Information AboutFianna |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FIANNA | |
| fenian cycle | |
| mercenary units and formations of the ancient era | |
| military units and formations of the ancient era | |
| military units and formations of the medieval era | |
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In early Ireland , ''fianna'' (singular '''''fian''''') were small, semi-independent warrior bands who lived apart from society in the forests as Mercenaries , Bandit s and hunters, but could be called upon by kings in times of war. They appear in Irish Mythology , most notably in the stories of the Fenian Cycle , where they are led by Fionn Mac Cumhaill . In more recent history, the name Fianna Éireann has been used by a number of Irish Republican paramilitary youth groups. The historical institution of the ''fian'' is known from references in as corroboration.Nerys Patterson, ''Cattle Lords and Clansmen: the Social Structure of Early Ireland'', University of Notre Dame Press, 1994, p. 122-123 Some legendary depictions of ''fianna'' seem to conform to this historical reality: for example, in the Ulster Cycle the druid Cathbad leads a ''fian'' of twenty-seven men which fights against other ''fianna'' and kills the twelve foster-fathers of the Ulster princess Ness . Ness, in response, leads her own ''fian'' of twenty-seven in pursuit of Cathbad. Kuno Meyer , "Anecdota from the Stowe MS. No. 992", '' Revue Celtique '' 6, 1884, pp. 173-186 However, the stories of the Fenian Cycle, set around the time of Cormac Mac Airt , depict the ''fianna'' as a single standing army in the service of the High King , although it contains two rival factions, the Clann Baíscne of Leinster , led by Fionn mac Cumhaill, and the Clann Morna of Connacht , led by Goll Mac Morna , and lives apart from society, surving by hunting. Membership was subject to rigorous tests. In one such test the applicant would stand in a waist-deep hole armed with a Shield while nine warriors threw Spear s at him; if he was wounded, he failed. In another his hair would be braided, and he would be pursued through the Forest ; he would fail if he was caught, if a branch cracked under his feet, or if the braids in his hair were disturbed. He would have to be able to leap over a branch the height of his forehead, pass under one as low as his knee, and pull a thorn from his foot without slowing down. He also needed to be a skilled Poet . Members included:
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