Editing Nuada Airgetlám (section)

==Description==
Nuada was king of the [[Tuatha Dé Danann]] for seven years before they came to Ireland. They made contact with the [[Fir Bolg]], the then-inhabitants of the island, and Nuada sought from them half of the island for the Tuatha Dé, which their king rejected. Both peoples made ready for war, and in an act of chivalry allowed their numbers and armaments to be inspected by the opposing side to allow for a truly fair battle. During this first great battle at Mag Tuired, Nuada lost an arm<ref>Or a hand – [[Old Irish language|Old Irish]] ''lám'' can mean either. ''The First Battle of Mag Tuired'' ([http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/1maghtured.html §48] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504180957/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/1maghtured.html |date=4 May 2009 }}) specifically says that Sreng "severed his right arm at the shoulder; and the king's arm with a third of his shield fell to the ground".</ref> in combat with the Fir Bolg champion [[Sreng]]. Nuada's ally, Aengaba of Norway, then fought Sreng, sustaining a mortal wound, while [[the Dagda]] protected Nuada. Fifty of the Dagda's soldiers carried Nuada from the field. The Tuatha Dé gained the upper hand in the battle, so to speak, but Sreng later returned to challenge Nuada to single combat. Nuada accepted, on the condition that Sreng fought with one arm tied up. Sreng refused, but by this point the battle was won and the Fir Bolg all but vanquished. The Tuatha Dé then decided to offer Sreng one quarter of Ireland for his people instead of the one half offered before the battle, and he chose [[Connacht]].<ref>''[[Lebor Gabála Érenn]]'' [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor4.html §58, 60, 64] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715225248/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor4.html |date=15 July 2010 }}; ''The First Battle of Mag Tuired'' [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/1maghtured.html §20, 48, 56] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504180957/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/1maghtured.html |date=4 May 2009 }}</ref>

Having lost his arm, Nuada was no longer eligible for kingship because of the Tuatha Dé tradition that their king must be physically perfect, and he was replaced as king by [[Bres]], a half-[[Fomorian]] prince renowned for his beauty and intellect. The Fomorians were mythological enemies of the people of Ireland, often equated with the mythological "opposing force" such as the Greek [[Titan (mythology)|Titans]] to the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympians]], and during Bres's reign they imposed great tribute on the Tuatha Dé, who became disgruntled with their new king's oppressive rule and lack of hospitality. By this time Nuada had his lost arm replaced by a working silver one by the physician [[Dian Cecht]] and the wright [[Creidhne]] (and later with a new arm of flesh and blood by Dian Cecht's son [[Miach]]). Bres was removed from the kingship, having ruled for seven years, and Nuada was restored. He ruled for twenty more years.<ref>''[[Lebor Gabála Érenn]]'' [http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor4.html §64] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715225248/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor4.html |date=15 July 2010 }}; ''The Second Battle of Mag Tuired'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T300010.html pp. 27–35] (Gray translation); ''[[Annals of the Four Masters]]'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/text004.html M3304-3310]; [[Geoffrey Keating]], ''History of Ireland'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text019.html 1.9]</ref>

Bres, aided by the Fomorian [[Balor]] of the Evil Eye, attempted to retake the kingship by force, and war and continued oppression followed. When the youthful and vigorous [[Lugh]] joined Nuada's court, the king realised the multi-talented youth could lead the Tuatha Dé against the Fomorians, and stood down in his favour. The second Battle of Mag Tuired followed. Nuada was killed and beheaded in battle by Balor, but Lugh avenged him by killing Balor and led the Tuatha Dé to victory.<ref>''The Second Battle of Mag Tuired'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T300010.html pp. 35–43, 61] (Gray translation); ''[[Annals of the Four Masters]]'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/text004.html M3311-3330]; Geoffrey Keating, ''History of Ireland'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text021.html 1.21]</ref>

Nuada's great sword was one of the [[Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann]], brought from one of their four great cities.<ref>''The Second Battle of Mag Tuired'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T300010.html p. 25] (Gray translation); ''[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/jewels.html The Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220160626/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/jewels.html |date=20 February 2012 }}''</ref> In ''The Fate of the Children of Tuireann'' Nuada is described as having a one-eyed door-keeper, whose eye is replaced by the brother healers [[Miach]] and Oirmiach with that of a cat.<ref>{{cite book |title=Oide Cloinne Tuireann |date=1901 |publisher=M. H. Gill and Son |location=Dublin |page=67 |url=https://archive.org/details/fateofchildrenof00sociiala/mode/2up |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>