The Chronicles of Eri are a fanciful history of Ireland and the Irish people by the nationalist author Roger O’Connor, printed in 1822. The book claimed to be a translation of ancient documents that demonstrated that the Irish (or Gaels) were descended from a group of Phoenicians who emigrated to Scythia and thence to Spain before their supposed conquest of Ireland in 1006 BC. The only evidence O’Connor offered in support of his claims was a ‘facsimile of part of the great roll of the Laws of Eri’, a likely forgery containing writings unrelated to any known ancient language. The rest of his documents were lost or destroyed in a series of mysterious circumstances.
In the Chronicles, O’Connor claimed to be the rightful ruler of Ireland, declaring himself, through descent of the last High King, Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (c. 1116-1198) to be ‘Head of his Race’ and ‘Chief of the prostrated people of his nation’.