Niall of the Nine Hostages

by Oliver Hayes

The mighty warrior king Niall Noígíallach dominates the twilight world between history and legend. He was one of the greatest of the High Kings of Ireland in prehistoric days, but one of the least known to modern historians. He gave rise to the powerful and widespread O'Neil (Ui Neill) dynasty of rulers, but even the century in which he lived is obscure. He was a pagan, but his reign prepared the way for Christianity.
That Niall of the Nine Hostages did live and did rule at least part of Ireland nobody doubts, but how powerful he really was and how he got his famous sobriquet "of the Nine Hostages" remain utterly obscure.
In this book historian Oliver Hayes goes back to the original legends, old manuscripts and seeks to disentangle fact from legend to reveal the true character and career of Niall of the Nine Hostages.


About the Author
Oliver Hayes has written several books, ebooks and magazine articles about British history. His grandfather was from Ireland, his grandmother from Wales and he himself lives in England - giving him a special overview of the historical nations of Britain.

27 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2013

Reviews

[Matthew Sciarrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but easily readable

The book is more a novella or long short story, but it is readable and well written. It tells the story well. A few maps added to the few illustrations would have been appreciated.

[Graham Cammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

I am descended from Niall of the nine hostages, as my ancestry DNA results inform me. So that's why I read this ebook. It was a very informative and interesting read! I highly recommend!

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unimpressed

There would have been a number of better ways to write this history. It could have been organized better to be lease back and forth.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Nice good book covering forgotten history. Informative. It is so.that confusing but that comes with the time period.
Nicely done.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short run down of Niall Noigiallach the High King of Ireland and the ancestor of 21% of Irish men.

[David Cuatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book about one of Ireland's High Kings. Not a lot of the history of this period is known, and much of it is mixed with legend. Still, an entertaining and enlightening read.

[Mr S Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and succinct review of Bill of the nine hostages

Reviews all available data on nialls life and links it to St Patrick and the decline of roman Britain. Good read.

[Burky Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounds like a oral history. Not factual, but this seems to be inspiring to the Scottish.