General Notes

ancient Irish King

According to Andre' Roux and Irish Pedigrees by O'Hart.

Milesuis traces directly back to Adam and Eve.

Milesuis of Spain: The original name of Milesuis of Spain was "Galanh"
("gall" - Irish for a Stranger, and "amh" a negative affix) which means "No
stranger". This implies that Milesuis was no stranger in Egypt where he was
called "Milethea Spaine" which was afterward contracted to "Mile Spaine"
meaning the Spanish Hero, and finally to "Milesuis" ("mileadh" - Irish for
Hero; miles - Latin for a soldier). Milesuis, in his youth, and during his
father's lifetime went into Scythia, where he was kindly received by the King
of that country, who gave him his daughter in marriage and appointed him
General of his forces. In this capacity, Milesuis defeated the King's subjects.

His growing glory, greatness and popularity earned him the jealously of the
King. Fearing the worst, the King resolved to dispatch Milesuis out of the
way, not daring to oppose him in public. Admonished of the King's intention in that regard, Milesuis slew him and thereupon quitted Scythia and retired into Egypt with a fleet of 60 sails. Pharaoh Nectonibus, then King of Egypt, being informed of his arrival and of his great valor, wisdom and conduct in arms, made him General of all his forces against the King of Ethiopia. Here, as in Scythia, Milesuis was victorious and forced the enemy to submit to the
conqueror's terms of peace. By these exploits, Milesuis found great favor
with Pharaoh, who gave him, being then a widower, his daughter Scota in
marriage, and kept him eight years afterwards in Egypt. During the sojourn of Milesuis in Egypt, he employed the most ingenious and able persons among his sciences used in Egypt, in order to have them taught to the rest of the people on his return to Spain. At length, Milesuis took leave of his father-in-law and went to Spain where he was welcomed by his people who in turn were being harassed by the rebellion of the natives and by the intrusion of other foreign who invaded after his father's death and during his absence from Spain. In 54 battles, victoriously fought, Milesuis routed, destroyed and totally extirpated them out of the country which he settled in peace and quietness. In his reign, a great death and famine occurred in Spain for about 26 years in part due to the invasions and battles as well as to lack of rain. Milesuis, being superstitious, believed the famine to have fallen upon him and his people as a judgment of punishment from their gods, for their negligence in seeking out the country destined for their final abode, so long before foretold by Chachear, their Druid. To expiate his fault and to comply with the will of his gods, Milesius with the general approbation of his people, sent his Uncle Ithe with his son Lughaidh (Luy=Louis), and 150 stout men to bring them an account of those western islands. Ithe, accordingly arrived at the island now called Ireland, landing in that part of it called Munster, left his son with 50 of his men to guard the ship, and with the rest traveled about the island.

Ithe found that the three sons of Cearmad, called Mac-Cuill, MacCeacht, and
MacGreine, had ruled for the previous 30 years each for one year and in turn.
The country was called after the names of their three queens - Eire, Fodhla
and Banbha, respectively, changing name in accordance with the husband who
then ruled. Since then, however, the island has indifferently been called
most commonly "Eire", because MacCuill, her husband, ruled and governed the
country in the year the Clan-na-Mile (Milesuis sons) arrived in and conquered
Ireland.

While greeted first favorably, Ithe was then attacked and slain by the forces
of the three sons of Cearmad in a plain called Magh Ithe ("plain of Ithe" in
the Barony of Raphoe, County Donegal). Ithe's son brought the body back to
Spain. Thereupon, Milesuis made preparations to invade Ireland, equally to
avenge his uncle's death as to obey his gods. Before he could effect that
objective, Milesuis died, charging his eight sons and his two wives with the
invasion. Soon after Milesuis' death, with a large fleet and numerous
soldiers, they set forth from Breoghan's Tower or Brigantia (now Corunna) in
Galicia in Spain, and set sail for the coast of Ireland or Inis-Fail, where
they had great difficulties due to the magic arts used by the Tuatha-de-Danans to obstruct their landing, and raised so great a storm that the Milesian fleet was totally dispersed and wherein five of Milesuis' eight sons lost their lives. That part of the fleet commanded by Heber, Heremon and Amergin and also Heber Donn (son of Ir), overcame all opposition and routed the three Tuatha-de-Danan Kings at Slieve-Mis. Thence, they pursued and overtook them at Tailten where, after a bloody battle, the kings and their queens were slain and their armies utterly destroyed. Milesuis bore three lions on his standard because while passing through Africa in his younger days, he, by cunning and great valor, killed three lions in one morning. In memory of such a noble and valiant exploit, he thenceforth, bore three lions on his shield as well.

After their conquest of Ireland, his two surviving sons Heber and Heremon, and his grandson Heber Donn, son of Ir, divided the lions amongst them, each of them bearing a Lion on his shield and banner but of different colors.

From the Book The General History of Ireland by Keating (The Voyage of the
Milesians from Gothland to Spain), the famous Gallamh, who was called Milesius of Spain, who was son of Bille, son of Breogan, who though he be the last named of all brothers, yet the most authentic records of the kingdom allow him to be the eldest son. The Family of Breogan obtained such character among the Spaniards that by assistance of their hardy Gadelians, they almost made conquest of the whole county, and obtained some of the principal offices in the government. The young prince Gallamh fought with great bravery in many engagements against the natives, he resolved to undertake a voyage to Scythia, to visit his royal relations in that county. Accordingly he fit about 30 ships and when he furnished his fleet with sufficient necessaries and provisions, he manned it with the stoutest of the Gadelian troops, and weighted anchor. He steered his course through the western sea till he came into the Mediterranean, and passing by Scythia and Crete, he sailed northwards, Egean into Euxine Sea, and so entering the river Tanais he landed in Scythia.