Calgacus's Quiz On "Celtic" History

Yep...both of you. Thanks Gael. :goodjob: I'd love to read more about this guy at some stage, but sources are crap. :(

Here we go again. :D

Julius Caesar says:

"All the druids are under one head, whom they hold in the highest respect...On a fixed date in each year they hold a session in a concecrated spot in the territory of the Carnutes, which they [the druids] hold to be the center of Gaul" (De Bellum Gallicum VI. 13).

He also says, that the "capital" town of the Carnut-es was Cenab-um (VII. 11; VIII. 5). This city was renamed Aurelianum by the emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century.

QUESTION 25:

What is the name of the city today?
 
Orléans.

You make it far too easy to google, I didn't even have to open a site.

I'll make a suggestion knowing you like to talk about all things Celt, and people who arn't might like to have some idea.
You ask the question and either you, or whoever answers, has to elaborate or explain the answer. Not really too in-depth if you don't want too, but just to bring the question and answer together coherently.

It means that if people are just barking out quick answers, they are foced to look into it, or if you think that might put people off answering, you could grace us with your wisdom.

Might give it a wee bit more substance. :shrug

Just a idea, ignore at will. :)
 
Serait-ce Orléans ?
 
Yes indeed it is.

@Gael: I think I've tended to explain more before hand. Perhaps you're correct.

People are free to give elaborate answers, and I always enjoy them when they come.

Let's have a try. :)

QUESTION 26:

What was the Latinized Celtic name for the modern city of Colchester? Please explain the origin of the name, the importance of the ancient city and of the city's name in later medieval legend.
 
calgacus said:
QUESTION 26:

What was the Latinized Celtic name for the modern city of Colchester? Please explain the origin of the name, the importance of the ancient city and of the city's name in later medieval legend.
Click to expand...


Well, OK. I appear to have made that question look to hard.

The answer is Camulodun-um.

"-um" is (added) the Latin nominative ending, so you're left with some form of "Camulodun-?", whose meaning "fortess" (dun - a common prefix in Scotland and Ireland) "of Camelos" (Camulo) - a Celtic war god.

Camulodunum was the capital of the Trinovant-es. At about 5AD, the city was taken by Cunobellin, King of the Catuvellaun-i. Cunobelin-us seems to have moved his capital there, and styled himself "Kings of the Britons" (Suetonius: "Rex Britannorum"). Norman Davies postulates that Camulodunum represented some form of high-kingship center equivalent to Irish Tara. Whether this is true or not, the Romans established their own capital their, as well as a giant temple to the emperor Claudius. The revolting Britons under Boudicca targetted and destroyed this temple. Thereafter the capital was moved to Londinium.

Camulodunum was obviously well remembered by the Britons, as the medieval city of legend, Camelot, quite obviously derives from it (even if Geoffrey of Monmouth relocates it to Wales to Caerleon).
 
QUESTION 27:

According to the Annals of Inisfallen, what exotic present was given in 1105 by the King Etgair of Alba to Muirchertach Ua Briain?
 
It comes from medieval Germanic (either Old English or/and Norse) meaning "land of the Gaels", used by Anglo-Saxons and Vikings to refer to Caledonia-Alba-Scotia.

I realize that this question is also hard, since you won't come across the answer either online or in most standard textbooks. CLUE: Think middle-eastern!
 
QUESTION 28:

What word did the Vikings use for the Gaels, after which some islands off the coast of Iceland take their name?
 
That is correct Plexus. It, of course, means "the Men of the West". The name of those islands is often taken to prove Gaelic presence in Iceland before Scandinavian settlement, but the Viking also had a lot of Gaelic slaves. So, who knows!


QUESTION 29:

In a myth similar in kind to that of Uther Pendragon and Igraine, who, according to the Tochmarc Etaine, was it that deceived Elcmar, sending him on errands for 9 months in order to sleep with his wife Boand? What was the name of the son spawned by the union?
 
OK, well here's an easier one:

QUESTION 30:

What was the infamous consequence of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair's conflict with Diarmaitt mac Murchada?
 
ah mac Murchada had returned from england with a force of welsh and normans to reclaim the High Kingship of Ireland. In response, Conchobair killed the hostages he had, mac Murchada's son and nephew, and delivered their bodys to mac Murchada. Mac Murchada lost the will to fight and disbanded to the ferns.
 
NBGreenDay said:
ah mac Murchada had returned from england with a force of welsh and normans to reclaim the High Kingship of Ireland. In response, Conchobair killed the hostages he had, mac Murchada's son and nephew, and delivered their bodys to mac Murchada. Mac Murchada lost the will to fight and disbanded to the ferns.
Click to expand...

Well, not quite. Diarmait mac Murchada was king of Laigin (Leinster). According to Giraldus Cambrensis, he abducted the wife of Tigernán Ua Ruairc, the lord of Bréifne and Conmaicne. Tigernán formed an alliance Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connachta and High King of Ireland; and Diarmait was expelled from his kingdom.

Now, if it had all ended there, history would be very different. Instead, Diarmait went France to see Henri II of England, offered his homage, and asked for help being restored to his "kingdom". Henri accepted to help him and gave him letters patent, which contained the following:

"When you receive this present letter, be advised that we have admitted to our most intimate grace and favor Dermit, Prince of Lagen. Wherefore, if any person from within our wide dominions wishes to help in restoring him, as having done us fealty and homage, let him know that he has our goodwill and permission to do so"

Diarmait obtained the help of Robert FitzStephen and Maurice FitzGerald, by promising Maurice and Robert the city of Wexford and surrounding area. Diarmait crossed over to Ireland alone in 1169, FitzStephen and FitzGerald a little later in the year. They, together, subdued Wexford and Osraige...and later Dublin, along with other palces; they also saw off the army of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (although without engaging it).

Diarmait, if we believe Giraldus, then raised his ambitions, and began to aim at the kingship of Connachta and the High-Kingship of Ireland. The problem was manpower. Diarmait sent a letter to Richard FitzGilbert de Clare (aka "Strongbow"), nominal Earl of Pembroke, offering Richard his daughter in marriage (and succession to his kingdom) in return for help. Strongbow agreed. Their joint forces beat off invasions by the Norwegians and the "Men of the Isles". Not long after, Diarmait died.

Soon (still 1171) Henri II himself began to get worried about the success of his vassals, and ordered them all to withdraw. The Cambro-Norman adventurers in Ireland sent representatives to his court to appeal. Henri decided to visit the Island, and when he arrived, he received the submission of almost every ruler in the island outside of Ulaid. He also received the submission of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, which, as he was High King of Ireland, meant in feudal terms the submission of all Ireland. Henri began issuing laws and depriving his old vassals of independent power. Henri also obtaisn the support of the Papal Legate and the Papacy (in return for one penny per household in Ireland).

However, Henri was forced to leave because his sons were rebelling. In 1177, Henri sent his son Jean to rule the island as a "Lordship". Strongbow had died in 1176, leaving his rights as king of Laigin to Henri.

Diarmait's conflict with Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, hence, led to the Ango-Norman (or/and rather, Cambro-Norman) invasion of Ireland. It led to the first English foothold in Ireland, and since, the English have ruled either all of Ireland or bits of it, since...to the present day. It might be argued that Diarmait was a kind of Irish Vortigern.
 
QUESTION 31:

According to Prosper of Aquitaine's Epitoma Chronicon, what did Pope (later St.) Celestine I send to the Irish in AD 431?
 
No one has yet responded. Well, there won't be any other questions before someone does. This quiz really does appear to be on its last legs.

I'll give a clue: the "what" is actually a "who" and it is one of the most mysterious and controversial "what happened"s in the history of the British Isles.
 
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