In the
Lebor Gabála Érenn, a medieval Irish Christian pseudo-history, the
Milesians are the final race to settle in
Ireland. They represent the
Irish people. The Milesians are
Gaels who sail to Ireland from
Iberia after spending hundreds of years travelling the earth. When they land in Ireland they contend with the
Tuatha Dé Danann, who represent the pagan gods. The two groups agree to divide Ireland between them: the Milesians take the world above, while the Tuath Dé take the world below (i.e. the
Otherworld). They are named after the character
Míl Espáine, which is the Irish form of the
Latin Miles Hispaniae ("Soldier of
Hispania"). Scholars believe that the tale is mostly an invention of medieval Christian writers.