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The list of kings of the Picts is based on the Pictish Chronicle king lists. These are late documents and do not record the dates when the kings reigned. The lists disagree in places as to the names of kings, and the lengths of their reigns. A large portion of the lists, not reproduced here, belongs with the Matter of Britain or Irish mythology. The latter parts of the list can, in large measure, be reconciled with other sources.
Pictish kings ruled an area encompassing most of northern and eastern Scotland. In 843 tradition records the replacement of the Pictish kingdom by the Kingdom of Alba, although Annals continue to use Picts and Fortriu for half a century after 843.
The list opens with Drest son of Erp, a legendary king who supposedly reigned a hundred years and fought a hundred battles. In his reign the king lists supply their first synchronism, stating that in Drest's nineteenth year Saint Patrick came to Ireland.
Pictish kings
Irish annals (the Annals of Ulster, Annals of Innisfallen) refer to some kings as king of Fortriu or king of Alba. It is uncertain whether all of these kings, whether well attested or not, were the king of the Picts in their time, rather than a king of the Picts as lesser kings (known as mormaers in later times) and chieftains (later toisechs) existed in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Mythical kings of the Picts are listed in the Lebor Bretnach's account of the origins of the Cruithnians. The list begins with Cruithne son of Cing (see Cruithne), and his sons Fib, Fidach, Foltlaig, Fortrend, Caitt, Ce and Circinn.
The dates given here are drawn from early sources, unless specifically noted otherwise. The relationships between kings are less than certain, and rely on modern readings of the sources. Three family groups can be identified: the first being the sons of Der-Ilei; the second, less certainly, the family of Óengus mac Fergusa (Onuist map Uurguist); finally, and most certain, the descendants of Alpín. Matrilineal succession is not presently supposed to have been common among the Picts, with the sons of Der-Ilei being an exceptional case, as noted by Bede.
Names
Orthography is problematic. Cinioch, Ciniod and Cináed all represent ancestors of the modern English name Kenneth. Pictish "uu", sometimes printed as "w" corresponds with Gaelic "f", so that Uuredach is the Gaelic Feredach and Uurguist the Gaelic Fergus. As the Dupplin Cross inscription shows, the idea that Irish sources Gaelicised Pictish names may not be entirely accurate.
A partial list of variant names from the Pictish Chronicle king lists includes:
- Bridei: Brude, Birdei (the similar but unrelated modern female name is derived from Brigit)
- Cinioch: Cináed, Ciniod, Kinadius, Kinart, Kinet (Kenneth comes from this root)
- Donnel: Donuel, Dunal, Donnall (perhaps cognate with Gaelic Dúngal, modern Dougal, rather than Domnall and Donald)
- Drest: Durst, Drost, Drostan, Drust, Drustan (Tristan comes from this root)
- Nechtan: Nethan, Necton, Neithon
- Onuist: Angus, Aengus, Óengus, Ungus, Unust (modern Angus)
- Talorc: Tholarg, Tolarg, Talorgan, Tolorg, Talorcan
- Uuid: Foith, Fochle, Fruth
- Uurad: Uuroid, Uuredach, Ferad, Ferach, Ferat, Feradach, Feredeth
Kings of the Picts
Early kings
The kings before Drest son of Erp are omitted to reduce the length of the lists. It should not be assumed that Drest is any less mythical than the kings who precede him.| Reign | Ruler | Other namesOther names are only given where they differ significantly. See also Names above | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| unknown | Drest | Drest son of Erp | First king of the Pictish Chronicle lists whose reign includes a synchronism (the coming of Saint Patrick to Ireland; "ruled a hundred years and fought a hundred battles"; it is coincidence that Drest's patronym is cognate with that of Fergus Mór mac Eirc and no relationship between them is known or presumed | |
| unknown | Talorc | Talorc son of Aniel or Tholarg son of Anile | An entry in the king lists; reigned 2 or 4 years | |
| unknown | Nechtan | Nechtan son of Uuirp (or Erip), Nechtan the Great, Nechtan Celcamoth | Possibly a brother of Drest son of Erp | The foundation of the monastery at Abernethy is fathered on this king, almost certainly spuriously |
| unknown | Drest | Drest Gurthinmoch (or Gocinecht) | An entry in the king lists; reigned 30 years | |
| unknown | Galan | Galan Erilich or Galany | An entry in the king lists | |
| unknown | Drest and Drest | Drest son of Uudrost (or Hudrossig) and Drest son of Girom (or Gurum) | An entry in the king lists | |
| unknown | Gartnait | Garthnac son of Girom, Ganat son of Gigurum | An entry in the king lists | |
| unknown | Cailtram | Cailtram son of Girom, Kelturan son of Gigurum | Brother of the preceding Gartnait | An entry in the king lists |
| unknown | Talorc | Talorc son of Murtolic, Tolorg son of Mordeleg | An entry in the king lists | |
| unknown | Drest | Drest son of Manath, Drest son of Munait | An entry in the king lists |
Early historical kings
The first king who appears in multiple early sources is Bridei son of Maelchon, and kings from the later 6th century onwards may be considered historical.| Reign | Ruler | Other names | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died c. 580 | Galam | Galam Cennalath (and perhaps Tagaled) | The death of "Cennalaph, king of the Picts" is recorded, may have ruled jointly with Bridei son of Maelchon | |
| Died c. 584 | Bridei | Bridei son of Maelchon, Brude son of Melcho | His death and other activities are recorded, he is named in Adomnán's Life of Saint Columba; the first Pictish king to be more than a name in a list | |
| Died c. 601 | Gartnait | Gartnait son of Dolmech, Gernard son of Dompneth | ||
| Died c. 621 | Nechtan | Nechtan grandson (or nephew) of Uerb, Nechtan son of Cano | His reign is placed in the time of Pope Boniface IV | |
| Died c. 631x633 | Cinioch | Cinioch son of Lutrin, Kinet son of Luthren | ||
| Gartnait | Gartnait son of Uuid (another list names Nechtan son of Fochle) | Brother of the following two kings | ||
| Bridei | Bridei son of Uuid (or Fochle) | Brother of the preceding and following kings | Fochle is evidently from a Goidelic source | |
| Died c. 653 | Talorc | Talorc son of Uuid, Tolarg son of Foth (or Fethar) | Brother of the preceding two kings | Irish annals use the Goidelic form Tolarg son of Foth |
| Died c. 657 | Talorgan | Talorgan son of Eanfrith or Enfrit, Talargan son of Anfrud | Son of Eanfrith of Bernicia | |
| Died c. 663 | Gartnait | Gartnait son of Donnel or son of Dúngal | ||
| Deposed c. 672 | Drest | Drest son of Donnel or son of Dúngal |
Later historical kings
| Reign | Ruler | Other names | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died 693 | Bridei | Bridei son of Beli | Son of Beli map Neithon | Defeated Ecgfrith of Northumbria at the battle of Dunnichen |
| c. 692–696 | Taran | Taran son of Ainftech | Possibly a uterine half-brother of Bridei and Nechtan mac Der -Ilei | |
| Died 706 | Bridei | Bridei son of Der-Ilei | Brother of Nechtan | Son of Der-Ilei, a Pictish princess, and Dargart son of Finnguine, a member of the Cenél Comgaill of Dál Riata; listed as a guarantor of the Cáin Adomnáin |
| Abdicated 724, died 732 | Nechtan | Nechtan son of Der-Ilei | Brother of Bridei | Adopted the Roman dating of Easter c. 712, a noted founder of churches and monasteries |
| Killed 729 | Drest | None | Perhaps a son of a uterine half-brother of Nechtan and Bridei | Succeeded Nechtan, imprisoned him in 726, may have been deposed that year by Alpín |
| Deposed 728 | Alpín | Alpin son of Crup ? | Probably a co-ruler or subking under Drest; may appear again in 741; Alpín mac Echdach, said to have been king of Dál Riata, may be the same person | |
| 729–761 | Onuist | Óengus son of Fergus | Claimed as a kinsman by the Eóganachta | |
| Drowned 739 | Talorgan | Talorgan son of Drostan | A sub-king, king of Atholl; executed by drowning | |
| Killed 750 | Talorgan | Talorgan son of Fergus | Brother of Óengus | Perhaps king of Atholl; killed in battle against the Britons of Alt Clut |
| Died 763 | Bridei | Bridei son of Fergus | Brother of Onuist | King of Fortriu |
| Died 775 | Ciniod | Ciniod son of Uuredach | Sometimes thought to be a grandson of Selbach mac Ferchair | |
| Died 780 | Alpín | Alpin son of Uuroid | Death reported as Eilpín, king of the Saxons but this is taken to be an error | |
| Died 782 | Talorgan | Talorgan son of Onuist, also Dub Tholarg | Son of Óengus | |
| Died 787 | '''Drest | Drest son of Talorgan | Son of the preceding Talorgan or of Talorgan, brother of Óengus | |
| Possibly deposed 789, died 807 | Conall | Conall son of Tarla (or of Tadg) | Perhaps rather a king of Dál Riata | |
| Died 820 | Caustantín | Caustantín son of Fergus (previously thought to have been an Irish gaelicisation, now known to be an authentic form of his name) | Either the son of Fergus mac Echdach or a grandson or nephew of Onuist | His son Domnall may have been king of Dál Riata |
| Died 834 | Óengus | Óengus son of Fergus | Brother of Caustantín | |
| Died 834 | Drest | Drest son of Caustantín | Son of Caustantín | |
| Died 839 | Eógan | Eógan son of Óengus | Son of Óengus | Killed in 839 with his brother Bran in battle against the Vikings; this led to a decade of conflict |
Kings of the Picts 839–848 (not successively)
The death of Eógan and Bran appears to have led to a large number of competitors for the throne of Pictland, an occurrence perhaps not seen since the period 728–729.| Reign | Ruler | Other names | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Uurad | Uurad son of Bargoit | Unknown | Said to have reigned for three years |
| Unknown | Bridei | Bridei son of Uurad | Possibly the son of the previous king | Said to have reigned one year |
| Unknown | Ciniod | Ciniod son of Uurad | Possibly the brother of the previous king | Said to have reigned one year in some lists |
| Unknown | Bridei | Bridei son of Uuthooil | Unknown | Said to have reigned two years in some lists |
| Unknown | '''Drest | Drest son of Uurad | As previous sons of Uurad | Said to have reigned three years in some lists; the myth of MacAlpin's Treason names the Pictish king Drest |
| Died 13 February, 858 | Cináed | Cináed mac Ailpín, Kenneth MacAlpin | Unknown, but his descendants made him a member of the Cenél nGabráin of Dál Riata |
Kings of the Picts traditionally counted as King of Scots
Cináed mac Ailpín defeated the rival kings, winning out by around 845–848. He is traditionally considered first "King of Scots", or of "Picts and Scots", but appears to have been a Pictish king no different from those who preceded him.| Reign | Ruler | Other names | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died 13 February, 858 | Cináed | Cináed mac Ailpín | Unknown, but his descendants made him a member of the Cenél nGabráin of Dál Riata | |
| Died 862 | Domnall | Domnall mac Ailpín | Brother of Cináed | |
| Died 877 | Causantín | Causantín mac Cináeda | Son of Cináed | |
| Died 878 | Áed | Áed mac Cináeda | Son of Cináed | |
| Deposed 889 ? | Giric | Giric mac Dúngail | Cináed's daughter's son ? | Associated, probably incorrectly, with Eochaid |
| Died 900 | Domnall | Domnall mac Causantín | Son of Causantín mac Cináeda | Last king of the Picts |
King of Alba
| Reign | Ruler | Other names | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdicated 943, died 952 | Causantín | Causantín mac Áeda | Son of Áed mac Cináeda | First king of Alba, the Gaelic kingdom of Scotland. |
Notes
References
For primary sources, see External links below
- Adomnán, Life of St Columba, tr. & ed. Richard Sharpe. Penguin, London, 1995. ISBN 0-14-044462-9
- Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500–1286, volume 1. Reprinted with corrections. Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN 1-871615-03-8
- Bannerman, John, Studies in the History of Dalriada. Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh, 1974. ISBN 0-7011-2040-1
- Bannerman, John. "The Scottish Takeover of Pictland and the relics of Columba" in Dauvit Broun and Thomas Owen Clancy (eds.) Spes Scotorum: Saint Columba, Iona and Scotland. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1999 ISBN 0567086828
- Broun, Dauvit, "Dunkeld and the origin of Scottish identity" in Broun & Clancy (1999).
- Broun, Dauvit, "Pictish Kings 761–839: Integration with Dál Riata or Separate Development" in Sally M. Foster (ed.), The St Andrews Sarcophagus: A Pictish masterpiece and its international connections. Four Courts, Dublin, 1998. ISBN 0-85182-414-6
- Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Caustantín son of Fergus (Uurgust)" in M. Lynch (ed.) The Oxford Companion to Scottish History. Oxford & New York: Oxford UP, 2002. ISBN 0192116967
- Herbert, Máire, "Ri Éirenn, Ri Alban: kingship and identity in the ninth and tenth centuries" in Simon Taylor (ed.), Kings, clerics and chronicles in Scotland 500–1297. Fourt Courts, Dublin, 2000. ISBN 1-85182-516-9
- Smyth, Alfred P. Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-1000. Reprinted, Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 1998. ISBN 0748601007
- Woolf, Alex, "Ungus (Onuist), son of Uurgust" in M. Lynch (2002).
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- The Corpus of Electronic Texts includes the Annals of Ulster, Tigernach, the Four Masters and Innisfallen, the Chronicon Scotorum, the Lebor Bretnach (which includes the Duan Albanach), Genealogies, and various Saints' Lives. Most are translated into English, or translations are in progress
- Annals of Clonmacnoise at Cornell
See also
"List of Kings of the Picts"