historical cycle

historical cycle, a group of early Irish tales composed between the 9th and 12th cents., and so designated because they deal with persons and events of the early historical period from the 6th to the 8th cents. Often concerned with kingship, dynastic conflicts, and battles, these tales are sometimes also referred to as the king cycle. A number of the tales deal with specific events of historical record. Among these are Cath Maige Rath and Cath Almaine, recounting events in battles which took place in AD 637 and 722 respectively. The famous Buile Shuibne moves beyond immediate historicity to incorporate mythic and religious concerns. A further 12th-cent. development was the writing of pseudo-historical tracts such as Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh and Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil. These purport to describe the period of the Viking wars but, in fact, rewrite history as dynastic propaganda.