| Notes |
- Known as Cinead MacAlpin, King of Scotland.
Kenneth I the Hardy (c. 810 858; Kenneth mac Alpin) succeeded his
father, Alpin II, to the throne of Dalriada. He soon obtained the
Pictish throne in 843 and became the first king to rule the Picts of
Pictavia and the Scots of Dalriada. It is possible that intermarriage
with the Picts helped secure Kenneth's throne. The joint kingdom was
known as Alba from the Gaelic name for the area. He was the first king
of the House of Alpin.
It is considered unlikely that Kenneth was ever crowned king, he
certainly did not get the papal blessing as this did not happen to a
Scottish king until David II in 1329. Kenneth's importance in Scottish
history lies in the fact that he is traditionally seen as the monarch
who became the first king to unite the Picts and Scots. As usual with
early history there is more than a touch of myth and legend
surrounding him. It is not even true that he united the Picts and
Scots for the first time, as several kings had already done so. The
significance of Kenneth's reign is that after him the Picts and Scots
stayed united.
Kenneth has a reputation for having been skilful in politics as well
In 841 AD, Kenneth MacAlpin became ruler of Dal Riada, a kingdom in
Southwest Scotland where the Irish Scots lived.
In 843 AD, MacAlpin invaded Pictland, or Alba. This was well timed, as
the Picts had for some time been engaged in fighting the Vikings who
were attempting to settle parts of the west and north of Alba. Because
the Picts were exhausted the Scots won their battles and MacAlpin
became king of the Picts as well. Legend has it that MacAlpin also had
a claim to the Pictish throne through his mother. Alba soon became
known as Scotia. Scotia was the result of the unification of the
Picts and the Scots.
Kenneth MacAlpin was always looking for ways to extend Scotia. The
Angles (or English) were strong in the south, and also wanted to
extend their country by taking Scottish land. Kenneth attacked the
Angles six times. He crossed the River Forth (which was the border)
into Bemicia, where they burned and looted villages.
Kenneth MacAlpin died in 858 AD, and was buried on the island of Iona.
He had held his United Scotia together for sixteen years, despite
attacks from the Angles in Strathclyde and Vikings in the Northern
Isles.
Reigned 844 - 859.
|
Abt 810 - 859 (49 years)