The Fianna did not use chariots preferring to be more mobile
on horses alone.
The Fianna were made up of members from many different
tribes who travelled in bands of up to 3000 men across the country protecting
the land from invaders.
By the time of the Fianna iron was being used in
weaponry as opposed to the use of bronze by their ancestors. Iron was much
stronger and less liable to bend. The average sword was 3 feet in length,
the hilt comprising 6 inches of the total length. The swords were used to
cut and hack rather than stab, later on shorter stabbing swords would have been
used. The Fianna probably used both types. Spears were also used
these had barbs attached they were easy to thrust into a body but always tore
when being withdrawn causing the most damage. Slings would also have been
used but not as often.
The Fianna's greatest task was the defence of the
coast. They had a system of look-outs and signals posted on top of cliffs
and at fords and passes of importance. Signals were passed by relays of
runners or by beacons at night. Therefore the Fianna were alerted very quickly
of any encroachments and could defend the land straightaway.
The Fianna were made up of three classes of Irish men
each under obligation to give a certain number of their days in service to their
chieftain after which they could return to their normal duties. They also
comprised of mercenaries from various countries such as Scandinavia and Britain
who were paid a regular wage for their services by the reigning high king.
Ordinary peacekeeping duties were also under their jurisdiction. The
making and keeping of laws was very important in Celtic culture at this time.
The motto of the Fianna was: Truth in our hearts. Strength in
our hands. Consistency in our tongues.
They had a special war-cry called the- 'Diord Fionn'.
From Bealtaine to Samhain they went from
place to place hunting game for their food. The rest of the year they
patrolled as defenders, being granted free bed and board by local chieftains in
return for their protection.
Conditions for
entry into the Fianna:
First of all there had to be
assurances from the patrilineal as well as the matrilineal line of the family,
that none of them would sue for compensation in the event of the death of the
member.
Conversely if a member of the Fianna
caused damage to anyone or their property, then his family would not be held
responsible for his actions.
No man was taken until he was a prime
poet, versed in the twelve books of bardic literature.
No man was taken until he could
defend himself from within a large hole in the ground up to his belt, with only
his shield and a length of hazel rod. While nine warriors having nine
spears and being a distance of ten furrows away from him let fly at him
together. If he let anything past his guard and got hurt he was not
accepted.
No man was taken until he had woven
his hair into many braids and he was set at a run through the woods, while the
ones seeking to wound him were sent after him there having been just one forest
bough between them at first. If he was overtaken and wounded he was not
allowed entry, If his weapons had quivered in his hand he was not taken, If his
hair was disturbed in any way out of its braiding he was not taken. If he
cracked a dry stick under his foot as he ran he was not taken. He also had
at full speed to jump a branch level with chest and stoop under one level with
his knee without breaking stride or else he was not accepted. Also he had
to extract a thorn from his foot without pausing in his stride or else he was
not taken.
If he could manage to do all the
above successfully then he was accepted into the Fianna.
Famous Warriors of the
Fianna:
Cumhal (Father of Fionn)
Fionn Mac Cumhail
Fiacha Mac Conga
Goll Mac Morna
Oisín (son of Fionn)
Oscar (son of Oisín)
Diarmuid
O'Duibhne
Caoilte
Mac Ronan
Mac Lugaidh
Conan Maol
Celtic Warcraft
The Celtic Warriors often went into battle naked expecting to be protected by
their gods, their hair would be whitened with lime, fashioned into splendid shapes, their
bodies patterned with tattoos, they attacked their chosen combatants with special war
cries and boasts of past victories.
Some Celts were head hunters believing the head
to be the seat of the soul and the possession of the skull to lend strength to them in
battle therefore these tribes decorated their chariots with skulls.
The use of the
chariot was very important for the Early Celtic warriors, they worked in tandem with their
charioteers and horses as a team. The Celts used the method of single combat
choosing a champion to fight in a one on one confrontation with an opposing champion, they
did not believe in unnecessary bloodshed and waste of life. Therefore skill and
mastery of Warcraft was an important element of combat as they never relied on sheer
numbers to win their battles.
