Kenneth I of Scotland

**Cináeda mac Ailpín** (Modern Gaelic: _Coinneach mac Ailpein_;  810 — 13 February 858) often known as **Kenneth I** and nicknamed **the Conqueror** (Scottish Gaelic: _an Conqueror_) was the King of Scotland from 843 until his death in 858. He was also the King of the Picts from 843 to 858 and the King of Dál Riata from 841 until the disestablishment of the title in 850. He was the first Scottish king. However, according to Scottish mythology, he was the sixty-ninth Scottish king. However, there is little evidence to prove this.

He inherited the throne of Dál Riata from his father, Alpin II (Alpin mac Echdach), founder of the Alpínid dynasty. Kenneth conquered the kingdom of the Picts in 843 after defeating the Pictish king, Drest X. Kenneth became the fist Pictish king to rule under the Alpínid dynasty. He started a campaign to conquer all of Scotland and assimilate the Picts which eventually gave him his nickname, "the Conqueror". Forteviot became the capital of his kingdom. He fought of the Britons of the Kingdom of Strathclyde and the Vikings where he kicked both of their troops off of Scotland and where Kenneth eventually defeated them. Kenneth also relocated relics including the Stone of Scone from Iona Abbey in Iona to his new domain.

Kenneth was one of Europe's most powerful rulers and was considered one of Scotland's greatest kings during his time. Because of his reputation as one of Scotland's greatest kings, he became an important figure in Scottish history. He managed to put down rebellions and invasions from other kingdoms such as the Vikings. He was the first King of Scotland. He unified the Gaels with the Picts, thus, he formed a united kingdom of Scotland.

## Birth

Not much is known about Kenneth's birth except he was born around 810 in Iona, Argyllshire and was the son of King Alpin II of Dalriada, a land which covered modern day Northern Ireland and the Hebrides - Argyll.

## Reign

Upon his fathers death in 839 he became king of Dalriada styled "Cinaed, son of Alpin" and also king of Scots due to the fact that the Hebrides - Argyll were important parts of the land at the time. At this time the Picts were conquered by Vikings with Bridei VI of Pictland being defeated, and Kenneth was set to become the next monarch. Although it wasn't until 843 he became king of the now united Pictish & Scottish tribes.

## Death

On February 13, 858 in Forteviot, Kenneth died of natural causes. He was buried in Iona and succeeded by his brother Donald MacAlpin or Domnall MacAilpín.

## Family (children)

|Name|Date of Birth|Date of Death|Gender|Monarch of|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|NN ingen Cináed|c. 834|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Constantine I, king of Picts and Scots|c. 836 (maybe 832)|877 (definitely)|Male|Scotland/Pictland|
|Áed, king of Picts and Scots|838 (definitely)|878 (definitely)|Male|Scotland/Pictland|
|Máel Muire ni Cináeda|842 (definitely)|912 (definitely)|Female|High Queen of Ireland (maybe)|
|Máel Muire of Ireland|Before Feb 858|Unknown|??????|(none)|
|Cináéda MacAlpin|Before Feb 858|Unknown|??????|(none)|
|Aedr of MacAlpin|Before Feb 858|Unknown|??????|(none)|
|(Name Unknown)|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Progenitor of Clan MacNab|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Male|(none)|
|? Inig. Kenneth|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|?? Inig. Kenneth|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Áed mac Cináeda|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Male|(none)|
|mother of Eochaid MacAlpin|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Unk Daughter 1|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Unk Daughter 2|Before Feb 858|Unknown|Female|(none)|

## Family (siblings)

|Name|Date of Birth|Date of Death|Gender|Monarch of|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Donald I, king of Picts and Scots|812|April 13th 862|Male|Scotland/Pictland|
|NN ingen Ailpín|c. 820|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Gregor MacAlpin|c. 820|c. 868|Male|(none)|
|NN ingen Ailpín|830|Unknown|Female|(none)|
|Achaius mac Ailpín|between 787-847|Unknown|Male|(none)|
|Áed mac Ailpín|between 787-847|Unknown|Male|(none)|
|Domnall mac Ailpín|between 787-847|Unknown|Male|(none)|

## Depictions

Ever since the 1800s, depictions of Kenneth have started to appear, first in Edinburgh Portrait Gallery, and later with some more depictions. Depictions of Kenneth are hard to find but the ones used the most are the frieze in Edinburgh and a newly found depiction from the 1700's.

## Monarchs after Kenneth

Donald I, king of Picts - His brother (ruled 858-862)

Constantine I, king of Picts - His son (ruled 862-877)

Aed, king of Picts - His other son (ruled 877-878)

To see all Scottish monarchs see Scottish monarchs

To see all monarchs from the House of Dunkeld see House of Dunkeld

And for Kenneth's house of Alpin see House of Alpin

## Infobox (royalty)

- **name**: Kenneth I
- **image**: Jacob Jacobsz de Wet II (Haarlem 1641-2 - Amsterdam 1697) - Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scotland (843-63) - RCIN 403356 - Royal Collection.jpg
- **caption**: Posthumous painting by Jacob de Wet II,  1685
- **succession**: List of Scottish monarchs, King of Scots
- **reign**: 843 — 13 February 858
- **predecessor**: Title established
- **successor**: Donald I of Scotland, Donald I
- **succession1**: List of Pictish kings, King of the Picts
- **reign1**: 843 — 13 February 858
- **predecessor1**: Drest X
- **successor1**: Donald I
- **succession2**: List of kings of Dál Riata, King of Dál Riata
- **reign2**: 841 — 850
- **predecessor2**: Alpin II of Dalriada, Alpin II
- **successor2**: Title disestablished
- **issue-type**: Issue (genealogy), Issue
- **full name**: Cináeda mac Ailpín
- **house**: House of Alpin, Alpin
- **father**: Alpin II of Dalriada, Alpin II, King of Dalriada
- **birth date**: 810
- **birth place**: Iona, Scotland
- **death place**: Forteviot, Perth and Kinross, Scotlan
- **burial place**: Iona Abbey
- **religion**: Catholic Church, Roman Catholicism