Gaelic Kingdoms

Kings of Pictland (Caledonia)

The Picts occupied Britain north of the Antonine Wall, although in actual fact there never was a race or tribe called the Picts. The name was an adopted one, assumed in the same manner that the Britons of later Wales adopted Cymry as their name, and Cymru as their country (instead of Prydein, otherwise known as Britain). No Picts existed as any sort of separate people. The earlier name of Caledonia is more curious. The ending of '-ia' is a Roman suffix, which leaves Caledon or Galedon. The '-on' suffix here is a plural which leaves Caled or Galed, which looks a good deal like Galat(ia), the regions in modern Spain and Poland. The location of tribes that carry variations of this name is staggering: Caleti (Belgae), Gallaeci or Callaici (Iberia), Celtici (Iberia), Caledonii (the Scottish Highlands), and Gaulish tribes in Galatia (Anatolia). The names all seem to occur along the edges of the Celtic area of expansion, and since the ancient Greeks named all of this ethnicity Keltoi, and Caesar blandly remarked in his Commentaries that the Galli (chickens in Latin) called themselves Celtae in their own language, then it seems possible that all of the above are variations of the original native name for the Celts.

Less historically, and according to Pictish (or rather Gaelic) legend, there was a Pict king named Cruithne (the Gaelic word for Pict), son of Cing. Cruithne reigned for a hundred years. He had seven sons (the number seven being very important to the Picts), who were named Fib, Fidach, Foclaid (or Fotla), Fortrenn (Fortriu), Caitt (or Cat), Ce and Circenn (Circind). The names of Cruithne's seven sons were also equated to the seven provinces of Pictland detailed in an ancient account of Scotland called De Situ Albanie (possibly written in the fourteenth century according to F T Wainwright). Argyll, which by the fifth century had been invaded by Gaelic Scotti, is not listed as a Pictish province. Fife, which had been briefly occupied by Rome, was home to the Venicones.

It may be possible that the term Picti was the Latinised version of a collective name in use by the people north of the Antonine Wall (and south of it, too, before the Roman invasion). Professor Watson states that in Old Norse the name is 'Pettr', in Old English 'Peohta' and in Old Scots 'Pecht'. Today in Fife or Aberdeenshire they are still referred to as 'Pechs' or 'Pechties', suggesting Pect instead of Pict. Edward Dawson suggests that the list of twenty-eight kings named 'Brude' found in the Pictish Chronicle suggests it is a title of some sort. Each Brude is followed by a real name which is probably the individual's true name, for example, 'Brude Cinid' (modern Kenneth). Then the name is followed by another Brude with the same name but with 'ur-' at the beginning of it, as in: 'Brude Urcnid'. 'Ur' could come from 'ard' ('high' - 'ardwo' in proto-Celtic, 'ardos' in Gaulish), and if this is the case then the name should read: Brude Gart (King Gart), or Brude Ar Gart (High King Gart). 'Brude' probably means a judge, equivalent to a magistrate, as in the Gaulish [verb] bratu- (to judge).

(Additional information by Edward Dawson, Brian Gibb, and from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway, the Pictish Chronicle, and from External Link: Book of Deer.)

Cing

Reigned 100 yrs

Cruithne

Ruled all Pictland. 'Cruithne' is Gaelic for Pict.

Reigned 12 yrs

Cat / Got

Cat is the senior kingdom. Cat himself rules Caithness, Sutherland, the West Highlands, and the Northern and Western Isles. The name means 'Cat People'.

Reigned 40 yrs

Fidach

Fidach rules Moray, Nairn and Ross. The name means 'Woodsman'.

Reigned 15 yrs

Ce / Kay

Ce rules Banff, Buchan and parts of Aberdeenshire. The name Ce may survive in the town of Keith.

Reigned 30 yrs

Fotla / Fotlaig / Floclaid

Fotla rules Athol and Gowrie. Fotla is also goddess of Ireland.

Reigned 60 yrs

Circinn / Cirech / Circin

Circinn rules Angus and the Mearns. The name means 'crest headed'. There was also Crus (son of Cirech) who was a warrior of the Picts. A battle was fought on the plain of Circinn against the Scots.

Reigned 70 yrs

Fortriu / Fortrann / Fortrenn

Fortriu rules Strathearn and Menteith. The name may mean 'people of the slow winding river'.

Reigned 24 yrs

Fib / Fibaid

Fib rules Fife and Kinross. In the Book of Deer the people of Fife are called the 'cu-sidhe' or fairy hounds. The Pictish name of Vepogenus is formed from Vepo (pronounced 'wepo'), which is also known as 'uip' and 'uib', or 'fib' in Gaelic, and is still used today as Fife. The second part, 'genus' or 'genos' is universal to Latin, Greek and Gaulish as 'race', 'stock', 'one's ancestry', so the name means roughly 'the guy of the race of Fife'. The name Vepogenus is found on a Roman inscription at Colchester, which reads: 'To the god of the battlefields Mars Medocius, and to the victory of [Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus] Alexander Pius Felix Augustus, Lossius Veda the grandson of Vepogenus Caledos, placed [this] offering out of his own [funds]'. 'Caledo' means Caledonian (the early Roman name for what later became the Picts). The word 'Medocius' forms part of the argument for the naming of the Demetae tribe.

In the Pictish Chronicle there follows a list of Pictish kings who are purported to have existed but for whom no corroboration can be found. All those below who are without dates of rule fall into this grouping, and have been positioned in the list according to a rough approximation of when they might have lived rather than any firm data to pinpoint their lifetimes. Those with dates are sourced from elsewhere. Where there are two versions of the name, the first is the English translation, and the second is the original from the Pictish Chronicle. All these names are backed in lilac to highlight their lack of foundation in recorded history.

Gede olgudach

Reigned 80 years.

Denbecan (or Oenbecan)

Reigned 100 years.

Olfinecta

Reigned 60 years.

Guidid gaed brechach

Reigned 50 years.

Gest gurcich

Reigned 40 years.

Wurgest

Reigned 30 years.

Brude bont

Reigned 48 years.

Brude bont is the ancestor of thirty Brudes who rule Ireland and Albany for the space of 150 years, although the Pictish Chronicle fails to note which of them ruled which areas. They include: Brude pant, Brude urpant, Brude leo, Brude uleo, Brude gant, Brude urgant, Brude gnith, Brude urgnith, Brude fecir, Brude urfecir, Brude cal, Brude urcal, Brude cint, Brude urcint, Brude fet, Brude urfet, Brude ru, Brude eru, Brude gart et urgart, Brude cinid, Brude urcnid, Brude uip, Brude uruip, Brude grid, Brude urgrid, Brude mund, and Brude urmund. Many of these names are duplications, suggesting that each ruler, or 'brude' becomes high king, or 'ur-' (see introduction for an explanation of these terms).

Gilgidi

Reigned 150 years.

Tharain

Reigned 100 years.

Morleo

Reigned 15 years.

Deocilunon

Reigned 40 years.

Cimoiod son of Arcois

Reigned 7 years.

Deoord

Reigned 50 years.

Bliesbltituth

Reigned 5 years.

Dectotric brother of Diu

Reigned 40 years.

Usconbuts

Reigned 30 years.

AD 76 - after 86

Corbredus / Calgacus / Galdus

Fought Agricola at Mons Graupius.

80 - 82

The Roman Governor of Britain leads two invading columns into Lowland Scotland, with (probably) the Twentieth (previously based at Glevum in Dobunni territory) and Ninth Legions meeting up at Inveresk (near Edinburgh) in the territory of the Votadini Britons. The force sets up permanent garrisons in its wake.

The following year, the Forth-Clyde line is secured, perhaps slightly south of the later Antonine Wall and edging into the territory of the Venicones. In 82, the Romans secure the western coast up to the Clyde to contain the tribesmen there (the Damnonii, Selgovae, and Novantae) and perhaps to prevent Irish landings.

83 - 84

Within the Pictish (northern British) heartland, firstly north of the Firth of Forth (in AD 83) and then at Mons Graupius (or Mons Grampius, in AD 84), the Romans under Governor Agricola win victories over what they call the 'Caledonides' led by Calgucus (using the diminutive form of the name, perhaps to suggest that this is viewed as a minor group, perhaps without a recognised leadership). The idea is to pre-empt an intended attack by the Caledonians, but it almost proves disastrous in the first year as the Ninth Legion is surprised by a night assault.

The following year, the Roman fleet goes ahead along the coast to spread terror, and is accompanied by British allies. The location of the decisive battle has been strongly identified with the mountain now known as Bennachie in Aberdeenshire. It is possible that the tribal grouping of the Creones and their neighbours along the western coast could be involved.

85 - 88

A large number of Caledonians had escaped after the battle, leaving the Romans with a very difficult security job. Agricola and his replacement, probably Governor Sallustius Lucullus, continue the job of securing the exits to the Highland glens along the east coast. But by 86-88 many forts are dismantled, possibly due to troop shortages while Rome is fighting the Dacian War. Apart from some possible watchtowers, the main Roman forces retire to the Tyne-Solway line.

90 - 556

Pictland is obscured from history for most of the period of Roman rule in Britain by the very fact of its exclusion from the Roman empire and an absence of internal writings. But it eventually re-emerges as two distinct kingdoms, North & South, the latter of which is formed of about five occasionally feuding sub-kingdoms.

c.100 - 105

The northern Brigantes apparently revolt, perhaps under the leadership of Argiragus, a possible candidate for High King (as is any British chieftain who refuses to surrender to the Romans). Argiragus seems to be responsible for the burning of the auxiliary fort at Corsopitum, as well as others, as the British tribes of lowland Scotland stage a major uprising. By AD 100 the Romans give up Scotland, and fully establish their defences along the Tyne-Solway line.

Carvorst

Reigned 40 years.

120

Hadrian's Wall is built along the already-established Tyne-Solway defensive line.

Deo Ardivois

Reigned 20 years.

140 - 143

The Romans move north to the Forth-Clyde line, roughly the southern Pictish boundary, reoccupying British Lowland Scotland and beginning construction of the more basic Antonine Wall. It is around this time that the geographer, Ptolemy, notes the tribes to the north of the wall. Some of them receive their one and only mention in history and it is thought that at least one or two tribes may have been created by refugees fleeing the Roman invasion of the south.

The tribes mentioned include the Caereni, Caledonii (along either side of Loch Ness southwards from the Moray Firth to Ben Nevis), Carnonacae, Cornavii (possibly formed by members of the Cornovii tribe fleeing from the south), Creones, Decantae (on the western side of the mouth of the Moray Firth, possibly formed by fleeing Cantii), Epidii, Lugi, Smertae, Taexalli, Vacomagi (on the eastern side of the mouth of the Moray Firth), and Venicones (on the peninsula between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, possibly refugee Veneti from the Continent).

Vist

Reigned 50 years.

Ru

Reigned 100 years.

197

According to Dio, the tribes north of the Forth-Clyde line have by now coalesced into two main bodies, the Caledonii and the Maeatae. The latter live close to the Antonine Wall, north of the Forth-Clyde isthmus. By 206, the Roman Governor of Britain, L Alfenus Senecio, seems to have had some military success in the region.

fl 208 - 211

Argentocoxos

King of Fib, and possible king of all Picts.

209 - 211

The Roman emperor, Severus, leads a campaign in person against the Caledonii and Maeatae. The latter could be a southern grouping of British or Pictish tribes, as Dio says that they dwell 'next to the cross-wall that divides the island in half'. This would suggest the Antonine Wall which reaches from the Firth of Forth to the Clyde. A scorched earth policy is pursued to try and bring the ephemeral tribesmen either to a pitched battle or to surrender, neither of which actually occurs. Following Severus' death, either immediately or shortly afterwards, Rome permanently abandons Scotland, possibly in stages.

Gartnaith loc

Reigned 9 years.

Breth mac Buthut

Reigned 7 years.

305 - 306

The Roman emperor, Constantius Chlorus, does much the same as Severus before him, personally leading a campaign into Caledonia to bring the elusive tribes in the Highlands to battle and ensure a period of renewed peace.

310

The Panegyrici Latini Veteres, or Panegyrics, which praises the later Roman emperors, carries the first known use of 'Picts' to describe the British tribes of the far north of the country, meaning the Caledones 'and others'.

Vipoig

Reigned 30 years.

Canutulachama / Canutulachama

Reigned 4 years.

Vuradech / Wradech

Reigned 2 years.

Gartnait diuberr / Gartnaich diuberr

Reigned 40 years.

360 - 361

At the start of 360, Roman Caesar Julian (the Apostate) is wintering in Lutetia Parisiorum (the early Paris) when reports reach him that the Scotti and Picts have broken a previous agreement (perhaps made in 343) and are plundering lands close to the frontier, presumably those of the Novantae and Selgovae. Whether the campaign goes ahead under a less senior commander after the original commander is recalled is unknown.

364

According to Ammianus Marcellinus, the Picts, Scotti, Saxons, and Attacotti attack Roman Britain in what seems to be a serious incursion.

367

The Picts, now divided into two main peoples; the Dicalydonae and the Verturiones, are part of the Barbarian Conspiracy that sees Britain attacked from several sides at once.

382

The Picts again invade Britain but are defeated by the Roman commander, Magnus Maximus.

c.384 - 390

Warfare flares up between the Picts and Britain again, and according to Gildas it lasts 'for many years', although the situation is probably contained.

? - 388

Keother?

Did Keother lead the attacks on Britain?

388 - 413

Talorg mac Keother

Son.

c.390

Cunedda and his branch of Romanised Venicones are transferred from the Manau dependency of the Goutodin kingdom, traditionally by Magnus Maximus. They are moved to the former territory of the Deceangli in western Wales to secure the region from Irish raiders, and it is here that they found the kingdom of Gwynedd.

398

The Romans again lead a campaign from Britain to defeat Pictish forces in the north, along with Saxon and Irish Scots.

c.400?

The period in which St Ninian is active is uncertain, with a general date of the fourth or fifth century being given. St Ninian (known as Ringan in Pictland and Trynnian to the Northern British), is certainly active in these areas. His base may be in the territory of the Novantae, which later houses a major shrine to him, while he spreads the word amongst the South Picts, becoming known as the Apostle to the Southern Picts. His work is carried out before that of St Patrick in Ireland, because the latter mentions the South Picts being apostates, meaning that they have renounced their conversion to Christianity.

413 - 453

Drust mac Erp / Yrb / Wirp

King of North and South Picts.

449/450

It is attacks by the Picts and Irish Scotti that prompts the High King of Britain, Vortigern, to hire Jutish and Angle mercenaries to fight them off. The second major attack on Britain by Drust is met by the mercenaries under the command of Hengist on land and at sea and the Pictish tide is repelled. The mercenaries subsequently turn on their masters and begin a conquest of south-eastern Britain, quickly forming a kingdom of their own in Kent.

453 - 456

Talorg mac Aniel

Son.

456 - 480

Nectan Morbet mac Erp (the Great)

Younger brother of Drust MacErp.

The clan-lands of Nectan Morbet are in the region of Tay, embracing parts of Forfarshire, Perthshire, and Fife, while the king himself is traditionally held to be a Christian.

480 - 510

Drust Guorthinmoc

c.485

The Scotti of Irish Dal Riada begin to colonise Argyll at Cantyre. Apparently, Drust does nothing to stop them, and may not even have known about them. He has to deal with pagan rebellions in the north, reason enough to be distracted from the west.

510 - 522

Galan Arilith / Galanan Erilich

522

This period probably marks the beginning of the division of Pictland into North and South. Drust mac Udrost and Drust mac Gyrom ruled jointly. Each would keep his seat in the capital of his clan, but in affairs that concerned all the clans they would lead together. It is not known who rules which division of Pictland.

522 - 527

Drust mac Udrost

Co-ruled with Drust mac Gyrom (with a north/south divide?).

522 - 532

Drust mac Gyrom

Ruled a united Pictland (527-532).

532 - 539

Gartnaidh mac Gyrom

Brother.

539 - 540

Celtran mac Gyrom

Brother.

540 - 551

Talorg mac Murtholic

At this time Yellow Plague ravished the country.

551 - 552

Drust mac Munaith

Possible Yellow Plague victim.

North Pictland

The northern Picts were combined in one kingdom, that of Cat (Caithness), under the powerful Brudei. St Columba needed interpreters to be able to speak to the king, evidence either that the Picts did not speak the Celtic language of the Irish and Scots (or at the very least not the Gael version of the Celtic tongue), or that the two branches had diverged noticeably.

(Additional information by Edward Dawson.)

553 - 584

Brudei mac Maelcon / Bridei

Pagan son of High King Maelgwyn Gwynedd.

563

St Columba, a descendant of the high kings of Ireland, arrives in the kingdom with twelve companions. He is granted land on Iona where he founds a monastery in order to introduce the Picts along the western coast to Christianity. Visiting the king, he wins his respect and subsequently plays a major role not just in winning converts for the church but also as a diplomat.

573

Brudei hands the invading Dal Riadan Scotti a heavy defeat at Lora (or Delgu/Telocho), and lays waste to their territory in the west.

584 - 599

Gartnait mac Aedan (IV)

Son of Aedan mac Gabrán of Dal Riada. Son-in-law of Brudei.

584

Gartnait is the 37th Pictish king in The Pictish Chronicle, the only historical writing to have been left by the Picts.

599 - 621

Nectan mac Connon mocu Erp (II)

Powerbase in the Tay and Forfar regions to the east.

c.600

In the territory of Ce (Kay), which had probably been part of the territory of the Taexili, there is a fortification in use at this time. Rare Late Roman pottery found during an archaeological excavation at the site at Rhynie in 2011 reveals a collection of eight unique Pictish symbol stones. Also revealed is an array of imported goods, the most remarkable of which are large fragments of a Roman amphora which comes from the Eastern Mediterranean. Many of the finds at Rhynie, such as a small sherd of glass that has been identified as a drinking bowl from the sixth or seventh century, or the bronze pins and two amber beads, suggest that it is a place of high status associated with fine dining and drinking. The finds suggest that this part of Britain is much more important than has been thought, perhaps playing an important role in the power politics of early medieval Scotland.

621 - 631

Ciniath mac Luthrenn

631 - 635

Gartnaidh or Nectan mac Wid/Uid (III)

635 - 641

Bridei / Brude mac Wid (II)

Brother.

641 - 653

Talorg mac Wid (IV)

Brother.

653 - 657

Talorcan mac Eanfrith

Son of Eanfrith, former king of Bernicia (632-633).

657 - 663

Gartnaidh mac Donnel

663 - 672

Drust / Drest mac Donnel

Brother. Deposed after defeat in battle.

672

Drust (or Drest) tries to expel the Northumbrian invaders from Pictland, but is defeated by Ecgfrith and removed from the throne.

672 - 693

Brudei mac Billi (III)

Pictish Chronicle confirms reign. Killed Ecgfrith of Northumbria.

685

Brudei faces a huge Northumbrian host on the plains of Dunnichen (Dun Nechtain), in Angus, probably with descendants of the Creones tribe amongst his forces. The Battle of Nechtansmere (the English name which may originate from the same root word as the Caledonian one) is a turning point in which Brudei makes his name. The Northumbrians had previously defeated every force they had faced, and had occupied southern Pictland for thirty years, probably as part of the territory of Dunbar. Brudei defeats them and massacres the entire enemy host including its king, and proceeds to clear Pictland of the remaining Northumbrians who have settled there, killing or enslaving them.

693 - 697

Taran mac Entifidich

A weak king. Deposed.

697

Taran is deposed after ruling for only four years. Two of these years are nominal, the real power during that time being in the hands of Brude, chief of the powerful house of Derelei, who becomes sovereign. It seems to be this takeover that cements Pictland as a single nation.

South Pictland

Scone was the capital of the strongest of the southern sub-kingdoms, Fortriu (Roman Verturiones, modern Forteviot). The sub-kingdom of Fib, to the east, lives on as Fife. The remaining four were Fotla, Fidach, Circind, and Ce. It may be that South Pictland was only independent of the North for short periods, which would explain the lack of any details of kings for this region.

The South Picts were converted to Christianity by St Ninian in the late fourth or early fifth century. He became known as the Apostle to the Southern Picts. His work was carried out before that of St Patrick in Ireland, because the latter mentions the South Picts being apostates, meaning that they renounced their conversion to Christianity, probably between AD 400-450, and perhaps following the death of a king. The same reversion to paganism after the death of a leader can be seen amongst the East Saxons and Northumbrians. Tradition states that Ninian died in Ireland in 432.

556 - 565

The south is commanded over by the North.

552 - 580

Galam Cennelath

580 - ?

Is the south commanded over by the North again?

603

Aedan mac Gabrán of Dal Riada invades the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia and attacks King Æthelfrith at the Battle of Degsastan. By fighting and defeating Dal Riada, Æthelfrith secures the alliance of Dal Riada's enemies, the southern Picts.

? - 668

Talorn?

Killed by the Northumbrians.

668

Areas of the south are conquered by the Northumbrian Angles under Oswiu.

681

Northumbria establishes a bishopric under Bishop Trumwine amongst the Southern Picts at Abercorn. The effort to convert the Picts fails just four years later and is abandoned shortly after the North Picts defeat the Northumbrians at the Battle of Dunnichen.

697?

The North had long held pre-eminence over the South and by this time a single kingdom is forged in Pictland.

United Pictland

South Pictland may have experience periods of semi-independence from the more powerful North Pictland at times over the past century and a half, but by the reign of Brude Derelei the Picts were firmly reunited, mainly in the face of the threat post by the powerful Northumbrians on their southern border.

Again, the name Brude, or Brede, appears regularly in this list, as it does in the list of North Pictland and early Pictish kings, and Edward Dawson's suggestion that 'Brude' may be a title of some sort holds just as true.

(Additional information by Edward Dawson.)

697 - 706

Brude Derelei (IV)

706 - 724

Naiton / Nechtan mac Derile

Abandoned Celtic Church in favour of Rome.

711

Nechtan tries to befriend the Northumbrian Angles. They send a war party under the leadership of Bertfrid (Beorhtfrith of Dunbar, King Osred's chief ealdorman) and a battle is fought on the Moor of Mannand / Manaw. The battle results in heavy losses on both sides, and no recorded victory.

Nechtan enters a monastery for a few years in 724 and the succession becomes muddled by in-fighting and rapid successions (thanks to the practise of matrilineal descent followed by the Picts, and a large number of eligible would-be kings). Nechtan is defeated in his retirement by Angus in 728-9, and Drust is killed in battle.

724 - 726

Drest / Drostan mac Talorc

Removed by Alpin. Killed 729.

726 - 728

Alpin

Of Dal Riada.

728 - 761

Angus / Oengus mac Fergus

King of Dal Riada & Pictland. (Annales Cambriae).

744

After defeating the Dal Riada Scotti in their Caledonian territories and ruling over them, and also in Ireland, Angus turns his attention south to Alt Clut, and may have defeated them in open battle in this year.

736? - 750

Talorgan mac Fergus

Brother. Killed at Mocetauc by Britons (Annales Cambriae).

750

Angus' attention remains fixed on taking territory from Alt Clut. His brother, Talorcan, leads a Pictish army at the battle of Mocetauc (he was either commanding with Angus' blessing or may have been in contention for the Pictish throne). Talorcan is killed, as is Tewdur, king of Alt Clut, but the Britons hold the battlefield.

756

One last attempt is made to conquer Alt Clut, this time with help from Northumbria. The combined armies nearly succeed in capturing Dunbarton, but a reversal sees them almost destroyed, and Angus retreats back into Pictland.

761 - 763

Brude mac Fergus (V)

Brother of Angus.

763 - 776

Cinead / Cineod mac Wredech

Also known as Kenneth MacFeredach. (Annales Cambriae).

768

The Dal Riadans re-establish their independence.

776? - 781

Fergus (or Alpin / Elpin mac Wroid (II))

King of Dal Riada & Pictland.

781? - 782

Dubh Tolarg / Talorc (II)

(Annals of Ulster).

783

Drest / Drust mac Talorgen (VII)

No details known.

783? - 785

Talorgan / Talorc mac Angus (III)

No details known.

785 - 789

Conall mac Tadc / Taidg

Went to Dal Riada, relinquishing Pictish throne.

789 - 820

Constantine mac Fergus

Opponent of Conall. Also ruled Dal Riada (811-820).

Constantine mac Fergus is often counted in Scottish lists as Constantine I.

820 - 834

Angus / Oengus mac Fergus (II)

Brother. Also ruled Dal Riada (820-834).

834 - 837

Drest mac Constantine (VIII)

Son of Constantine.

837

Talorc / Talorgan mac Wthoil

May have ruled jointly from 834.

837- 839

Eoganan / Uven mac Angus

King of Pictland & Dal Riada.

839

The line of descent of Pictish kings is broken when the Pictish army is destroyed and Eoganan is killed while leading his men against the Vikings in what seems to have been a huge battle. This shattering defeat also sees the death of his brother (and successor) along with 'others almost without number'.

This decimation of the Pictish warrior class by the Vikings is perhaps the most decisive point which swings the pendulum of control towards the Scots. Pictland eventually merges with Scotian Dal Riada through intermarriage to become Scotland. The Annals of Ulster record no more Pictish kings, but some extra rulers are named in other lists, and may have ruled only in the North for a time.

839 - 842

Uurad / Wrad mac Bargoit

Reigned jointly with Brede for his final year.

842 - 843

Brede mac Degart

Last Pictish sovereign mention in Pictish Chronicle.

843

Kenneth mac Ferath

Northern Picts only.

843 - 845

Brede mac Fethal

Brother of Brede. Northern Picts only.

845 - 848

Drest mac Fethal (IX)

Northern Picts only. Killed by Kenneth mac Alpin.

850

Drest, the sixty-ninth king on the amalgamated lists of Pictish kings, is also the last, being killed by the shadowy figure of Kenneth MacAlpin. Kenneth control of Pictland sees him absorb this remaining independent northern province so that he is able to unite most of the country, a feat which is extended to cover all of Scotland by subsequent kings. The heritage of the Picts as the rulers of a united 'Scottish' kingdom before the ascendancy of the Scots themselves is largely forgotten by later generations.