|
|
In Irish mythology Míl Espáine (Latin Miles Hispaniae, Soldier of Spain) is the ancestor of the final inhabitants of Ireland, the "sons of Míl" or Milesians, who represent the Goidelic Celts.
His given name was Golam. He served as a soldier in Scythia and Egypt, before, remembering a prophesy that his descendants would rule Ireland, he set off to the west, getting as far as Spain where he fought several battles before dying, never seeing Ireland himself. His wife Scota and his uncle Íth, who had spied Ireland from a tower, sailed to Ireland where Íth was killed by the Tuatha Dé Danann. When his body was brought back to Spain, Míl's eight sons and Íth's nine brothers invaded Ireland and defeated the Tuatha Dé.