List of Kings of Dál Riata
Encyclopedia
This is a List of the kings of Dál Riata
, a kingdom of uncertain origins which was located in Scotland
and Ireland
. Most kings of Dál Riata, along with later rulers of Alba
and of Scotland, traced their descent from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, and even in the 16th century, James VI of Scotland called himself the "happie monarch sprung of Ferguse race".
plausibly report the deaths of kings of Dál Riata, with the death of Comgall mac Domangairt
, c. 538–545, and of his brother Gabrán
, c. 558–560. The last attested kings of Dál Riata are Fergus mac Echdach
, brother and successor to Áed Find
, whose death is reported in the Annals of Ulster in 781. It is thought that the original king-lists from which the High Medieval accounts were derived ended with Fergus. After Fergus the history of Dál Riata is very uncertain, although there is a report of the death in 792 of Donncoirce
("Dorm Corci, king of Dál Riata"), but of whom nothing more is known.
Dál Riata was divided into a number of kingroups or dynasties, called cenéla, of which the Cenél nGabráin of Kintyre
, who claimed descent from Gabrán mac Domangairt, and the Cenél Loairn, who claimed descent from Fergus Mór's son Loarn, dominated the kingship. Given the nature of early medieval genealogies, and the doubts expressed even by contemporary writers, such as the compiler of the Senchus fer n-Alban
, it would be unwise to place too much reliance on such claims.
The annals are not entirely consistent in naming kings. For example, is there a real difference between a "king of Dál Riata" and a "lord of Dál Riata"? A possible source of confusion is that the neighbouring cruithne kingdom of Dál nAraide in Ulster
was similar in name when Latinised as Dalaradia, while Dál Riata became Dalriada, so that it is possible that some of the more obscure rulers may have been misattributed to Dál Riata. It has been proposed, but with little support, that the Irish part of Dál Riata had a separate existence from the Scottish part after the middle of the 7th century, so that one king ruled in Ireland while another ruled in Scotland.
Less reliable sources may include:
Interpretation of these sources remains problematic. Many entries which appear to refer to Dál Riata lack context, many persons named lack patronyms or other identifying bynames. There are many disagreements among sources. Some entries have been amended and expanded at a later time.
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
, a kingdom of uncertain origins which was located in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Most kings of Dál Riata, along with later rulers of Alba
Alba
Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is cognate to Alba in Irish and Nalbin in Manx, the two other Goidelic Insular Celtic languages, as well as similar words in the Brythonic Insular Celtic languages of Cornish and Welsh also meaning Scotland.- Etymology :The term first appears in...
and of Scotland, traced their descent from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, and even in the 16th century, James VI of Scotland called himself the "happie monarch sprung of Ferguse race".
Background
It is not until the middle of the 6th century that Irish annalsIrish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
plausibly report the deaths of kings of Dál Riata, with the death of Comgall mac Domangairt
Comgall mac Domangairt
Comgall mac Domangairt was king of Dál Riata in the early 6th century. He was the son of Domangart Réti and grandson of Fergus Mór. The Annals of Ulster report his death in 538, 542 and 545, the Annals of Tigernach in 537.-Comgall:...
, c. 538–545, and of his brother Gabrán
Gabrán mac Domangairt
Gabrán mac Domangairt was king of Dál Riata in the middle of the 6th century. He is the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nGabraín.The historical evidence for Gabrán is limited to the notice of his death in the Irish annals...
, c. 558–560. The last attested kings of Dál Riata are Fergus mac Echdach
Fergus mac Echdach
Fergus mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata from about 778 until 781.He succeeded Áed Find. He is stated to have been a son of Eochaid mac Echdach, and thus a brother of Áed. Some much later sources make him a son of Áed, but this is not credited by modern studies...
, brother and successor to Áed Find
Áed Find
Áed Find or Áed mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata . Áed was the son of Eochaid mac Echdach, a descendant of Domnall Brecc in the main line of Cenél nGabráin kings....
, whose death is reported in the Annals of Ulster in 781. It is thought that the original king-lists from which the High Medieval accounts were derived ended with Fergus. After Fergus the history of Dál Riata is very uncertain, although there is a report of the death in 792 of Donncoirce
Donncoirce
Donncoirce was probably king of Dál Riata until his death in 792.Donncoirce's death, the only report of his existence, appears in the Annals of Ulster for the year 791, corresponding with 792 AD. In it he is called "Donncoirce, king of Dál Riata...
("Dorm Corci, king of Dál Riata"), but of whom nothing more is known.
Dál Riata was divided into a number of kingroups or dynasties, called cenéla, of which the Cenél nGabráin of Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
, who claimed descent from Gabrán mac Domangairt, and the Cenél Loairn, who claimed descent from Fergus Mór's son Loarn, dominated the kingship. Given the nature of early medieval genealogies, and the doubts expressed even by contemporary writers, such as the compiler of the Senchus fer n-Alban
Senchus fer n-Alban
The Senchus Fer n-Alban is an Old Irish medieval text, believed to have been compiled in the 10th century. It may have been derived from earlier documents of the 7th century which are presumed to have been written in Latin...
, it would be unwise to place too much reliance on such claims.
The annals are not entirely consistent in naming kings. For example, is there a real difference between a "king of Dál Riata" and a "lord of Dál Riata"? A possible source of confusion is that the neighbouring cruithne kingdom of Dál nAraide in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
was similar in name when Latinised as Dalaradia, while Dál Riata became Dalriada, so that it is possible that some of the more obscure rulers may have been misattributed to Dál Riata. It has been proposed, but with little support, that the Irish part of Dál Riata had a separate existence from the Scottish part after the middle of the 7th century, so that one king ruled in Ireland while another ruled in Scotland.
Kings before the Battle of Mag Rath
| Reign | Ruler | Name | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Loarn Loarn mac Eirc Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata who may have lived in the 5th century.The Duan Albanach and the Senchus Fer n-Alban and other genealogies name Loarn's father as Erc son of Eochaid Muinremuir... |
Loarn mac Eirc | Supposedly a son of Erc | Eponymous founder of the Cenél Loairn; claimed ancestry probable spurious |
| Unknown | Fergus Mór Fergus Mór Fergus Mór mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata. He was the son of Erc.While his historicity may be debatable, his posthumous importance as the founder of Scotland in the national myth of Medieval and Renaissance Scotland is not in doubt... |
Fergus Mór mac Eirc Mac Nisse Mór |
Son of Erc | Mac Nisse Mór is likely spurious; Annals of Tigernach report his death c. 501 |
| Unknown | Domangart Réti | Domangart Réti Domangart mac Ferguso Domangart Mac Nissi |
Son of Fergus Mór | The Annals of Innisfallen report the death of Domangart of Cenn Tíre Kintyre Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north... c. 507; the patronymic Mac Nissi is probably a textual error |
| Died c. 540 | Comgall Comgall mac Domangairt Comgall mac Domangairt was king of Dál Riata in the early 6th century. He was the son of Domangart Réti and grandson of Fergus Mór. The Annals of Ulster report his death in 538, 542 and 545, the Annals of Tigernach in 537.-Comgall:... |
Comgall mac Domangairt | Son of Domangart | Said to have reigned 35 years; multiple obits in the Annals of Ulster; eponymous ancestor of the Cenél Comgaill |
| Died c. 560 | Gabrán Gabrán mac Domangairt Gabrán mac Domangairt was king of Dál Riata in the middle of the 6th century. He is the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nGabraín.The historical evidence for Gabrán is limited to the notice of his death in the Irish annals... |
Gabrán mac Domangairt | Son of Domangart | His death may be associated with Bridei son of Maelchon Bridei I of the Picts Bridei son of Maelchon, was king of the Picts until his death around 584 to 586.Bridei is first mentioned in Irish annals for 558–560, when the Annals of Ulster report "the migration before Máelchú's son i.e. king Bruide". The Ulster annalist does not say who fled, but the later Annals of... ; duplicate obits in the Annals of Ulster; eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nGabráin |
| Died c. 574 | Conall Conall mac Comgaill Conall mac Comgaill was king of Dál Riata from about 558 until 574.He was a son of Comgall mac Domangairt. It is said that he gave Iona to Saint Columba. The Duan Albanach says that he reigned "without dissension", but there is a report of an expedition by Conall and Colmán Bec mac Diarmato of the... |
Conall mac Comgaill | Cenél Comgaill; son of Comgall | Said to have given Iona Iona Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats... to Saint Columba Columba Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period... ; the first king to have an entry in the Annals of Ulster other than an obit |
| Died c. 606 | Áedán Áedán mac Gabráin Áedán mac Gabráin was a king of Dál Riata from circa 574 until his death, perhaps on 17 April 609. The kingdom of Dál Riata was situated in modern Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and parts of County Antrim, Ireland... |
Áedán mac Gabráin | Cenél nGabráin; son of Gabrán | Known from Adomnán of Iona Adomnán of Iona Saint Adomnán of Iona was abbot of Iona , hagiographer, statesman and clerical lawyer; he was the author of the most important Vita of Saint Columba and promulgator of the "Law of Innocents", lex innocentium, also called Cáin Adomnáin, "Law of Adomnán"... 's Life of Saint Columba and from many entries in the Annals |
| Died c. 629 (after Connad Cerr) | Eochaid Buide Eochaid Buide Eochaid Buide was king of Dál Riata from around 608 until 629. "Buide" refers to the colour yellow, as in the colour of his hair.He was a younger son of Áedán mac Gabráin and became his father's chosen heir upon the death of his elder brothers... |
Eochaid Buide Eochaid mac Áedáin |
Cenél nGabráin; son of Áedán | Known from Adomnán of Iona Adomnán of Iona Saint Adomnán of Iona was abbot of Iona , hagiographer, statesman and clerical lawyer; he was the author of the most important Vita of Saint Columba and promulgator of the "Law of Innocents", lex innocentium, also called Cáin Adomnáin, "Law of Adomnán"... 's Life of Saint Columba |
| Died c. 629 (before Eochaid Buide) | Connad Cerr Connad Cerr Connad Cerr was a king of Dál Riata in the early 7th century. He was either a son of Conall mac Comgaill or of Eochaid Buide. Connad appears to have been joint king with Eochaid Buide in the 620s.... |
Connad mac Conaill | Cenél Comgaill; son of Conall | Co-ruler with Eochaid Buide whom he predeceased; defeated and killed in battle at Fid Eóin by Congal Cáech Congal Cáech Congal Cáech was a king of the Cruithne of Dál nAraidi, in modern Ulster, from around 626 to 637. He was king of Ulster from 627-637 and, according to some sources, High King of Ireland.-Sources:... , king of the Ulaid Ulaid The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster... |
| Died c. 642 | Domnall Brecc Domnall Brecc Domnall Brecc was king of Dál Riata, in modern Scotland, from about 629 until 642... |
Domnall Brecc Domnall mac Echdach |
Cenél nGabráin; son of Eochaid Buide | Defeated and killed in battle at Strathcarron by Eugein map Beli Eugein I of Alt Clut Eugein I was a ruler of Alt Clut , the kingdom later known as Strathclyde, sometime in the mid-7th century. According to the Harleian genealogies, he was the son of Beli I, presumably his predecessor as king, and the father of Elfin, who ruled sometime later... , king of Alt Clut Kingdom of Strathclyde Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period... |
| Unknown | Ferchar Ferchar mac Connaid Ferchar mac Connaid was king of Dál Riata from about 642 until 650.He was a son of Connad Cerr and thus probably a member of the Cenél Comgaill, although some older reconstructions make him a member of the Cenél nGabráin. His death appears in the Annals of Ulster for 694 along with a number of... |
Ferchar mac Connaid | Cenél Comgaill; son of Connad Cerr | His obit in the Annals of Ulster for 694 appears misplaced; according to the Duan Albanach he was king after his father, presumably jointly with Domnall Brecc |
Kings from Mag Rath to 741
| Reign | Ruler | Name | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died c. 654 | Dúnchad Dúnchad mac Conaing Dúnchad mac Conaing was king of Dál Riata . He was joint ruler with Conall Crandomna until he was defeated and killed by Talorcan, king of the Picts, in the battle of Strath Ethairt... |
Dúnchad mac Conaing Dúnchad mac Dúbain |
Cenél nGabráin; probably son of Conaing son of Áedán | Presumed descendants of Dúnchad appear frequently in the Annals |
| Died c. 660 | Conall Crandomna Conall Crandomna Conall Crandomna was king of Dál Riata from about 650 until 660.The Senchus fer n-Alban makes him a son of Eochaid Buide and thus a member of the Cenél nGabráin. The Duan Albanach has him succeed Ferchar mac Connaid of the Cenél Comgaill, which had not yet separated from the Cenél nGabráin... |
Conall Crandomna Conall Crannamna Conall mac Echdach |
Cenél nGabráin; son of Eochaid Buide | |
| Died c. 660 ? | Domangart Domangart mac Domnaill Domangart mac Domnaill was a king in Dál Riata and the son of Domnall Brecc. It is not clear whether he was over-king of Dál Riata or king of the Cenél nGabráin.... |
Domangart mac Domnaill | Cenél nGabráin; son of Domnall Brecc | |
| Died c. 689 | Máel Dúin Máel Dúin mac Conaill Máel Dúin mac Conaill was a king in Dál Riata .He was the son of Conall Crandomna. His death is reported by the Annals of Ulster, but without mention of a title... |
Máel Dúin mac Conaill | Cenél nGabráin; son of Conall | |
| Died c. 696 | Domnall Donn Domnall Donn Domnall Donn was king of Dál Riata . He was a son of Conall Crandomna.His death is reported by the Annals of Ulster, but without mention of a title. He is among the kings named by the Duan Albanach, following his father and Dúnchad mac Conaing, which assigns him an improbable reign of 13 years... |
Domnall Donn Domnall mac Conaill |
Cenél nGabráin; son of Conall | |
| Died c. 697 | Ferchar Fota Ferchar Fota Ferchar Fota was probably king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata. His father is named as Feredach mac Fergusa and he was said to be a descendant in the 6th generation of Loarn mac Eirc.... |
Ferchar the Tall Ferchar mac Feredaig |
Cenél Loairn ; a descendant in the seventh generation of Loarn | Chief of the Cenél Loairn and, for a short time, king of Dál Riata |
| Unknown | Eochaid Eochaid mac Domangairt Eochaid mac Domangairt was a king of Dál Riata in about 697. He was a member of the Cenél nGabráin, the son of Domangart mac Domnaill and father of Eochaid mac Echdach; Alpín mac Echdach may also be a son of this Eochaid.... |
Eochaid mac Domangairt | Cenél nGabráin; son of Domangart | Unattested by the Annals and omitted from later genealogies but included in the Duan Albanach Duan Albanach The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material .... |
| Deposed c. 698 | Ainbcellach Ainbcellach mac Ferchair Ainbcellach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland.... |
Ainbcellach mac Ferchair | Cenél Loairn; son of Ferchar Fota | Died 718 in battle against Selbach his brother |
| Died 700 | Fiannamail Fiannamail ua Dúnchado Fiannamail ua Dúnchado was a king of Dál Riata at the end of the 8th century, and a king about whom nothing can be said with certainty other than the fact of his death around 700 by violence.... |
Fiannamail ua Dúnchado Fiannamail mac h-ua Dúnchado |
Cenél nGabráin ?; perhaps a grandson or great-grandson of the earlier Dúnchad son of Conaing | It is uncertain whether Fiannamail should be counted as a king of Dál Riata, or of Dál nAraidi Dál nAraidi Dál nAraidi was a kingdom of the Cruthin in the north-east of Ireland in the first millennium. The lands of the Dál nAraidi appear to correspond with the Robogdii of Ptolemy's Geographia, a region shared with Dál Riata... ; his possible sons Indrechtach and Conall died in battle in 741. |
| Died 707 | Béc | Béc ua Dúnchado | Cenél nGabráin ?; probably a grandson or nephew of the earlier Dúnchad son of Conaing | Apparently chief of the Cenél nGabráin |
| Died 721 | Dúnchad Dúnchad Bec Dúnchad Bec was king of Kintyre in the early 8th century.Dúnchad Bec is too late to have been included in the Senchus Fer n-Alban, which includes kings to the first half of the 7th century. He is also unknown to later genealogies. He is named from two entries in the Annals of Ulster... |
Dúnchad Bec | Cenél nGabráin; unknown but a relationship with Fiannamail, Béc and the earlier Dúnchad mac Conaing is possible | chief of Kintyre, which is to say the Cenél nGabráin, from before 719 to 721 |
| Abdicated 723 | Selbach Selbach mac Ferchair Selbach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn and of Dál Riata. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals.-Life:Selbach mac Ferchair was a son of Ferchar Fota... |
Selbach mac Ferchair | Cenél Loairn; son of Ferchar Fota | Abdicated in favour of his son Dúngal and entered religion, died 730 |
| Deposed as king of Dál Riata 726 | Dúngal Dúngal mac Selbaig Dúngal mac Selbaig was king of Dál Riata. His reign can best be placed in the years 723 to 726, beginning with the abdication of his father, Selbach mac Ferchair, who entered a monastery, and ending with rise of Eochaid mac Echdach of the Cenél nGabráin... |
Dúngal mac Selbaig | Cenél Loairn; son of Selbach | Probably remained chief of the Cenél Loairn until deposed in 733 |
| 726–733 | Eochaid Eochaid mac Echdach Eochaid mac Eochaid was king of Dál Riata from 726 until 733. He was a son of Eochaid mac Domangairt.Eochaid came to power as king of Dál Riata in 726, presumably deposing Dúngal mac Selbaig. Selbach may have tried to restore his son to power, and fought against Eochaid's supporters at Irros... |
Eochaid Angbad Eochaid mac Echdach |
Cenel nGabráin; son of Eochaid | A return to the Cenel nGabráin line |
| 733–736 | Muiredach Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig was king of the Cenél Loairn, and of Dál Riata , from about 733 until 736.He was the son of Ainbcellach mac Ferchair. His coming to power is reported in 733, and is not obviously associated with the death of Eochaid mac Echdach, king of Dál Riata, in the Irish annals... |
Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig | Cenél Loairn; son of Ainbcellach | Chief of the Cenél Loairn; Muiredach may have been the king of Dál Riata as well |
| Unknown | Alpín Alpín mac Echdach Alpín mac Eochaid may refer to two persons. The first person is a presumed king of Dál Riata in the late 730s. The second is the father of Kenneth MacAlpin... |
Alpín mac Echdach | Unknown | Appears in the Duan Albanach; possibly a spurious intrusion |
| Unknown | Eógan Eógan mac Muiredaig Eógan mac Muiredaig is named in some Scots sources as a king of Dál Riata, probably in the 730s.Presumed to be the son of Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig, and thus a king of the Cenél Loairn, Eógan is not named in any surviving Irish annals, nor does he appear in the Duan Albanach, which passes from... |
Eógan mac Muiredaig | Cenél Loairn; son of Muiredach | Known from some Scots chronicles; not named as king by the Duan Albanach; may have been chief of the Cenél Loairn |
| Died 741 | Indrechtach | Indrechtach mac Fiannamail | Cenel nGabráin ?; presumably son of the earlier Fiannamail | Idenfication uncertain, killed at the battle of Forboros, perhaps by the Picts of Óengus mac Fergusa; this may, however, have been a king of Dál nAraidi, but in this case his patronymic should be mac Lethlobair |
Kings from the 740s onwards
| Reign | Ruler | Name | Family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 736–750 or later | Unknown kings | Dál Riata was under the control of the Picts from around 736 until at least 750, and perhaps later; no kings are known from this period, but it is likely that the Picts ruled Dál Riata through subject kings | ||
| Before 768–778 | Áed Find Áed Find Áed Find or Áed mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata . Áed was the son of Eochaid mac Echdach, a descendant of Domnall Brecc in the main line of Cenél nGabráin kings.... |
Áed mac Echdach | Cenel nGabráin; presumably a son of Eochaid son of Eochaid | Later genealogies make Áed Find the son of Domangart son of Domnall Brecc which is chronologically improbable, others have one Eochaid rather than the expected two |
| 778–781 | Fergus Fergus mac Echdach Fergus mac Echdach was king of Dál Riata from about 778 until 781.He succeeded Áed Find. He is stated to have been a son of Eochaid mac Echdach, and thus a brother of Áed. Some much later sources make him a son of Áed, but this is not credited by modern studies... |
Fergus mac Echdach | Cenel nGabráin; brother of Áed Find | |
| Unknown | Eochaid Eochaid mac Áeda Find Eochaid mac Áeda Find is a spurious King of Dál Riata found in some rare High Medieval king-lists and in older history books.Supposedly a son of Áed Find and successor to Áed's brother Fergus mac Echdach, Eochaid is now thought to represent a misplacing of the reign of Eochaid mac Echdach... |
Eochaid mac Áeda Find | Cenel nGabráin; son of Áed Find | Not included in the Duan Albanach, or in the Annals; known from later genealogies; probably an error for Eochaid mac Echdach Eochaid mac Echdach Eochaid mac Eochaid was king of Dál Riata from 726 until 733. He was a son of Eochaid mac Domangairt.Eochaid came to power as king of Dál Riata in 726, presumably deposing Dúngal mac Selbaig. Selbach may have tried to restore his son to power, and fought against Eochaid's supporters at Irros... |
| Died 792 | Donncoirce Donncoirce Donncoirce was probably king of Dál Riata until his death in 792.Donncoirce's death, the only report of his existence, appears in the Annals of Ulster for the year 791, corresponding with 792 AD. In it he is called "Donncoirce, king of Dál Riata... |
None known | Unknown | Obit in the Annals of Ulster; not included in the Duan Albanach or later genealogies |
| Unknown | Caustantín Caustantín of the Picts Causantín or Constantín mac Fergusa was king of the Picts , in modern Scotland, from 789 until 820. He was until the Victorian era sometimes counted as Constantine I of Scotland; the title is now generally given to Causantín mac Cináeda... |
Caustantín mac Fergusa | Not certainly known, perhaps a descendant of the first Óengus mac Fergusa Óengus I of the Picts Óengus son of Fergus , was king of the Picts from 732 until his death in 761. His reign can be reconstructed in some detail from a variety of sources.Óengus became the chief king in Pictland following a period of civil war in the late 720s... |
King of the Picts c. 792–820; included in the Duan Albanach but not generally supposed to have been a king in Dál Riata |
| c. 792–805 | Unknown kings | No kings are known from this period | ||
| c. 805–807 | Conall Conall mac Taidg Conall mac Taidg was a king in Scotland. Very little is recorded of Conall and that unclear. He is mentioned twice by the Irish annals, the most reliable source for the history of northern Britain in the years around 800. He also appears in later king lists.-Annals:The Chronicle of Ireland... |
Conall mac Taidg | Unknown | Death reported in battle in Kintyre, presumed to be the first of the Conalls included in the Duan Albanach; reign approximate |
| c. 807–811 | Conall Conall mac Áedáin Conall mac Áedáin was a king in Scotland in the years around 800. It is thought that he was a king, or sub-king, in Dál Riata.He is mentioned once in the Annals of Ulster, for 807, when he defeated and killed Conall mac Taidg in Kintyre.... |
Conall mac Áedáin | Unknown | Killed Conall mac Taidg, "another Conall" reigned four years according to the Duan Albanach; reign approximate |
| c. 811–835 | Domnall Domnall mac Caustantín Domnall mac Caustantín is thought to have been king of Dál Riata in the early ninth century.Domnall's existence is uncertain, and is based on attempts to reconcile eleventh century works such as the poem Duan Albanach and the Synchronisms of Flann Mainistrech with the evidence of the Irish... |
Domnall mac Caustantín | Son of Caustantín mac Fergusa | A king named Domnall reigned twenty-four years according to the Duan Albanach; reign approximate |
| Unknown | Óengus Óengus II of the Picts Óengus mac Fergusa was king of the Picts , in modern Scotland, from about 820 until 834. Tradition associates him with the cult of Saint Andrew and the Flag of Scotland.... |
Óengus mac Fergusa | Brother of Caustantín | King of the Picts c. 820–834; included in the Duan Albanach but not generally supposed to have been a king in Dál Riata |
| Unknown | Eóganán Uen of the Picts Uuen [Wen] or Eogán in Gaelic was king of the Picts, or of Fortriu , in what is now Scotland.... |
Eóganán mac Óengusa | Son of Óengus | King of the Picts c. 837–839; included in the Duan Albanach but not generally supposed to have been a king in Dál Riata |
| c. 835–839 | Áed Áed mac Boanta Áed mac Boanta is believed to have been a king of Dál Riata.The only reference to Áed in the Irish annals is found in the Annals of Ulster, where it is recorded that "Eóganán mac Óengusa, Bran mac Óengusa, Áed mac Boanta, and others almost innumerable" in a battle fought by the men of Fortriu... |
Áed mac Boanta | None known | Killed in battle against Vikings alongside Eóganán mac Óengusa; a king Áed is named by the Duan Albanach |
| Unknown | Alpín | Alpín mac Echdach | Cenel nGabráin; son of Eochaid son of Áed Find | Not listed in the Duan Albanach or the Annals; known from later genealogies; no evidence that he was a king in Dál Riata and he is fathered on the spurious Eochaid mac Áeda Find |
| Unknown | Cináed Kenneth I of Scotland Cináed mac Ailpín , commonly Anglicised as Kenneth MacAlpin and known in most modern regnal lists as Kenneth I was king of the Picts and, according to national myth, first king of Scots, earning him the posthumous nickname of An Ferbasach, "The Conqueror"... |
Cináed mac Ailpín | Cenel nGabráin; son of Alpín | King of the Picts c. 843–858; not generally supposed that he was a king in Dál Riata |
| Unknown | Gofraid Gofraid mac Fergusa Gofraid mac Fergusa was said to be a ruler in Hebrides and perhaps the Isle of Man in the 9th century. His existence, at least in the form presented in the Irish annals, is questionable.... |
Gofraid mac Fergusa | A king or prince of the Airgíalla Airgíalla Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century... |
An entry in the late and generally less reliable Annals of the Four Masters for 835 (probably 839 AD) states that Gofraid was invited to come to Dál Riata by Cináed mac Ailpín; a spurious addition, Gofraid being an alleged son of Fergus Mór and an ancestor of Somerled Somerled Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride... |
Sources
The main sources for the kings of Dál Riata include:- The Annals of UlsterAnnals of UlsterThe Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
- The Annals of TigernachAnnals of TigernachThe Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish....
- The Senchus Fer n-AlbanSenchus fer n-AlbanThe Senchus Fer n-Alban is an Old Irish medieval text, believed to have been compiled in the 10th century. It may have been derived from earlier documents of the 7th century which are presumed to have been written in Latin...
- The Synchronisms of Flann MainistrechFlann MainistrechFlann Mainistrech was an Irish poet and historian.Flann was the son Echthigern mac Óengusso, who had been lector at the monastery of Monasterboice , in Irish Mainistir Buite, whence Flann's byname, meaning "of Monasterboice"...
of MonasterboiceMonasterboiceThe historic ruins of Monasterboice are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in Ireland, north of Drogheda. It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe who died around 521, and was an important centre of religion and learning until the founding of nearby Mellifont Abbey in... - The Duan AlbanachDuan AlbanachThe Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material ....
- Adomnán of IonaAdomnán of IonaSaint Adomnán of Iona was abbot of Iona , hagiographer, statesman and clerical lawyer; he was the author of the most important Vita of Saint Columba and promulgator of the "Law of Innocents", lex innocentium, also called Cáin Adomnáin, "Law of Adomnán"...
's Life of Saint ColumbaColumbaSaint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period... - A variety of genealogies for later kings of AlbaKingdom of AlbaThe name Kingdom of Alba pertains to the Kingdom of Scotland between the deaths of Donald II in 900, and of Alexander III in 1286 which then led indirectly to the Scottish Wars of Independence...
.
Less reliable sources may include:
- The Annals of Innisfallen
- The Chronicon ScotorumChronicon ScotorumChronicon Scotorum is a medieval Irish chronicle.According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the 'Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric times to 1150 but with some gaps, closely related to the 'Annals of Tigernach'...
- The Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four MastersThe Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
- The Annals of ClonmacnoiseAnnals of ClonmacnoiseThe Annals of Clonmacnoise are an early 17th-century Early Modern English translation of a lost Irish chronicle, which covered events in Ireland from pre-history to A.D. 1408...
Interpretation of these sources remains problematic. Many entries which appear to refer to Dál Riata lack context, many persons named lack patronyms or other identifying bynames. There are many disagreements among sources. Some entries have been amended and expanded at a later time.
External links
- 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
See also
- Kings of the Picts
- Kings of Strathclyde
- Kings of Scots