Tuathal Techtmar, Túathal Techtmar, Teachtmhar, Teachmhar, Teachtmhair [Ir.
tuathal, ruler of all the people, from Romano-Celtic
teuto-valos (?);
techtmar, possessing wealth (?), legitimate (?)]. Possibly historical but shadowy
ard rí [high king] of 2nd-century Ireland known mostly from genealogy, pedigree, and pseudo-history. Although documents purporting to tell of Tuathal's life, including the dates of his reign, AD 130–60, were not composed until after the 8th century, his two most important attributed achievements, leading
Goidelic invaders to Ireland and carving out the kingdom of
Mide from portions of other provinces, demonstrably did take place in pre-Patrician Ireland. T. F. O'Rahilly asserted (1946) that his central presence in history is factual but much embroidered in retelling. Other commentators have been more doubtful, seeing him as an invented grandfather to the eminent heroic king
Conn Cétchathach [of the Hundred Battles]; the institution of the ard rí dates from a later time. Coordinating his contradictory chronology has presented problems for historians since the time of Geoffrey
Keating (17th cent.).
According to post-8th-century tradition, Tuathal invaded Ireland after an exiled birth and childhood in
Scotland to avenge the displacement of his father,
Fiachu Findholaid, but O'Rahilly felt that the Scottish exile was only a cover for his foreign origin. Fiachu had been murdered by
Éllim mac Conrach of the
Dál nAraide, a wickedness punished by God with famine. With an army mostly of foreigners, the 20-year-old Tuathal arrived at
Inber Domnann [Malahide Bay] and quickly conquered the nearby
Fir Bolg,
Domnainn, and
Galióin, eventually marching on
Tara, where he slew Éllim. In a 10th-century text Tuathal Techtmar is credited with the institution of the
boráma tribute from the subject
Laginian [
Leinster] peoples; the boráma usually consisted of 5,000
cows, sheep, pigs, cloaks, bronze vessels, and ounces of silver, and was collected for many centuries. The pretext for the tribute was the disgrace
Eochaid (8) brought upon his kinsmen after he married Tuathal's daughter
Fithir and later came to desire her sister
Dáirine, bringing her into his household as well; the result was that Fithir died of shame and Dáirine died of grief. Tuathal would have imposed his will upon
Connacht,
Munster, and
Ulster as well to construct his own kingdom of
Mide. Although Mide certainly existed, Tuathal's association with it appears based on a misreading of etymology; the text describes him as making Mide [
mide, middle, centre] from the ‘neck’ [
méide] of each province. Mide also encompasses the territory around the hill of
Uisnech, perceived centre of Ireland, where Tuathal Techtmar was thought to have founded the annual
óenach [fair], but probably did not.
Tuathal Techtmar claimed descent from
Eochaid Feidlech through six generations. His grandfather was Feradach Fechtnach, his mother
Eithne Imgel. The son who fathered Conn Cétchathach was Fedlim[m]id Rechtaid (or Rechtmar); another daughter was
Báine. See also
MÍL ESPÁINE.
Bibliography
See Thomas F. O'Rahilly , ‘Tuathal Techtmar’, in Early Irish History and Mythology (Dublin, 1946), 154–70
.
