tells the story of this battle. While Fachtna Fáthach was away from Tara on a visit to Ulster, Eochu, then king of Connacht, raised an army, had the provincial kings killed and took hostages from Tara. When news reached Fachtna at Emain Macha, he raised an army of Ulstermen and gave battle at Leitir Rúaid in the Corann (modern County Sligo), but was defeated and beheaded by Eochu. Eochaid Sálbuide, the king of Ulster, was also killed. Fergus mac Róich covered the Ulster army's retreat, and Eochu marched to Tara. He ruled for twelve years, and died of natural causes at Tara. Following his death, he was succeeded by his brother, Eochu Airem. The Lebor Gabála synchronises his reign with the dictatorship of Julius Caesar (48–44 BC). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 94–82 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 143–131 BC. References Ulster Cycle Cycles of the Kings People from County Meath Legendary High Kings of Ireland 1st-century BC legendary rulers