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- Milesius, in his youth and during his father's life-time, went into Scythia, where he was kindly received by the king of that country, who gave his daughter in marriage, and appointed him General of his forces. In this capacity Milesius defeated the king's enemies, gained much fame, and love of all the kings subjects. His growing greatness and popularity excited against him the jealousy of the king; who fearing the worst, resolved on privately despatching Milesius out of the way, for, openly, he dare not attempt it. Admonished of the king's intentions in his regard, Milesius slew him; and thereupon quitted Scythia and retired into Egypt with a fleet of sixty sail. Pharaoh Nectonibus, then king of Egypt, being informed of his arrival and of his great valour, wisdom, and conduct in arms, made him General of all his forces against the king of Ethiopia then invading his country. Here as in Scythia, Milesius was victorious; he forced the enemy to submit to the conqueror's own terms of peace. By these exploits Milesius found great favour with Pharoah, who gave him, being then a widower, his daughter Scota in marriage; and kept him eight years afterwards in Egypt.
During the sojourn of Milesius in Egypt, he employed the most ingenious and able persons among his people to be instructed in the several trades, arts, and sciences used in Egypt; in order to have them taught to the rest of his people on his return to Spain.
[The original name of Milesius of Spain was already mentioned ('Galamh' (gall: Irish, a stranger; amh, a negative affix), which means, 'no stranger': meaning he was no stranger in Egypt, where he was called 'Milethea Spaine,' which afterwards contracted to 'Mile Spain' (meaning the Spanish Hero), and finally to 'Milesius' ('mileadh': Irish, a hero; Lat. 'miles', a soldier).]
At length Milesius took leave of his father-in-law, and steered towards Spain; where he arrived to the great joy and comfort of his people, who were much harassed by the rebellion of the natives and by the intrusion of other foreign nations that forced in after his father's death, and during his long absence from Spain. With these and those he often met; and, in fifty-four battles, victoriously fought, he routed, destroyed, and totally extirpated them out of the country, which he settled in peace and quietness.
In he reign a great dearth and famine occurred in Spain, of twenty-six years continuance, occasioned, as well by reason of the former troubles which hindered the people from cultivating and manuring the ground, as for want of rain to moisten the earth; but Milesius superstitiously believed the famine to have fallen upon him and his people as a judgement and punishment from their gods, for their negligence in seeking out the country destined for their final abode, so long before foretold to Lamhfionn by Cachear their Druid or magician. The time limited by the prophesy for the accomplishment thereof being now nearly, if not fully, expired. 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), and one hundred and fifty stout men to bring them an account of those western islands; which, accordingly, arrived at the island since then called Ireland, and landing in that part of it now called Munster, left his son with fifty of his men to guard the ship, and with the rest travelled about the island.
Informed among other things, that the three sons of Cearmad, called Mac-Cuill, MacCeaght, and MacGreine, did then and for thirty years before rule and govern the island, each one year in his turn; and that the country was called after the names of their three queens- Eire, Fodhla, and Banbha, respectively: one year called "Eire", the next "Fodhla", and the next "Banbha", as their husbands reigned in their regular turns; by which names the island is ever since indifferently called, but most commonly "Eire", because MacCuill, the husband of Eire, ruled and governed the country in his turn the year that the Clan-na-Mile (or the sons of Milesius) arrived and conquered Ireland.
[Eire: Ancient Irish historians assert that this queen was the granddaughter of Ogma, who invented the Ogham Alphabet; and that it is after that Queen, that Ireland is always personated by a female figure!]
And, being further informed that the three brothers were then at their palace at Aileach Neid, in the north part of the country, engaged in the settlement of some disputes concerning their family jewels, Ithe directed his course thither; sending orders to his son to sail about with his ship and the rest of his men, and meet him there.
[Aileach Neid: This name may be derived from the Irish 'aileach,' a stone horse or stallion, or 'aileachta', jewels; and 'Neid,' the Mars of the Pagan Irish. In its time it was one of the most important fortresses in Ireland.]
When Ithe arrived where the (Danan) brothers were, he was honorably received and entertained by them; and, finding him to be a man of great wisdom and knowledge, they referred their disputes to him for decision. That decision having met their entire satisfaction, Ithe exhorted them to mutual love, peace, and forbearance; adding much praise of their delightful, pleasant, and fruitful country; and then took his leave, to return to his ship, and go back to Spain.
No sooner was he gone than the brothers began to reflect on the high commendations which Ithe gave the Island; and suspecting his design of bringing others to invade it, resolved to prevent them, and therefore pursued him with a strong party, overtook him, fought and routed his men and wounded himself to death (before his son or the rest of his men left on ship-board could come to his rescue) at a place called, from that fight by his name, 'Magh Ithe' or 'The Plain of Ithe' (an extensive plain in the barony of Raphoe, county Donegal); whence his son, having found him in that condition, brought his dead and mangled body back into Spain, and there exposed it to public view, thereby to excite his friends and relations to avenge his murder.
And here I think it not amiss to notify what the Irish chroniclers, observe upon this matter, viz. - that all the invaders and planters of of Ireland, namely, Partholan, Neimhedh, the Firbolgs, Tuatha-de-Danans, and Clan-na-Mile, where originally Scythians, of the line of Japhet, who had the language called 'Bearla-Tobbai' or 'Gaodhilg' [Gaelic] common amongst them all; and consequently not to be wondered at, that Ithe and the Tuatha-de-Danans understood one another without an interpreter - both speaking the same language, though perhaps with some differences in the accent.
The exposing of the dead body of Ithe had the desired effect; for, thereupon, Milesius made great preparations in order to invade Ireland - as well to avenge his uncle's death as also in obedience to the will of his gods, signified by the prophecy of Cachear, aforesaid. But, before he could effect that object, he died, leaving the care and charge of that expedition upon his eight legitimate sons by his two wives before mentioned.
Milesius was a very valiant champion, a great warrior, and fortunate and prosperous in all his undertakings: witness his name of 'Milesius' given him from the many battles (some say a thousand, which the word 'Mile' signifies in Irish as well as Latin) which he victoriously fought and won, as well in Spain, as in all the other countries and kingdoms he traversed in his younger days.
Travelled into Scythia and Egypt where he was made an Army General by Pharoah Nectonibus. He returned to Spain and after several years sent exploration ships to the Western Isles of Europe. In those ships were one of his sons and his uncle. The murder of his uncle by some of the explorers, now proclaimed Kings of Ireland, caused Milesius to set about preparing to invade Ireland in revenge. However, his death caused this due to be left to his sons. They were Heber, Heremon and Amergin, the only three out of eight to survive that invasion commanded by 36 Chiefs each having his own ship with family and followers. ('Celtic - Myths and Legends - T W Rolleston [Senate Press])
Milesius. Sometimes given as Mil. In Irish his name is given as Golamh, a warrior, but he has become popular under the Latin form Milesius, signifying a soldier. The name is also given as Mile Easpain, a soldier of Spain. It was his children who led the Milesians in their conquest of Ireland. Milesiaus' ancestry goes back through twenty-two Irish names and thirteen Hebrew names to Adam. He is described as a Scythian of Spain who took service with King Reafloir of Sythia and married his daughter Seang. After Seang died, Reafloir grew fearful of Milesius and plotted to kill him. Discovering the plot, Milesius fled to Egypt with his two sons, Donn and Airioch Feabhruadh, and his followers, and took service with the Pharaoh Nectanebus. He was successful in conducting a war against the Ethiopians for the Pharaoh. There were, in fact, two Pharaohs of the Thirtieth Dynasty named Nectanebus but their dates are 380-363 BC and 360-343 BC. Milesius married Scota, the daughter of the Pharaoh, and two sons Eber and Amairgen were born in Egypt. A third son Ir was born on the island of Irena near Thrace after Milesius and his followers quit Egypt. A fourth son Colpa was born on the Island of Gotia. Milesius eventually returned to Spain. Here he learned of the death of Ith, given as a nephew, slain by the three sons of Ogma (Mac Cecht, Mac Cuill and Mac Greine), and decided to take revenge by conquering Ireland. He did not reach Ireland although his wife, Scotia, did so. She was killed fighting the De Danaan and was buried in Kerry. It was his sons that carried out the conquest. ["A Dictionary of Irish Mythology" - Peter Berresford Ellis. Oxford University Press (1991] [1]
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