Medb of Connacht
Legendary, Celtic Ireland, exact dates uncertain
Medb was the legendary Queen of Connacht, a western Irish province, and daughter of the High King of Ireland, who placed her on the throne. Throughout her life, she had many husbands and lovers, several of whom died while battling over her. One of the more famous legends about Medb is recounted in the epic tale Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley), involving a dispute over a white-horned bull. Medb insisted that she and her husband be equal in wealth, so when she discovered that one of them, Ailill, was richer by just one bull, she launched a war against Ulster, his province, to steal the animal. Medb’s colorful life came to an end when she was murdered while bathing in a lake.