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 Caledonian 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.Woolf, "Pictish matriliny reconsidered", p. 153.
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===
Reign 	Ruler 	Other namesOther names are only given where they differ significantly. See also Names above	Family 	Remarks
311-341	Vipoig 	 	 	Reigned 30 years
341–345	Canutulachama 	 	 	Reigned 4 years
345–347	Uradech 	 	 	Reigned 2 years
347–387	Gartnait II 	 	 	Reigned 40 years
387–412	Talorc mac Achiuir	 	 	Reigned 25 years
412–452	Drest I 	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 I 	Talorc son of Aniel 	 	An entry in the king lists; reigned 2 or 4 years
456–480	Nechtan I 	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 II 	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 III 	Drest son of Uudrost (or Hudrossig) 	 	An entry in the king lists
522–531	Drest IV 	Drest son of Girom (or Gurum) 	 	An entry in the king lists
531–537	Gartnait I 	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 II 	Talorc son of Murtolic, Tolorg son of Mordeleg 	 	An entry in the king lists
549–550	Drest V 	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 I 	Bridei son of MaelchonBrude 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 II 	Gartnait son of Domelch,Bannerman, pp. 92–94, identifies this Gartnait with Gartnait son of Áedán mac Gabráin, founder of the "genus Gartnait" of Skye. Gernard son of Dompneth 	 	
595–616	Nechtan II 	Nechtan grandson of UerbWoolf, "Pictish matriliny reconsidered, pp. 160–161, suggests has been suggested that "grandson of Uerb" should be read son of Uerb. Alternatively, it has been suggested that Uerb may represent a legendary apical ancestor such as the Fer map Con in the ancestry of Run map Artgal in the Harleian genealogies. The sons of Uuid are presumed to be related.Nechtan son of CanoFor the identification as a son of Cano, grandson of Áedán mac Gabráin, see Bannerman, pp. 92–93.	 	His reign is placed in the time of Pope Boniface IV
616–631	Cinioch 	Cinioch son of LutrinKinet son of Luthren 	 	
631–635	Gartnait III	Gartnait son of UuidAnother list names Nechtan son of Fochle. 	son of Gwid son of Peithon?	
635–641	Bridei II 	Bridei son of Uuid or son of Fochle 	son of Gwid son of Peithon?	
641–653	Talorc III 	Talorc son of Uuid or son of Foth 	son of Gwid son of Peithon?	
653–657	Talorgan I 	Talorgan son of Eanfrith 	son of Eanfrith of Bernicia	
657–663	Gartnait IV 	Gartnait son of Donnel or son of Dúngal 	 	
663–672	Drest VI 	Drest son of Donnel or son of Dúngal 	 	
===Later historical kings===
Reign 	Ruler 	Other names 	Family 	Remarks
672–693	Bridei III 	Bridei son of Bili 	Son of Beli I of Alt Clut son 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 IV 	Bridei son of Der-Ilei 	Brother of Nechtan, Cenél Comgaill 	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 III 	Nechtan son of Der-Ilei 	Brother of Bridei, Cenél Comgaill 	Adopted the Roman dating of Easter c. 712, a noted founder of churches and monasteries
724–726	Drest VII 	Drust 	Perhaps son of a half-brother of Nechtan and Bridei. Possibly of Cenél nGabráin of Atholl ['New Ireland'] (T.O. Clancy, 2004) 	Succeeded Nechtan, imprisoned him in 726, may have been deposed that year by Alpín
726–728	Alpín I 	Alpin mac Echach 	Possibly of Cenél nGabráin (M.O. Anderson, 1973) 	Probably a co-ruler with Drest. Also King of Dal Riata, AT726.4 "Dungal was removed from rule, and Drust of the rule of the Picts removed, and Elphin reigns for them."
728–729	Nechtan IIIrestored	Nechtan son of Der-Ilei, second reign 	Cenél Comgaill 	It has been suggests that Óengus defeated the enemy of Nechtan in 729, and Nechtan continued to rule until 732.
729–761	Óengus I 	Onuist son of Vurguist 	Claimed as a kinsman by the Eóganachta 	
736–750	Talorcan II 	Talorcan son of Fergus 	Brother of Óengus 	Killed in battle against the Britons of Alt Clut
761–763	Bridei V 	Bridei son of Fergus 	Brother of Onuist 	King of Fortriu
763–775	Ciniod I 	Ciniod son of Uuredach, Cinadhon 	Sometimes thought to be a grandson of Selbach mac Ferchair and hence of Cenél Loairn 	Granted asylum to the deposed King Alhred of Northumbria
775–778	Alpín II 	Alpin son of Uuroid 	 	Death reported as Eilpín, king of the Saxons but this is taken to be an error
778–782	Talorc II 	Talorc son of Drest 	 	Death reported in the Ulster Annals
782–783	Drest VIII 	Drest son of Talorgan 	Son of the preceding Talorgan or of Talorgan, brother of Óengus 	
783–785	Talorc III 	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 FergusPreviously thought to have been an Irish gaelicisation, now known to be an authentic form of his name found on the Dupplin Cross.	A grandson or grandnephew of Onuist or perhaps a son of Fergus mac EchdachGrandson or grandnephew of Onuist per Broun, "Pictish kings", son of Fergus mac Echdach in older works.	His son Domnall may have been king of Dál Riata
820–834	Óengus II 	Óengus son of Fergus 	Brother of Caustantín 	
834–837	Drest IX 	Drest son of Caustantín 	Son of Caustantín 	
834–837	Talorc IV 	Talorcan son of Wthoil 	 	
837–839	Eógan 	Eógan son of Óengus 	Son of Óengus, his brothers were Nechtan and Finguine. 	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 appear 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 	 	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 	 	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 (Kenneth MacAlpin in English) 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 of Scots' were not used until several generations after him.
Reign 	Ruler 	Other names 	Family 	Remarks
Died 13 February 858	Cináed 	Ciniod son of ElphinCináed mac AilpínCoinneach mac AilpeinKenneth MacAlpinKenneth I	Unknown, but his descendants made him a member of the Cenél nGabráin of Dál Riata	
Died 862 	Domnall 	Domnall mac AilpínDòmhnall mac AilpeinDonald MacAlpinDonald I 	Brother of Cináed 	
Died 877 	Causantín	Causantín mac CináedaCòiseam mac ChoinnichConstantín mac CináedaConstantine I 	Son of Cináed 	
Died 878 	Áed 	Áed mac CináedaAodh mac ChoinnichAedthEdus 	Son of Cináed 	
Deposed 889 ? 	Eochaid 	 	Son of Rhun ap Arthgal, and maternal grandson of Cináed 	Associated with Giric. Could have shared kingship with Giric, either as an equal partner or adversary. Could have also reigned as King of Strathclyde
Deposed 889 ? 	Giric 	Giric mac DúngailGriogair mac Dhunghail"Mac Rath" ("Son of Fortune") 	Cináed's daughter's son ? 	Associated with Eochaid
Died 900 	Domnall 	Domnall mac CausantínDòmhnall mac ChòiseimDonald II"Dásachtach" ("The Madman") 	Son of Causantín mac Cináeda 	Last to be called "king of the Picts"
===King of Alba===
Reign 	Ruler 	Other names 	Family 	Remarks
Abdicated 943, died 952	Causantín	Causantín mac ÁedaCòiseam mac AoidhConstantine 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)
*Alex Woolf, The New Edinburgh History of Scotland Vol. 2 – From Pictland to Alba, Edinburgh University Press, (2007)
==Notes==
==References==
* Adomnán, Life of St Columba, tr. & ed. Richard Sharpe. Penguin, London, 1995.
* Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D. 500 1286, vol. 1. Reprinted with corrections. Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990.
* Bannerman, John, Studies in the History of Dalriada. Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh, 1974.
* 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
* 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.
* Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Caustantín son of Fergus (Uurgust)" in M. Lynch (ed.) The Oxford Companion to Scottish History. Oxford & New York: Oxford UP, 2002.
* 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. Four Courts, Dublin, 2000.
* 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.
* 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
Picts, Kings of
Category:Pictish monarchs
Category:Medieval documents of Scotland
Category:Medieval Scottish literature
Category:Lists of office-holders in Scotland