List of kings of the Picts

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 various surviving 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 lists can largely be reconciled with other sources.

Pictish kings

Pictish kings ruled in northern and eastern Scotland. In 843 tradition records the replacement of the Pictish kingdom by the Kingdom of Alba, although the Irish annals continue to use Picts and Fortriu for half a century after 843. The king lists are thought to have been compiled in the early 8th century, probably by 724, placing them in the reigns of the sons of Der-Ilei, Bridei and Nechtan.

Irish annals (the Annals of Ulster, Annals of Innisfallen) refer to some kings as king of Fortriu or king of Alba. The kings listed are thought to represent overkings of the Picts, at least from the time of Bridei son of Maelchon onwards. In addition to these overkings, many less powerful subject kings existed, of whom only a very few are known from the historical record.

Mythical kings of the Picts are listed in the Lebor Bretnach's account of the origins of the Cruithne. The list begins with Cruithne son of Cing, who is reported to be "father of the Picts". The account of the Pictish Chronicle then splits into four lists of names:

• The first is a list of the sons of Cruithne.
• The second is a list of early kings with no distinguishing information other than dates.
• The third is another list of early kings with neither stories nor dates, all of whom have two names that begin with "Brude". It is possible that "Brude" is an ancient title for "king" from another source, which was misinterpreted as a name by the compiler (cf. Skene p.cv).
• The fourth is a list of later kings. The first of these to be attested in an independent source is Galam Cennalath.

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.

Names

Orthography is problematic. Cinioch, Ciniod and Cináed all represent ancestors of the modern Anglicised name Kenneth. Pictish "uu", sometimes printed as "w" corresponds with Gaelic "f", so that Uuredach is the Gaelic Feredach and Uurguist the Gaelic Fergus, or perhaps Forgus. As the Dupplin Cross inscription shows, the idea that Irish sources Gaelicised Pictish names may not be entirely accurate.

Kings of the Picts

Colouring indicates groups of kings presumed to be related.

Early kings

The kings before Drest son of Erp are omitted to reduce the length of the lists.

Reign	Ruler	Other names	Family	Remarks
312–342	Vipoig			Reigned 30 years
342–345	Canutulachama			Reigned 4 years
345–347	Vuradech			Reigned 2 years
347–387	Gartnait			Reigned 40 years
387–412	Talorg
412–452	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"
452–456	Talorc	Talorc son of Aniel		An entry in the king lists; reigned 2 or 4 years
456–480	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. A similar name nehhtton(s) was found on the Lunnasting stone; one interpretator of which suggested it containing the phrase "the vassal of Nehtonn"
480–510	Drest	Drest Gurthinmoch (or Gocinecht)		An entry in the king lists; reigned 30 years
510–522	Galan	Galan Erilich or Galany		An entry in the king lists
522–530	Drest	Drest son of Uudrost (or Hudrossig)		An entry in the king lists
522–531	Drest	Drest son of Girom (or Gurum)		An entry in the king lists
531–537	Gartnait	Garthnac son of Girom, Ganat son of Gigurum		An entry in the king lists
537–538	Cailtram	Cailtram son of Girom, Kelturan son of Gigurum	Brother of the preceding Gartnait	An entry in the king lists
538–549	Talorc	Talorc son of Murtolic, Tolorg son of Mordeleg		An entry in the king lists
549–550	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 as their deaths are generally reported in Irish sources.

Reign	Ruler	Other names	Family	Remarks
550–555	Galam	Galam Cennalath		The death of "Cennalaph, king of the Picts" is recorded, may have ruled jointly with Bridei son of Maelchon
554–584	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
584–595	Gartnait	Gartnait son of Domelch, Gernard son of Dompneth
595–616	Nechtan	Nechtan grandson of Uerb Nechtan son of Cano		His reign is placed in the time of Pope Boniface IV
616–631	Cinioch	Cinioch son of Lutrin Kinet son of Luthren
631–635	Gartnait	Gartnait son of Uuid	Brother of the following two kings
635–641	Bridei	Bridei son of Uuid or son of Fochle	Brother of the preceding and following kings
641–653	Talorc	Talorc son of Uuid or son of Foth	Brother of the preceding two kings
653–657	Talorgan	Talorgan son of Eanfrith	Son of Eanfrith of Bernicia
657–663	Gartnait	Gartnait son of Donnel or son of Dúngal
663–672	Drest	Drest son of Donnel or son of Dúngal

Later historical kings

Reign	Ruler	Other names	Family	Remarks
672–693	Bridei	Bridei son of Bili	Son of Beli I of Alt Clut or grandson of Nechtan II	At war with the Scots in 683. Defeated Ecgfrith of Northumbria at the Battle of Dun Nechtain in 685.
693–697	Taran	Taran son of Ainftech	Possibly a uterine half-brother of Bridei and Nechtan mac Der-Ilei
697–706	Bridei	Bridei son of Der-Ilei	Brother of Nechtan	Son of Der-Ilei, a Pictish princess, and Dargart mac Finnguine, a member of the Cenél Comgaill of Dál Riata; listed as a guarantor of the Cáin Adomnáin
706–724	Nechtan	Nechtan son of Der-Ilei	Brother of Bridei	Adopted the Roman dating of Easter c. 712, a noted founder of churches and monasteries
724–726	Drest		Perhaps son of a half-brother of Nechtan and Bridei	Succeeded Nechtan, imprisoned him in 726, may have been deposed that year by Alpín
726–728	Alpín			Probably a co-ruler or subking under Drest
728–729	Nechtan restored	Nechtan son of Der-Ilei, second reign
729–761	Onuist	Óengus son of Fergus	Claimed as a kinsman by the Eóganachta
736–750	Talorcan	Talorcan son of Fergus	Brother of Óengus	Perhaps king of Atholl; killed in battle against the Britons of Alt Clut
761–763	Bridei	Bridei son of Fergus	Brother of Onuist	King of Fortriu
763–775	Ciniod	Ciniod son of Uuredach, Cinadhon	Sometimes thought to be a grandson of Selbach mac Ferchair	Granted asylum to the deposed King Alhred of Northumbria
775–778	Alpín	Alpin son of Uuroid		Death reported as Eilpín, king of the Saxons but this is taken to be an error
778–782	Talorc	Talorc son of Drest		Death reported in the Ulster Annals
782–783	Drest	Drest son of Talorgan	Son of the preceding Talorgan or of Talorgan, brother of Óengus
783–785	Talorc	Talorgan son of Onuist, also Dub Tholarg	Son of Óengus
785–789	Conall	Conall son of Tarla (or of Tadg)		Perhaps rather a king in Dál Riata
789–820	Caustantín	Caustantín son of Fergus	A grandson or grandnephew of Onuist or perhaps a son of Fergus mac Echdach	His son Domnall may have been king of Dál Riata
820–834	Óengus	Óengus son of Fergus	Brother of Caustantín
834–837	Drest	Drest son of Caustantín	Son of Caustantín
834–837	Talorc	Talorcan son of Wthoil
837–839	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 deaths of Eógan and Bran appears to have led to a large number of competitors for the throne of Pictland.

Reign	Ruler	Other names	Family	Remarks
839–842	Uurad	Uurad son of Bargoit	Unknown	Said to have reigned for three years, probably named on the Drosten Stone
842–843	Bridei VI	Bridei son of Uurad	Possibly the son of the previous king	Said to have reigned one year
843	Ciniod II	Kenneth son of Ferath	Possibly the brother of the previous king	Said to have reigned one year in some lists
843–845	Bridei VII	Brudei son of Uuthoi	Unknown	Said to have reigned two years in some lists
845–848	Drest X	Drest son of Uurad	As previous sons of Uurad	Said to have reigned three years in some lists; the myth of MacAlpin's treason calls the Pictish king Drest
848– 13 February 858	Cináed	Cináed mac Ailpín Kenneth MacAlpine	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", allegedly having conquered the Picts as a Gael, which is turning history back to front, as most modern scholars point out, he was actually 'King of Picts', and the terms 'King of Alba' and the even later 'King Scots' were not used until several generations after him.

Reign	Ruler	Other names	Family	Remarks
Died 13 February 858	Cináed	Cináed mac Ailpín Ciniod m. Ailpin Coinneach mac Ailpein Kenneth MacAlpin Kenneth I	Unknown, but his descendants made him a member of the Cenél nGabráin of Dál Riata
Died 862	Domnall	Domnall mac Ailpín Dòmhnall mac Ailpein Donald MacAlpin Donald I	Brother of Cináed
Died 877	Causantín	Causantín mac Cináeda Còiseam mac Choinnich Constantín mac Cináeda Constantine I	Son of Cináed
Died 878	Áed	Áed mac Cináeda Aodh mac Choinnich Aedth Edus	Son of Cináed
Deposed 889 ?	Giric	Giric mac Dúngail Griogair mac Dhunghail "Mac Rath" ("Son of Fortune")	Cináed's daughter's son ?	Associated, probably incorrectly, with Eochaid
Died 900	Domnall	Domnall mac Causantín Dòmhnall mac Chòiseim Donald II "Dásachtach" ("The Madman")	Son of Causantín mac Cináeda	Last to be called "king of the Picts"

King of Alba

Main article: List of Scottish monarchs

Reign	Ruler	Other names	Family	Remarks
Abdicated 943, died 952	Causantín	Causantín mac Áeda Còiseam mac Aoidh Constantine II	Son of Áed mac Cináeda	First king of Alba, the kingdom that later became known as "Scotland".

Further reading

James E. Fraser, The New Edinburgh History Of Scotland Vol.1 – From Caledonia To Pictland, Edinburgh University Press (2009) ISBN 978-0-7486-1232-1

Alex Woolf, The New Edinburgh History Of Scotland Vol.2 – From Pictland To Alba, Edinburgh University Press, (2007) ISBN 978-0-7486-1234-5

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 0-567-08682-8
• 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 1-85182-414-6
• 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 0-19-211696-7
• 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
• Skene, William F. Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other Early Memorials of Scottish History. Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1867.
• Smyth, Alfred P. Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-1000. Reprinted, Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 1998. ISBN 0-7486-0100-7
• Woolf, Alex, "Pictish matriliny reconsidered" in The Innes Review, Volume XLIV, Number 2 (Autumn 1998). ISSN 0020-157X
• Woolf, Alex, "Ungus (Onuist), son of Uurgust" in M. Lynch (2002).

External links

• Norway book : "Jomsvikingslaget i oppklarende lys", informs the Pictish kings escaped to the coast of Norway, instead of being murdered at Scone
• 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
• Linguistic analysis of legendary kings

See also

• Siol Alpin
• Origins of the Kingdom of Alba
• List of Kings of Dál Riata
• List of Kings of Strathclyde