tremendous impact in European literature and reawoke an interest in Celtic mythology. Dr. Samuel Johnson denounced the work as a forgery in 1770. Goethe praised it and it also left a deep impression on Blake, Byron, and Tennyson. Napoleon Bonaparte is known to have carried a copy with him on his campaigns, and he took it with him into his exile on St. Helena.

Mac Roth

[I] Medb’s steward, not to be confused with the champion Fergus Mac Roth, who was asked to get Medb details about the fabulous Brown Bull of Cuailgne.

Macsen Wledig

[W] Magnus Maximus, a Roman from Spain who arrived in Britain about a.d. 368. He married a Celt named Elen Lwddog, sometimes referred to as Helen, and was declared emperor of Rome by the Legions stationed in Britain. He crossed to Gaul and made himself “western emperor” in a.d. 383. He marched on Rome, and Valentinian II fled from the city. However, Theodosius, the eastern emperor, fought against him and defeated him in several battles. He was put to death on July 28, a.d. 388. It is argued that the Welsh red dragon banner had its origin with the standard of Maximus. Ammianus Marcellinus describes how the emperor’s imperial standard showed a dragon on a purple background. His widow, Elen, then returned with her children to Britain, settling in the area that was to become Wales, where she devoted herself to Christian works and her children became the ancestors of several royal dynasties. Her daughter, Severa, is supposed to have married Vortigern. Macsen Wledig (gwledig means ruler) is the subject of several stories in Welsh myth. In one, “The Dream of Macsen Wledig,” he is accompanied in a hunt by 32 crowned kings and has a vision. This is similar to the story of the Irish “Bricriu’s Feast,” in which 32 heroes accompany Conchobar Mac Nessa to Bricriu’s Hall.

Mael Dúin

[I] Sometimes given as Maeldun. One of the major heroes of Irish myth whose fabulous voyage, the oldest voyage tale so far identified, is thought to have been the inspiration of the later Christian epic Navigatio Brendani (The Voyage of Brendan). Alfred Tennyson made the hero popular with nineteenth century readers in his epic poem “The Voyage of Maeldune.” The oldest manuscript is Immram Curaig Maile Dúin, in a tenth century version, although