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Cousins,
Ancient Cousins, Gentlemen & Donna,
I thought
you might enjoy seeing two museum quality Scottish/Irish Targes (war
shields) that I have re-created based upon the oral history of the
MacIntyres and a lifetime of research to verify the same.
The first
belongs to Conn Of The Hundred Battles. He is the direct ancestor of
Muirdach, the father of all MacIntyres, and the King from which
virtually all of the ancient Royal Irish and Gael King of Scots descend
in either the male of female line, sometimes both. His targe
prominently features his rising Red War Eagle symbol. Conn is most
famous for re-uniting Eirinn under one High King, with the four
provincial Kings under him. He was Ard Righ, or High King of Eirinn
(Ireland) around 150AD.
The
second targe belongs to Muirdach mac Neill/mac Nial/O'Neill who is the
father of all MacIntyres and would be his shield after 1140 AD, the date
of Somerled's marriage to Ragnhilda, and Muirdach's being made a prince
of The Kingdom of Argyll and The Isles by his Uncle Somerled. Muirdach
was Conn's direct descendent in the male line of the High Kings of
Eirinn. The symbols he used explain his derivative ancestry directly
from Conn and visibly explain both his mother and father's lineage
(diagonals) along with his fostering to Godred Croven, King of Man.
Hence, his unique Title, "Prince of Three Kingdoms". Those would be in
order, Eirinn by birth, Mann by fostering, and Argyll and the Isles by
way of King Somerled and Muirdach's mother (Somerled's older sister).
Please
note the outer Celtic knot border which was handed down in each
generation from Conn's time among some but not all of his descendants
and is also utilized by the main branch of the Clan Donald, and several
others Highland Clans who descend from him. Also note the colors
utilized were also handed down, red, black, silver & gold the latter two
denoting Royal Blood.
Bruce McIntyre
Cousins, Ancient Cousins, Alastair, and friends:
I've just finished the two MacIntyre Chieftains targes, circa pre 1440
AD and the much lamented coming of the Campbells and the long arm of
feudalism to the Highlands of Scotland (prompting the flitting of
Lorn, the end of elected Chiefs, etc).
Please note that a Chieftain's Targe was differentiated from the Clan
Chief's Targe only by the symbol in the center, while everything else
remained the same on the Targe's overall design among MacIntyres. At
our zenith we had 20 plus Chieftains on our High Council, plus a Bard
and a Seannachie, and could muster well over 2000 Highland fighting
men. There would have been upwards of twenty different Chieftains
symbols in the center of those targes so let your Celtic imagination
run wild.
Additionally, the only difference between a Clansman's Targe and one
of these is that they were not so lavish with brass nails, gold and
silver leafing/paint, etc, so the symbols would be tooled into the
leather and painted (if the Clansman had the time, the material, or
the means). With this said, where you see the three pointed triscal on
Tyson's Targe and the Triscal whorl on Garrett's Targe, those would be
replaced by the Red Rising War Eagle in the Center for the elected
Chief.
Finally, keep in mind that these Targes represent Gaeldom and
Tannistry and not the hated feudalism of later, and much sadder
times. The feudalists made these and virtually all other Clan symbols
the personal property of the Chief and not a Clan's High Council as
had been the case for centuries.
Chieftains Targe 3 pointed triscal
Chieftains Targe triscal whorl
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Hogmany!
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