In his time was the glory of the “Red Branch” in Ulster, who were the offspring of Ross the Red, King of Ulster, with collateral relatives and allies, forming ultimately a kind of warlike Order. Most of the Red Branch heroes appear in the Ultonian Cycle of legend, so that a statement of their names and relationships may be usefully placed here before we proceed to speak of their doings. It is noticeable that they have a partly supernatural ancestry. Ross the Red, it is said, wedded a Danaan woman, Maga, daughter of Angus Ōg.(134) As a second wife he wedded a maiden named Roy. His descendants are as follows: Maga === Ross the Red === Roy | | | +-----+ | | Fachtna === Nessa Fergus mac Roy the Giant | | | Conor mac Nessa But Maga was also wedded to the Druid Cathbad, and by him had three daughters, whose descendants played a notable part in the Ultonian legendary cycle. Cathbad === Maga | +--------------------+-----+-------------+ | | | Dectera[*] === Lugh Elva === Usna Finchoom === Amorgin | | | | +-----+-----+ | | | | | | Cuchulain Naisi Ainlé Ardan Conall of the Victories [*]Dectera also had a mortal husband, Sualtam, who passed as Cuchulain’s father. *Birth of Cuchulain*