Fedlimid Rechtmar (; "the lawful, legitimate" or "the passionate, furious") or Rechtaid ("the judge, lawgiver"), son of
Tuathal Techtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a
High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...
. His mother was Báine, daughter of Scál. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his father's killer,
Mal mac Rochride.
The chronology of
Geoffrey Keating's ''Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'' dates his reign to 104–113, that of the ''
Annals of the Four Masters'' to 110–119. The ''
Lebor Gabála Érenn'' synchronises his reign with that of the
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180).
He ruled for nine or ten years before dying in his bed, and was succeeded by
Cathair Mór. One of his sons,
Conn Cétchathach, would succeed Cathair. Two other sons, Fiacha Suighe, ancestor of the
Dal Fiachrach Suighe, and Eochaid Finn, are named in medieval sources.
He is said to have instituted the principle of
an eye for an eye into Irish law, after which the behaviour of the Irish improved.
The completion of the road construction around
Tara is attributed to him.
[Alice Stopford Green, ''Making of Ireland and Its Undoing 1200-1600'', Ayer Publishing, 1975, p. 42. .]
Family tree
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fedlimid Rechtmar
Legendary High Kings of Ireland