alone the decision of the question was first referred. On his declining,
however, to pronounce any opinion respecting it, the task of arbitration was committed to St. Colman -- a
man deeply versed, as we are told, in legal and ecclesiastical learning, who, on the obvious grounds,
that Dalriada, being an Irish province, could not but BE SUBJECT, in every respect, to the MONARCH
OF ALL IRELAND [AIDUS], gave his decision AGAINST the claim of king Aidan. -- The History of
Ireland, p. 250.

This, in effect, was the decision Columba had hoped for. It settled the question of the independence of
the Scottish kings. Columba and Aiden were determined that they should not have to send tribute across
the sea to the King of Tara. A monarch who ruled over so ample a dominion, and was master of the rich
meadows of Meath, had no need to tax their bare mountains and moors. Columba was able to put the
matter in such a light that the King of Tara consented to forego the tribute, and to relieve his Scotch
colony in Alba from the suzerainty he had exercised over it. From that day the Scots were their own
masters, and their rulers took the rank of independent kings.

Columba also pleaded the cause of the bards - those who still followed the old ways, who were about to
be expelled as troublemakers. According to legend, he sensibly argued that their expulsion would
deprive the country of an irreplaceable wealth of folklore and antiquity. He also refused to chop down
the ancient, sacred oak trees that symbolized the old druidic religion. Although the bards were allowed
to remain, they were forced to give up their special privileges as priests of the old religion.

In 664 CE, The Synod of Whitby accepted the doctrine of Augustine and the Culdee officially ceased to
exist as a separate branch of Christianity. It continued in secret however, through the teachings of the
Troubadours and the Albigensians with the support of the Knights Templar.

TO POST YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE: CLICKHERE
READ MORE FROM THE AUGUST MYSTERY FILES: CLICK HERE
OR FOLLOW A TOPIC LINK AT THE TOP & BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

LEARN MORE

WEBLINKS