Constantine III of Scotland
Encyclopedia
Constantine, son of Cuilén (Mediaeval Gaelic
: Causantín mac Cuiléin; Modern Gaelic
: Còiseam mac Chailein), known in most modern regnal lists as Constantine III, (before 971–997) was king of Scots from 995 to 997. He was the son of Cuilén, King of Scotland
(Cuilén mac Iduilb).
Constantine became king upon the death of Kenneth II
(Cináed mac Maíl Coluim), supposedly killed by Finnguala, daughter of Cuncar
, Mormaer of Angus, a killing with which Constantine is associated in several accounts. John of Fordun
, perhaps confusing him with Eógan II of Strathclyde
, known as "the Bald", refers to Constantine as "the Bald". He reigned for eighteen months according to the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
.
The Annals of Tigernach
report that he was killed in a battle between the Scots in 997. His death is placed by the Chronicle at Rathinveramond at the mouth of the Almond where it meets the River Tay
near Perth
. This appears to have been a royal centre, close to Scone and Forteviot
, as Donald I
(Domnall mac Ailpín) is said to have died there in 862. Constantine's killer is named as Cináed mac Maíl Coluim ("Kenneth son of Malcolm"), probably in error for either Kenneth, son of Dub
(Cináed mac Duib), who became Kenneth III on Constantine's death, or perhaps for Malcolm, son of Kenneth II
(Máel Coluim mac Cináeda).
Constantine is not known to have any descendants and he was the last of the line of Áed
(Áed mac Cináeda) to have been king.
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
: Causantín mac Cuiléin; Modern Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
: Còiseam mac Chailein), known in most modern regnal lists as Constantine III, (before 971–997) was king of Scots from 995 to 997. He was the son of Cuilén, King of Scotland
Cuilén of Scotland
Cuilén mac Ildulb , sometimes anglicised as Culen or Colin, and nicknamed An Fionn, "the White" was king of Scotland from 967 to 971...
(Cuilén mac Iduilb).
Constantine became king upon the death of Kenneth II
Kenneth II of Scotland
Cináed mac Maíl Coluim was King of Scots...
(Cináed mac Maíl Coluim), supposedly killed by Finnguala, daughter of Cuncar
Cuncar of Angus
Cuncar of Angus was Mormaer of Angus somewhere in the mid or later 10th century, which makes it quite possible that he was the successor of Dubacan. One divergent source calls him thanus , but otherwise he is comes...
, Mormaer of Angus, a killing with which Constantine is associated in several accounts. John of Fordun
John of Fordun
John of Fordun was a Scottish chronicler. It is generally stated that he was born at Fordoun, Mearns. It is certain that he was a secular priest, and that he composed his history in the latter part of the 14th century; and it is probable that he was a chaplain in the St Machar's Cathedral of...
, perhaps confusing him with Eógan II of Strathclyde
Eógan II of Strathclyde
Owen II , also known by his Latin-derived nickname, Eugenius Calvus or Owen the Bald, was ruler of the Kingdom of Strathclyde for some period in the early eleventh century....
, known as "the Bald", refers to Constantine as "the Bald". He reigned for eighteen months according to the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba, or Scottish Chronicle, is a short written chronicle of the Kings of Alba, covering the period from the time of Kenneth MacAlpin until the reign of Kenneth II . W.F...
.
The Annals of Tigernach
Annals of Tigernach
The Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish....
report that he was killed in a battle between the Scots in 997. His death is placed by the Chronicle at Rathinveramond at the mouth of the Almond where it meets the River Tay
River Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
near Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. This appears to have been a royal centre, close to Scone and Forteviot
Forteviot
Forteviot is a village in Strathearn, Scotland on the south bank of the River Earn between Dunning and Perth. It lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross...
, as Donald I
Donald I of Scotland
Domnall mac Ailpín ; was king of the Picts from 858 to 862...
(Domnall mac Ailpín) is said to have died there in 862. Constantine's killer is named as Cináed mac Maíl Coluim ("Kenneth son of Malcolm"), probably in error for either Kenneth, son of Dub
Kenneth III of Scotland
Cináed mac Duib anglicised as Kenneth III, and nicknamed An Donn, "the Chief" or "the Brown", was King of Scots from 997 to 1005. He was the son of Dub...
(Cináed mac Duib), who became Kenneth III on Constantine's death, or perhaps for Malcolm, son of Kenneth II
Malcolm II of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Cináeda , was King of the Scots from 1005 until his death...
(Máel Coluim mac Cináeda).
Constantine is not known to have any descendants and he was the last of the line of Áed
Áed of Scotland
Áed mac Cináeda was a son of Cináed mac Ailpín . He became king of the Picts in 877 when he succeeded his brother Constantín mac Cináeda. He was nicknamed Áed of the White Flowers, the Wing-footed or the white-foot .The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba says of Áed: "Edus [Áed] held the same [i.e....
(Áed mac Cináeda) to have been king.
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork 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.
- (CKA) The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba