Early Scottish History

[Milva]

I am looking for information about early Scotland. I am interested especially in Dalriadic kings, their connection with the Irish Dalriada, and the rules of Kenneth mac Alpine. I am also interested in sources referring to medieval Scotland till Malcolm III, especially those concerning relations with Strathclyde and England.

[The_Bruce]

Gaelic kingdom that, at least from the 5th century AD, extended on both sides of the North Channel and composed the northern part of the present County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and part of the Inner Hebrides and Argyll, in Scotland. In earlier times, Argyll had received extensive immigration from the Irish (known as Scoti) of northern Ireland and had become an Irish (i.e., "Scottish") area. In the latter half of the 5th century, the ruling family of Irish Dalriada crossed into Scottish Dalriada and made Dunadd and Dunolly its chief strongholds. Irish Dalriada gradually declined; and after the Viking invasions early in the 9th century, it lost all political identity. Despite heavy onslaughts from the Picts, the Dalriada of the Scottish mainland continued to expand. In the mid-9th century its king Kenneth I MacAlpin brought the Picts permanently under Dalriadic rule; and thereafter the whole country was known as Scotland.

[The_Bruce]

Around 839, a battle took place. Some Picts were fighting the rebellious Scots under Alpin of Gabhran's house, a large army of Norsemen came upon their rear. Though Alpin was killed, and his head impaled by the Picts.

The Pictish army turned and face the Norsemen and were destroyed in a wild battle. The Picts not only lost to the Norsemen, they were almost destroyed. Eoghann, the last King of Picts, died with them and now there was no Pictish leader to oppose the Scots. Why the Norsemen took part in a battle between Picts and Scots, that did not involve the Norsemen, is really easily explained.

The Norsemen believed to die in battle was a sure way of entering Vahala, the great warriors reward in "Asgaard", and because of this pagan belief, the Vikings showed no fear of dying in combat. They happened upon the battle between the Picts and Scots, which the Scots were losing, and attacked the Picts. Besides the last of the Pictish Kings dying in the battle, so did Scots King Alpin. Kenneth the Hardy, son of Scots slain King Alpin, avenged his fathers death by taking the remaining territory of the Picts. His ascendency to King of Scots and Picts, was not a peaceful one though.



The first king of Scots and Southern Picts, MacAlpin, it is said, murdered seven Earls of Dalriada, kinsmen who might have disputed his claim to King of Scots and Picts, all this took place during a celebration banquet at Scone. The ascendency of Kings was a bloody and treacherous affair, not for the faint of heart.

[Vivian_Yin]

Hi Bruce,

I'm new here and I am also very facinated and interested in early Scottish history. I have read your biography and you've mentioned that you are also interested in Rob Roy. Just one quick question, did he really exist at all in history or is it just a character from the movies?

[elmsella]

Yes is the simple answer to that question Vivian.

Rob Roy MacGregor did exist and his grave can be seen in Balquhidder Kirkyard.

Try this page for size....

http://www.almac.co.uk/stronvar/strobroy.htm


Elmy

[Vivian_Yin]

Hi Elmy,

Thanks for providing the two websites for me....it was great! Plenty of info for me to absorb.
Which type of books do you recommend if I want to learn more on Rob Roy?

By the way, Happy New Year!!!

[Bairbreaine]

Happy Hogmanay to all!!!!