Run of Alt Clut
Encyclopedia
Run was probably a ruler of Alt Clut
(modern Dumbarton Rock, Scotland
) and Strathclyde
(the "Clyde Valley"), a Brythonic
kingdom in the Hen Ogledd
or "Old North" of Britain
. The dates of his reign are uncertain, but he probably ruled from the death of his father Artgal
in 872 until around 878, when his son Eochaid ascended the throne.
The Harleian genealogies
name Run as the son of Artgal, who ruled Strathclyde until his death in 872. Run is in fact the last figure in his line appearing in the Welsh genealogy, probably indicating that the pedigree was his own. Run was married to the daughter of Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín), and was thus brother-in-law to Constantín mac Cináeda, King of the Picts at the time. According to the Irish annals, Constantín consented to Artgal's death in 872. If Run's marriage had occurred or been arranged by that time, this may have provided Constantín a claim over Strathclyde. The marriage produced Eochaid, who, with Giric, possibly held overlordship of Scotland after the death of Run's brother-in-law, Áed mac Cináeda, until their deposition by King Donald II
(Domnall mac Causantín). To what extent Run ever ruled independently of his Scottish overlords is unknown, and that he reigned at all is just an educated guess, although the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
does specify that his son Eochaid ruled as "King of the Britons
". The church of Saint Constantine at Govan
was likely founded during Run's reign, or soon after. Run's death is unrecorded, but it was probably in 878 when Eochaid became king.
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...
(modern Dumbarton Rock, 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 Strathclyde
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...
(the "Clyde Valley"), a Brythonic
Britons (historical)
The Britons were the Celtic people culturally dominating Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages. They spoke the Insular Celtic language known as British or Brythonic...
kingdom in the Hen Ogledd
Hen Ogledd
Yr Hen Ogledd is a Welsh term used by scholars to refer to those parts of what is now northern England and southern Scotland in the years between 500 and the Viking invasions of c. 800, with particular interest in the Brythonic-speaking peoples who lived there.The term is derived from heroic...
or "Old North" of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. The dates of his reign are uncertain, but he probably ruled from the death of his father Artgal
Artgal of Alt Clut
Artgal was a king of Alt Clut and Strathclyde , a Brythonic kingdom in the Hen Ogledd or "Old North" of Britain, for some time in the mid-9th century. Artgal's reign is notable in that he is the first certain king of Alt Clut since Dumnagual III of Alt Clut a century before...
in 872 until around 878, when his son Eochaid ascended the throne.
The Harleian genealogies
Harleian genealogies
The Harleian genealogies are a collection of Old Welsh genealogies preserved in British Library, Harleian MS 3859. Part of the Harleian Collection, the manuscript, which also contains the Annales Cambriae and a version of the Historia Brittonum, has been dated to c. 1100, although a date of c.1200...
name Run as the son of Artgal, who ruled Strathclyde until his death in 872. Run is in fact the last figure in his line appearing in the Welsh genealogy, probably indicating that the pedigree was his own. Run was married to the daughter of Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín), and was thus brother-in-law to Constantín mac Cináeda, King of the Picts at the time. According to the Irish annals, Constantín consented to Artgal's death in 872. If Run's marriage had occurred or been arranged by that time, this may have provided Constantín a claim over Strathclyde. The marriage produced Eochaid, who, with Giric, possibly held overlordship of Scotland after the death of Run's brother-in-law, Áed mac Cináeda, until their deposition by King Donald II
Donald II of Scotland
Domnall mac Causantín , anglicised as Donald II was King of the Picts or King of Scotland in the late 9th century. He was the son of Constantine I...
(Domnall mac Causantín). To what extent Run ever ruled independently of his Scottish overlords is unknown, and that he reigned at all is just an educated guess, although 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...
does specify that his son Eochaid ruled as "King of the Britons
Britons (historical)
The Britons were the Celtic people culturally dominating Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages. They spoke the Insular Celtic language known as British or Brythonic...
". The church of Saint Constantine at Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
was likely founded during Run's reign, or soon after. Run's death is unrecorded, but it was probably in 878 when Eochaid became king.