Articles2

The Legendary Celts
REH and the Celtic Strain
by Wayne Warfield

   Historically, Robert E. Howard’s “facts” are not historically accurate in regard to the Celts. They (REH’s
facts) did, however, make a fascinating backdrop for his varied tales. All of Howard’s numerous Celt-
related characters have, consequently, stirred up interest in true Celtic history. Just who were the Celts,
and what do we know about them?
   We know from all the Conan stories that Cimmeria and the Cimmerians were a land and people north of
the Hyborian nations (the race that overthrew the empire of Archeron, the fallen empire of “The Hour of the
Dragon”). The name Acheron is probably derived from Greek mythology; the Celts (or Gaels) having
descended from Cimmeria. Historically, the Cimmerians (or Gimirai) were nomads who invaded Asia Minor
(a Peninsula in Western Asia between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean) in the seventh century B.
C.
   This does not explain where, or what Howard based his “history” on. According to L. Sprague de Camp,
Howard might have had in mind a once proposed, but now discredited connection between the Kimmerioi
(a people in Homer’s writings who lived in a foggy western land) and the Cymry or Welsh.
Conan is a common Celtic name (e.g. Conann, the Fororian King of Irish mythology killed in battle with the
Nemedians). Howard also connected Celtic traits in the majority of his other heroes, by actual ancestry or
description. Noted examples include Cormac Mac Art and the Conn who appeared herein.
   Howard often spoke of his interest in reincarnation; this was utilized in his a number of times. All of his
finest characters seem remotely related with a strong Gaelic strain in their ancestry. The Cimmerians
(Conan) were the descendants of the Atlanteans (Kull), and many years later we find descendants, however
remote, in Bran Mak Morn and Cormac Mac Art. Covering a span of time from the first millennium B.C. (pre-
Roman invasion in Britain) and some 1300 or 1400 years to the end of Roman power in the British Isles. The
Celtic strain, then, was the “link” briefly discussed in my article “Robert E. Howard: Retrospectively” (TGR
#1) in regard to the Conan in every age theory. It was not Conan, but a Celt!
   Celt (or Kelt) is a name derived from the plural Keltoi, used by Greek geographers and also used later by
Greek and Latin writers (in Latin: Celtae). The name was used from at least the late sixth century B.C., to
denote a great barbarian people who were widespread in Europe and the Iberian (Spanish-Portuguese)
peninsula. Exactly how the term Keltoi came about is not known, but it was used to describe all the
interrelated barbarian tribes who dwelt in the regions cited. These tribes in the third and fourth centuries
B.C. invaded Italy and the Balkans (Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece and European Turkey).
There is no contemporary historical fact to link the Celts with the British Isles at all. At least, no ancient
source mentions the word or variations of it. Often, inexact modern usages seem to stem from philological
deductions made by 16th and 17th century scholars, that the Gaelic and Welsh languages were derived
from the speech of the ancient Celts. There are only fragmentary records in classical authors. Third
century B.C. writers used the word Galatai as a name for the Celts, and from the second century B.C., Galli
(Gauls) was used in Latin.
   Trying to trace an origin for the Celts is difficult. Archeology shows that the late Hallstatt culture (early
fifth and sixth century B.C.) covered all territory known from Greek reports to have been inhabited by the
Celts. Greek luxury objects (mainly bronze and pottery vessels for wine drinking) were found in the graves
of barbarian chieftains in southwest Germany, and parts of Burgundy and Switzerland. The earliest Greek
imports date to the mid-sixth century B.C. It appears that the wealthy who received these objects (who
controlled trade routes along the rivers of the Rhone, Seine, Rhine and Danube) were the dominating,
unifying element among vast Celtic lands. The ancestors of these warrior chieftains can be traced back to
the early seventh century B.C. in Bavaria and Bohemia, before moving westward.
   In a more easterly region (as well as westward up the Danube, across the Rhine far into France both
toward Britain and southwestward into Spain), there already existed the extensive culture province
represented by the North Alpine Urn Field culture. The Late Bronze Age culture had been mixing with older
populations throughout this zone from about the 12 century B.C. It is likely that they spoke dialects that led
to Celtic.
   Thus, we can conceive a link with Celtic and Italic, and other more easterly, Indo-European peoples.
Unfortunately, we cannot accurately trace the archaeology of the Celts until the centuries after the
establishment of trade with the Greeks at Massilia. At the beginning of the fourth century B.C., Celts
erupted into Italy, the Balkans decades later archaeologically; this supports Greek and Latin historical
sources. Most historians believe that Celtic bands penetrated into northern Italy from earlier times. The
year 400 B.C. is generally accepted as the approximate date for the great invasion of migrating tribes
recorded by later historians.
   The popular novel of Celtic warriors usually is written in or around Roman times. The Celtic territory
south of the Alps (which came to be known as Gallia Cisalpina) and its warlike inhabitants remained an ever-
constant menace to Rome; until they were defeated in 225 B.C. Of course, most are aware of earlier Celtic
delegations received by Alexander the Great. These Celts lived near the Adriatic in 335 B.C.
In 279 B.C., Delphi (a city in Greece and site of a celebrated oracle of Apollo) was sacked by the Celts, but
the invaders were defeated. In the next year, three Celtic tribes crossed the Bosporus (the strait between
the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea) into Asia Minor, and created widespread havoc. By 276 B.C., they
had settled in parts of Phrygia (an ancient country in central Asia Minor), raiding and pillaging until
defeated about 230 B.C. by Attalus I of Peramum.
   About the fall of the Celts, we know that the Cimbri, people originally from Jutland (the peninsula of
Northern Europe, which forms the mainland of Denmark) it is thought, were joined by the Teutoni (Germans)
around 113 B.C., overcame all Gaulish and Roman resistance. When they attempted to enter Italy, these
marauders were finally defeated by Roman armies in 102 and 101 B.C.
   Many Celtic tribes were forced into refuge west of the Rhine. The final rout of the Celts began around 58
B.C. when Julius Caesar began the campaign which led to the annexation of the whole of Gaul.
The Celtic settlement of Britain and Ireland is deduced largely from archaeological and philological
considerations. Caesar’s report of a migration of Belgic tribes to Britain is taken by some as evidence.
This, however, is based on the Roman belief that the inhabitants of both islands were closely related to the
Gauls. Archaeology and linguistic differences cast doubts. The idea that the Celts were all of great height,
muscular and such stems from the Greeks and Romans. Actually, their encounters were generally only with
the warrior class. Skeletal remains point to differing stature and form.
   It is interesting to note that the magical-religious legendary Druids were ranked higher than the warriors,
yet recruited from the warrior class. The Celtic social system contained a king, warriors, freeman farmers
and the Druids, also considered as warriors.
   We find that fiction and history also disagree in regard to habits and customs. Among the Celts, it seems,
chariots were used largely for display and retreat – not fighting. The decapitation of foes was practiced for
ritual purposes. What surprises most people is that naked combat was an ancient form of invoking magical
protection. When clothed, the most widespread form of dress was a belted tunic, or shirt, with a cloak.
Women wore a single long garment with a cloak, bright colors were very popular, made with materials of
wool and coarse linen.
   Most fictional Celts seem moody, but history shows them noted for high spirits. They loved war and
excitement, were hospitable, fond of feasting, drinking and quarreling – but incapable of prolonged
concerted action. They also generally prized music and many forms of oral literary composition.
This, then, is the historical version of the legendary Celts. From this background we have received
numerous fictional tales, of which Robert E. Howard’s are my personal favorites. In his own words from
“Tigers of the Sea:”

Cormac Mac Art has all the guile and reckless valor of his race. He is tall and rangy, a tiger. Hi weapon is the
sword. The Vikings rely little on the art of fencing, their manner of fighting is to deliver mighty blows with the
full sweep of their arms. Well, the Gael can deal a full arm blow with the best of them, but he favors the point.
In a world where old time skill of the Roman swordsman is almost forgotten, Cormac Mac Art is well-nigh
invincible. He is cool and deadly as the wolf for which h he is named, yet at times, in the fury of battle, a
madness comes upon him that transcends the frenzy of the Berserk. At such times, he is more terrible than
Wulfhere, and men who face the Dane flee before the blood-lust of the Gael.

   Howard’s Celtic history is, perhaps, not entirely factual, but rather a fiction enhanced by history – both of
which are fascinating reading.

Copyright 1976 Wayne Warfield

REH: Two-Gun Raconteur
The Definitive Howard Journal