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Picts

byJoshuaJ.Mark
publishedon18December2014

ThePictswereapeopleofnorthernScotlandwhoaredefinedasa"confederationoftribalunits
whosepoliticalmotivationsderivedfromaneedtoallyagainstcommonenemies"(McHardy,176).
Theywerenotasingletribe,nornecessarilyasinglepeople,althoughitisthoughtthattheycame
originallyfromScandinaviaasacohesivegroup.Sincetheyleftnowrittenrecordoftheirhistory,
whatisknownofthemcomesfromlaterRomanandScottishwritersandfromimagesthePicts
themselvescarvedonstones.Theyarefirstmentionedas"Picts"bytheRomanwriterEumeniusin
297CE,whoreferredtothetribesofNorthernBritainas"Picti"("thepaintedones"),ostensibly
becauseoftheirhabitofpaintingtheirbodieswithdye.Thisoriginoftheirnamehasbeen
contestedbymodernscholarship,however,anditisprobabletheyreferredtothemselvesassome
formof"Pecht",thewordfor"theancestors".TheywerereferencedearlierbyTacituswhoreferred
tothemas"Caledonians"whichwasthenameofonlyonetribe.
ThePictsheldtheirterritoryagainsttheinvadingRomansinanumberofengagementsand,
althoughtheyweredefeatedinbattle,theywonthewar;Scotlandholdsthedistinctionofnever
fallingtotheinvadingarmiesofRome,eventhoughtheRomansattemptedconquestnumerous
times.ThePictsexistinthewrittenrecordfromtheirfirstmentionin297CEuntilc.900CE,when
nofurthermentionismadeofthem.Asmodernscholarspointout,theirabsencefromwritten
historydoesnotmeanthattheymysteriouslyvanishedorwereconqueredbytheScotsand
annihilated;itsimplymeansnomorewaswrittenaboutthemastheymergedwiththesouthern
Scotsculture,whoalreadyhadawrittenhistorybythattime,andthetwohistoriesbecameone
fromthenon.

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ASIDEFROMTHEOCCASIONALRAIDSBYONETRIBE
AGAINSTANOTHER,THEPICTSSEEMTOHAVELIVED
PEACEFULLYUNTILTHREATENEDBYOUTSIDEFORCES.

ORIGINS,CLANS,&NAME
AlthoughitwasacceptedhistoryinthepasttodatethearrivalofthePictsinScotlandtosometime
shortlybeforetheirmentioninRomanhistory,ortoclaima"PictishInvasion",modernscholarship
offersamuchearlierdatewithnofull-scaleinvasion.AccordingtotheCollinsEncyclopediaof
Scotland,"thePictsdidnot'arrive'-inasensetheyhadalwaysbeenthere,fortheywerethe
descendantsofthefirstpeopletoinhabitwhateventuallybecameScotland"(775).HistorianStuart
McHardysupportsthisclaim,writingthat"thePictswereinfacttheindigenouspopulationofthis
partoftheworld"bythetimetheRomansarrivedinBritain(32).TheyoriginallycamefromScythia
(Scandinavia),settledfirstinOrkney,andthenmigratedsouth.Thisclaimisfurthersupportedby
archaeologistandprofessoratAberdeenUniversity,Dr.GordonNoble,whostates,"Allevidence
pointstothePictsbeingindigenoustonorthernScotland...theybegantocoalesceduringthelate
RomanperiodandformedsomeofthemostpowerfulkingdomsinnorthernBritainintheearly
medievalperiod"(Wiener,2).Theylivedintightly-knitcommunitiesandbuilttheirhomesoutof
wood,althoughtheirskillinstonecarvingisevidentfromthemanyengravedstandingstonesstill
extantthroughoutScotlandandhousedinmuseums.Thesecarvedstoneslabsaretheonlyrecord
thePictsleftoftheirhistory;therestoftheirstoryistoldbylaterRoman,Scottish,andEnglish
writers.
McHardycreditsthePictswithbuildingthemegalithicstructures(suchastheNessofBrodgar),
whichcanstillbeseeninScotlandinthepresentday(33).Theyestablishedthemselvesinsmall
communitiesmadeupoffamiliesbelongingtoasingleclanwhichwaspresidedoverbyatribal
chief.TheseclanswereknownasCaerini,Cornavii,Lugi,Smertae,Decantae,Carnonacae,Caledonii,
SelgovaeandVotadini(McHardy,31).Theseclans(knownas"kin")actedintheirowninterests,
oftenraidingeachotherforcattle,butbandedtogetherwhenthreatenedbyacommonenemyand
electedasinglechieftoleadthecoalition.Thekin(whichcomesfromtheGaelicwordfor
"children")wouldcontinuetofollowandprotecttheirchief,butthatchiefwouldobeythewarrior
allhadagreeduponasgroupleader.Regardingtheroleofthechief,thehistoriansPeterandFiona
SomersetFrywrite:
Theheadofthekinwasaverypowerfulman.Hewaslookeduponasfatherof
everyoneinthekin,eventhoughhemightonlybeadistantcousintomost.
Hecommandedtheirloyalty:hehadproprietaryrightsovertheirland,their
cattletheirpossessionswereinasensehis.Hisquarrelsinvolvedthemand
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theyhadtotakepartinthem,eventothepointoflayingdowntheirlives(33).

Thisemphasisontheimportanceoffamilyandareverenceforthefather-figuremayactuallybethe
originforthename"Picts"asthepeoplehavecometobeknown.McHardy,andothers,citesthe
word"Pecht"as"ageneralcatch-alltermfor'theancestors'withinScotland"(36).McHardyandthe
otherhistoriansclaimthatthepeopleofNorthernScotlandreferredtothemselvesas"Pecht",
meaningboththattheyhonoredtheancestorsandwerethemselvesofancientstock(i.e.the
indigenouspeopleoftheland).McHardycitesthehistorianNicolaisenwhoshowshow"theRoman
'Picts'correspondscloselytotheOldNorsePettirandtotheOldEnglishPehtas"andthatthese
names,andothersfromtheAnglo-SaxonChronicle,"donotderivefromeachotherbutfroma
commonsource-probablyanativename"(McHardy,36).Giventhis,McHardywrites,"itishighly
unlikelythat[thePicts]weregiventheirnamebytheRomansandthereforetheideaoftheterm
meaning'thepaintedones'hasnobasisinfact"(37).Thisclaim,likemanyconcerningthePicts,has
beencontested.Whatevertheymayhavecalledthemselves,andwhateveritmeant,thecoalitionof
tribesrangedacrossthewholeofNorthernScotlandasfarnorthasOrkneyandasfarsouthasthe
FirthofForth.Themalesofthetribewereallwarriorsbut,whennotcalledupontodefendtheir
clanorland,werefarmersandfishermenandthefemalesalsofarmed,fished,andraisedthe
children.Asidefromtheoccasionalraidsbyonetribeagainstanotherforcattle,thePictsseemto
havelivedfairlypeacefullyuntilthreatenedbyoutsideforces.

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PictishStone,Invereen,Scotland

THECOMINGOFROME
RomesfirstincursionsintoBritainwerein55and54BCEbyJuliusCaesarbutbeganeffectivelyin
43BCEunderEmperorClaudius.In79/80CE,JuliusAgricola,theRomangovernorofBritain,
invadedScotlandandpressedontoalinebetweentheriversClydeandForthby82CE.After
establishingfortifications,heinvadednorthernScotlandin83CEandwasmetbythePictishleader
CalgacusinbattleatMonsGraupius.ThehistorianTacitusrecordedthebattleand,insodoing,was
thefirsttogiveawrittenaccountofScottishhistory.ItisfromTacitus'accountofthebattletheoftmisquotedline,"theymakeadesertandcallitpeace"comes.TheactuallineassetdownbyTacitus
is,"Theymakeasolitudeandcallitpeace."MonsGraupiusisanexampleofthePictsgathering
togetherunderasingleleadertocombatacommonenemy.TacitusdoesnotcallCalgacusaking
norachiefbutwrites,"Oneofthemanyleaders,namedCalgacus,amanofoutstandingvalourand
nobility,summonedthemasseswhowerealreadythirstingforbattleandaddressedthem"
(McHardy,28).TacitusrecordsthatCalgacushad30,000menunderhiscommandwhomhe
encouragedpriortothebattlethroughhisfamousspeech(whichmanyhistoriansclaimisTacitus'
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owncreation).Calgacusbeganhisaddresstohiswarriorsthusly:
Ihaveasureconfidencethatthisday,andthisunionofyours,willbethe
beginningoffreedomtothewholeofBritain.Toallofusslaveryisathing
unknowntherearenolandsbeyondus,andeventheseaisnotsafe,menaced
aswearebyaRomanfleet.Andthusinwarandbattle,inwhichthebrave
findglory,eventhecowardwillfindsafety.Formercontests,inwhich,with
varyingfortune,theRomanswereresisted,stillleftinusalasthopeof
succour,inasmuchasbeingthemostrenownednationofBritain,dwellingin
theveryheartofthecountry,andoutofsightoftheshoresoftheconquered,
wecouldkeepevenoureyesunpollutedbythecontagionofslavery.Touswho
dwellontheuttermostconfinesoftheearthandoffreedom,thisremote
sanctuaryofBritain'sgloryhasuptothistimebeenadefence.Now,however,
thefurthestlimitsofBritainarethrownopen,andtheunknownalwayspasses
forthemarvellous.Buttherearenotribesbeyondus,nothingindeedbut
wavesandrocks,andtheyetmoreterribleRomans,fromwhoseoppression
escapeisvainlysoughtbyobedienceandsubmission.Robbersoftheworld,
havingbytheiruniversalplunderexhaustedtheland,theyriflethedeep.If
theenemyberich,theyarerapaciousifhebepoor,theylustfordominion
neithertheeastnorthewesthasbeenabletosatisfythem.Aloneamongmen
theycovetwithequaleagernesspovertyandriches.Torobbery,slaughter,
plunder,theygivethelyingnameofempiretheymakeasolitudeandcallit
peace(2938).

AgricolafacedthePictswith11,000soldiersofthe9thLegionanddefeatedthem.ThePicts
attackedinthesameformtheywouldhavegrownaccustomedtointribalwarfare,whilethe
Romansheldtheirpositioninstrictformationandrepulsedthecharge,thencounter-attacked.
Tacituswrites,"theBritons,whentheysawourrankssteadyandfirmandthepursuitbeginning
again,simplyturnedandran.Theynolongerkeptanyformationoranytouchwithoneanother,but
deliberatelybrokeintosmallgroupstoreachtheirfarandtracklessretreats."McHardynotes,
however,thatwhatTacitusperceivedasaroutwasactuallyatacticalmaneuver.Hewriteshowthe
Picts"hadretreatedbackintotheforestsandmountains"andthengoesontonote:
Tacituspresentsthisasaresultoftheirdefeatbutanotherwayofconsidering
thisisthattheyhadgonebacktotheirscatteredcommunitiestoregroup.Itis
atellingfactthatnootherRomansourcetalksofaformalbattlelikeMons
GraupiusinthenorthduringtherestoftheperiodofRomanoccupationof
southernBritain.Althoughtherewerelatermajoroutbreaksofwarfarelike
theBarbarianConspiracyof360,itwouldappearthatthenativewarriors
learnedquicklythattherewaslittleuseinfightingthedisciplinedRoman
fightingmachineinsetbattles,particularlywhentheirownskillshadbeen
learnedintheprocessofsmallscale,fastmovingraids.Thescattering
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referredtocanbeseenastheCaledoniansrevertingbacktosmallerscale
raidinggroupsafterthebattle.Somethinglikemodernguerillawarfarewas
clearlycalledforandwouldappeartohavebecomethenormforthenext300
years(48).

AlthoughtheRomanswonthebattle,allegedlykilling10,000Pictishwarriors,theycouldnot
capitalizeonthisvictory.UnlikeothernationswhichtheRomansinvaded,thenorthernreachesof
Britainhadnocentralcitieswhichcouldbeconquered.McHardynotesthat,"Bythetimethe
RomansarrivedinthenorthernhalfoftheBritishIslestheyhadalreadyoverrunmostofEurope
andhaddevelopedamethodologyofconquestandcontrol.Thelackofclearlydefinedcentral
localesasseatsofpoliticalpowerwasperhapspartoftheongoingproblemtheyhadintryingto
subduethispartoftheworld"(41).TheRomans,infact,neverconqueredtheregionwhichwould
becomeScotlandalthoughtheywouldmakerepeatedattempts.ThetribalnatureofthePicts
meantthattheycouldmovequicklyfromonelocaletoanother,theywerenottiedtoonesingle
settlementinageographicalregion,andtheywereadeptatlivingofftheland.TheRomans,
therefore,foundthemselvesfacingopponentswhohadnocentralcitiestoconquer,nofarmlands
toburn,andwho,afterMonsGraupius,refusedtofacetheminthefieldasotherpeopleshaddone.
ThePictswereunconquerablebecausetheypresentedtheRomanswithanewparadigmwhich
Romecouldnotadaptto.TheRomanlegionshadnotyetencounteredthiskindofguerillawarfare
(whichwouldalsoproveeffectiveintheGothresistanceunderAthanarictoRomaninvasionof
theirlandsin367-369CE)andsowereunabletosubdueanenemywholived,moved,andfought
unlikeanyopponenttheyhadfacedbefore.ThehistoriansPeterandFionaSomersetFrywrite:
TacitusdescribedMonsGraupiusasagreatRomanvictorywhocanblame
him.Butwasit?ThefactremainsthatAgricolaretiredsouthwardswhenit
wasover.Moreover,whenheleftBritainafewmonthslater,thefrontier
betweentheRomansandtheCaledonianswasnowherenear[thesiteofthe
battle].Itwasmorethan150milessouth,andovertheyearsthatfollowed,
theRomanoccupationofScotlandcontractedandcontracted.Itprobably
neverconsistedofmorethantheholdingofkeyfortsandfortlets,andastime
wentbylessandlessofthem(25).

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PictishWarriorwithDrinkingHorn

In122CEtheemperorHadrianorderedtheconstructionofhisfamouswallwhichranfor73miles
(120km),sometimesataheightof15feet,fromcoasttocoast.In142CE,theAntonineWallwas
constructedfurthernorthunderthereignofAntoninusPius.Thesewallsdidnothingto
discouragePictishraids.TheFrysnotethat,"bothHadrian'sandtheAntonineWallwere
psychologicalaswellasphysicalbarriers.Theymarkedboundaries,asitwere.Butneithersidefora
momentimaginedthemtobeimpregnable.PerhapstheRomansdidnotevenintendthemtobe"
(27).ThewallsservedasademarcationlinebetweenthesouthernlandsunderRomandomination,
whichwereconsidered"civilized",andthebarbarianwildernessofthenorthwhichwascontrolled
bythePicts.WhentheRomansleftBritainin410CE,thePictsstilllivedintheregionsnorthofthe
wallastheyalwayshad.WhatevereffecttheRomanpresencemayhavehadonthemisunknown,
butthecarvingsthePictsleftontheirstandingstonesshownomajordifferencesinlifestylefrom
beforethearrivalofRometoafterthedepartureofthelegions.

THECOMINGOFCHRISTIANITY
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DuringthetimeoftheRomanoccupationofBritain,theRomanEmpirehadadoptedChristianity
asthestatereligion,beginningwiththeemperorConstantine'sdecreeofreligioustoleration,the
EdictofMilan,in314CE.ChristianmissionariesbeganinroadsintothelandsofthePictsbeginning
withSt.Ninianinc.397CE.Theeffortsofthesemissionaries,combinedwiththegrowingpowerin
thesouthofthekingdomofNorthumbria,wouldhavelastingeffectsonthePicts.AsMcHardy
observes,"WheretheRomanEmpirefailedtoconquerthePicts,theChristianChurchsucceeded"
(93).ThePictspracticedatribalpaganismwhichseemstohaveinvolvedgoddessworshipanda
devotiontonaturewhichinvolvedgreatrespectforspecificsitesofsupernaturalpoweracrossthe
landwherethegoddesslived,walked,orhadperformedsomekindofmiracle.WomeninPictish
societywereregardedastheequalofmenandsuccessioninleadership(laterkingship)was
matrilineal(throughthemother'sside),withthereigningchiefsucceededbyeitherhisbrotheror
perhapsanephewbutnotthroughpatrilinealsuccessionoffathertoson.Thereseemstobeno
recordoftheconceptof"sin"inPictishbelief(thesameasinotherformsofpaganism)and,asthe
goddesslivedamongthepeople,thelandwastobeveneratedasonewouldthehomeofadeity.
Christianityintroducedanewparadigmofhowtheuniverseworked.McHardywrites:
Thenewreligionbroughtinnewconcepts.Theideaofanallpowerful,often
vengeful,maleGodwasaccompaniedbytheconceptofallhumans,and
particularlywomen,asbeingessentiallysinful.This,inasocietywherethe
likelihoodwasthatwomenwereattheveryleastequaltomen,butwhere
therewasbeliefinaMotherGoddess,andpossiblysomesortofmatriliny,
suggestsmajorchange.Therewereotherradicalchanges.Theoldgoddess
waswithinthelandscape,thenewGodwasinsomeunidentifiedstellar
heaven.Thiswouldhavetomeanchangesinpeople'sperceptionsofboth
themselvesandtheenvironmenttheyinhabited(94).

WhileNinian'seffortstoconvertthePictshadsomeeffect,hislatersuccessor,St.Columba,would
achievemajoradvancementsinspreadingChristianity.NinianestablishedChristianityamongthe
southernPictsatsomepointinthereignofthePictishkingDrustI(alsoknownasDrestIandDrust
sonofIrb)whoruledfromeither406-451CEor424-451CE(tonamejusttwoofthepossibledates
ofhisreign).ColumbaarrivedfromIrelandinc.563CEwhenthePictishkingBrudesonofMailcon
ruled.Brude(alsoknownasBrudeIorBridei)unitedthenorthernandsouthernPictsand,
dependingonwhichsourceoneaccepts,eitherbecameaChristianaftermeetingColumbaorwas
alreadyofthefaithwhenColumbaarrived.

AFORMERTRIBALWARLORDINIRELAND,COLUMBA
KNEWHOWTOMOBILIZE&INSPIRELARGEGROUPSOF
MEN&MADEUSEOFTHISTALENTINHISCONVERSIONOF
THEPICTS.
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THEPICTS.

AformertribalwarlordinIreland,Columbaknewhowtomobilizeandinspirelargegroupsofmen
andmadeuseofthistalentinhisconversionofthePicts.ItisfromthetimeofColumba'smissionary
workaroundthePictishstrongholdofInvernessthatthelegendoftheLochNessMonsterderives.
St.Adamnan,whowroteTheLifeofSt.Columba,includesthestoryofalargemonsterwholived
beneaththewatersoftheRiverNessandhadalreadyeateninhabitantsoftheregionwhen
Columbaarrived.Columbarescuedoneofhiscompanionsfromthemonsterbyinvokingthename
ofGodandcommandingthecreaturetodepartatwhichpoint,"themonsterwasterrified,andfled
morequicklythanifithadbeenpulledbackwithropes."Thisdefeatofthemonsterissupposedto
havegreatlyimpressedthePictswhothenconvertedtoChristianity.Althoughthestorydealswith
theRiverNess,nottheLakeNess,itisconsideredthebasisforalllaterstoriesabouttheLochNess
Monster.Columba'sotherfeatsofwonder,includingbestingPictishsorcerersattheirowngame
(verylikeMoseswiththeEgyptianpriestsintheBookofExodus)enhancedhisreputationfurther
andmadeChristianityamoreattractivealternativetothetraditionalPictishbeliefs.
BythetimeColumbadiedin597CE,thePictsweremostlyChristianizedandhadlargelylefttheir
earlierwayoflifebehind.TheconversionofthePictswasnotalwaysapeacefulone,however.As
lateas617CEPictswerestillresistanttothenewreligion,asevidencedbythemartyrdomofSaint
Donnanalongwithfifty-oneofhisfollowersbythePictsontheislandofEigg.Althoughrecordssuch
asAdamnan'sLifeofColumba,ortheworksofBede,presentanarrativeofChristianmissionaries
steadily,andsuccessfully,advancingthefaith,otherworks,suchastheAnnalsofUlster,makeitclear
thattheconversionprocessdidnotgososmoothly.Evenin673CEsomesegmentsofthePictish
populationwerestillresistanttothenewfaithasevidencedbytheirburningofamonasteryin
Tiree.

NORTHUMBRIA&THEBATTLEOFDUNNECHTAIN
ThePicts'wayoflifewasnotonlyunderassaultbytheChristianmissionarieswithintheirborders
butalsobyagrowingpowertothesouth.TheriseoftheAnglicanKingdomofNorthumbria,which
maderegularincursionsintoPictishland,necessitatedstrongcentralleadershipintheformofaking
ofallthetribes,insteadoftheoldsystemofmanytribalchiefsunitingforatimeundertheguidance
ofasingleleader.AlthoughitisunclearwhythePictsfelttheneedforacentralgovernment,itis
thoughtthattheymayhaveattributedtheNorthumbrians'effectivenessinconquesttotheirkings
andsosoughttoprotecttheirlandsbyemployingthesamesystemofgovernment.
Northumbriahadtheresourcesandmanpowertotakelargeportionsoflandfromtribessuchasthe
Scots,whohadarrivedfromIrelandandsettledinDalriadaandArgyll,andtheBritonsof
Strathclyde;bothofwhomwerethensubjecttotheAnglesoftheKingdomofNorthumbria.The
AngleshadalsoseizedpartsofthePictishlandstothenorth,subjugatingthepeopleandinstalling
kingswhomtheyfeltwouldservetheirpurposes.OneofthesePictishkingswasBrideiMacBilli
(betterknownasBrudeMacBile)whoisconsideredoneofthegreatest,ifnotthegreatest,ofthe
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PictishkingsforhaltingtheadvanceoftheAnglesofNorthumbriaandfreeinghislandsoftheir
influence.Indoingso,hewouldalsoremovetheNorthumbrianyokefromtheBritonsandtheScots
tothesouth,aswellasothertribes,andmoreorlesssettheearlyboundariesofwhatwouldlater
becomeEngland,Scotland,andWales.

BattleofDunNechtain

TheNorthumbriankingEcgfrith,whowasBrude'scousin,mayhavehelpedhimtopoweronthe
conditionthatBrudewouldregularlysendtributeandwouldworkforEcgfrith'sinterests.Thisclaim
hasbeencontested,however,anditisalsothoughtthatBrudecametopowerafterthe
NorthumbriansdefeatedthekingoftheNorthernPicts,DrestMacDonuelattheBattleofTwo
Riversin670CE.HoweverBrudecametopower,itisclearthathewasexpectedtosendtribute
southtoNorthumbria.Brude,however,hadnointentionofdoingsoand,althoughitseemshe
initiallydidsendtributeintheformofcattleandgrain,thispracticeendedsoonafterhehad
consolidatedhispower.Ecgfrithwashardlypleasedwiththisdevelopmentbutbecamemoreupset
byPictishraidsintohiskingdomsouthofHadrian'snowcrumblingandundefendedwall.Ecgfirth
decideditwastimetoremoveBrudeandteachthePictsanimportantlessonbutwasadvisedtotry
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diplomacybeforebattle.
Atthesametime,BrudewasfurtherconsolidatinghispowerbysubduingrebelliousPictsub-chiefs.
In681CEhetookthestrongholdofDunottarandby682CEhehadanavyofadequatesizeand
strengthtosailtoOrkneyandsubduethetribesthere.Followingthisvictory,hetooktheScots'
capitalofDunaddtothewestsothat,by683CE,hehadsecuredhisnorthern,eastern,andwestern
boundaries(Orkney,Dunnotar,andDunadd)andonlyhadtoconcernhimselfwithanattack
directlyfromthesouth.
ThisattackcameinMayof685CEwhenEcgfirthcouldnolongertolerateBrude'sthreatstohisrule
andrefusedthecounselofhisadvisorstotryfurtherdiplomaticmeasures.Hemobilizedaforceof
cavalry(possiblynumberingaround300)toputdownwhathesawasaPictishrebellioninhislands.
ThePictsunderBrudeluredtheAngleforcedeeperanddeeperintotheirterritoryandthenstruck
ataplaceknowninEnglishchroniclesasNechtansmereandinWelshchroniclesasLinnGaran;the
AnnalsofUlsterrefertoitasDunNechtainandthisisthenamemostcommonlyreferencedby
historians.TheAngleforcesfoundthemselvesbetweenthePictisharmy,whichissaidtohave
numberedinthethousands,andthemarshesofthelake.Ecgfirth,realizinghisdangerousposition,
optedforafull-scalechargeofhiscavalryuphilltobreakthePicts'lineinthecenter.Brude,
however,fellback,feigningretreat,andthenturnedandheldtheline.Herepulsedthecharge,
sendingtheAnglesreelinginretreatbackdownthehillandtowardthemarshes;then,hecountercharged.ThehistorianBede,whogivesthemostdetailedaccountofthebattle,writes:
Theenemypretendedtoretreatandluredthekingintonarrowmountain
passes,wherehewaskilledwiththegreaterpartofhisforcesonthetwentieth
ofMayinhisfortiethyearandthefifteenthofhisreign...Henceforwardthe
hopeandstrengthoftheEnglishrealmbegantowaveranddecline,forthe
PictsrecoveredtheirownlandsthathadbeenoccupiedbytheEnglish,while
theScotslivinginBritainandaproportionoftheBritonsthemselvesregained
theirfreedom.ManyoftheEnglishatthistimewerekilled,enslaved,or
forcedtofleefromPictishterritory(McHardy,124).

TheBattleofDunNechtainbrokeNorthumbria'spowerandsecuredthebordersofthelandsofthe
Pictswhich,later,wouldbecomeScotland.ItalsodrovetheChristianmissionariesoftheAnglesout
ofPictishlandswhichallowedfortheoriginalColumbanbrandofChristianitytotakeholdinthe
highlandsinsteadoftheRomanbrandwhichhadbeenacceptedbytheAngles.Brudecontinuedto
ruleuntilhisdeathin693CE;bywhichtimehiskingdomwassecureandatpeace.Hewas
succeededbyanunpopularking,Taran,whowasdeposedafterfouryearsandsucceededbyBrude
MacDerilewhodefeatedanotherAnglicaninvadingforcein698CEandissuedthefamousdecree,
setdownbySt.Adamnan,knownasthe"LawoftheInnocents"whichsetguidelinesforthewaging
ofwarinordertoprotectwomen,children,clergy,andothernon-combatants.

THERELIGIOUSWARS&THESALTIRE
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BrudeMacDerilediedin706CEandwassucceededbyhisbrother,NechtanMacDerile,who
favoredtheAngles'versionofChristianityovertheColumban,orCeltic,church.Theprimary
sourceofcontentionbetweenthetwowasthedatingofthecelebrationofEasteraswellas
secondaryissuessuchashowthemonksshouldweartheirhairandconductthemselves.Themore
seriousunderlyingissue,however,wasthattheCelticchurchwaslocallybasedwhiletheAnglicans
hadchosentoplacethemselvesunderthedictatesofthePopeinRome.ThismeantthattheCeltic
churchowneditsownlandswhilechurchestothesouthwereeffectivelyownedandoperatedfrom
Rome;priestsinthelandofthePictscamefromthelocalcommunity,thosetothesouthwere
appointedbyRomanCatholicauthoritiesinItaly.ItisnotclearwhyNechtanfavoredtheRoman
CatholicversionofChristianitybut,in710CE,heissuedaroyaldecreetoallthechurchesinhis
realmthattheyshouldaccepttheRomanCatholicdatingofEasterandcomplywithRomanCatholic
dictatesinotherregards.

NECTANABDICATEDTHECROWNINTHEFACEOF
GROWINGHOSTILITYTOHISRULE&RETIREDTOA
MONASTERY.
ThisdecreewasseenbythePictsasasurrendertotheAnglesofthesouth,buttheyobeyedit,
howeverreluctantly,until724CEwhenNectanabdicatedthecrowninthefaceofgrowinghostility
tohisruleandretiredtoamonastery.Assoonashehadleftthethrone,thelanderuptedincivilwar
betweenadherentsoftheCelticChurchandthosewhohadcometofavorRomanCatholicism.For
fiveyearsthelandofthePictswasdividedbyalmostdailyconflictbetweenthesetwosectsbutthe
fightingwouldactuallylastlonger,untilc.734CE,andnoneofthekingswhofollowedNechtan
seemedtohavethepowertostopthekilling.Finally,in734CE,OengussonofUurguistcametothe
throneandtookcontrol.ItseemshewasabletounitethePictsbyfocusingtheirhostilitiesagainst
anenemyotherthanthemselvesortheAngles:theScotsofDalriada.HeinvadedDalriadain734CE
and,in736CE,capturedthecitadelofDunadd.TheScotsweredefeatedandsubjugatedby750
CEandOengusthenturnedhisattentiontotheBritons;butwasdefeatedattheBattleofMocetauc.
FollowingOengus,otherkingsruledwithmoreorlessdistinctionuntiltheriseofConstantinsonof
Fergusin780CEwhoconsolidatedthevictoriesofOengusintoonekingdomunderhisrule.
ConstantinunitedthePictsandtheScotsandwasthefirstScottishrulertobeknownasArdRigh`HighKing'-oftheScots.Whenhediedin820CE,hisbrotherAngussonofFergustookthe
throne.AngusisbestknownastherulerwhosawthevisionofSt.Andrew'scrossinthesky,white
cloudsformingan`X'againstthebluebackground,whichwouldlatercometobeknownasthe
Saltire,Scotland'sflag.TheAngleswereagaininvadingthelandoftheScotsandPictsandhad
gatheredtheirforcesatMercia.Thenightbeforebattle,St.AndrewappearedtoAngusinadream
andpromisedhimvictoryinbattleifthekingwoulddedicateatenthofhisrichestotheserviceof
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God.Angusagreedtothisand,thenextmorning,thewhitecrossappearedintheskyas
confirmationofthedeal.TheScots-PictscoalitiondefeatedtheEnglishunderAthelstanandAngus
adoptedthewhite`X'onabluebackgroundashisstandard.

KENNETHMACALPIN&UNIFICATION
AlthoughthePictsandtheScotshadbeenjoinedunderConstantin,historyregularlycreditsthisto
thelaterking,CinaedMacAlpin,betterknownasKennethMacAlpin.Apopularstory,longin
circulationandstillcitedinhistorybooks,relateshowKennethwasakingoftheScotswho,through
intrigueandtrickery,waswelcomedbythecourtofthePictishkingandthenmurderedtheroyal
familyandseizedthethrone.Modernhistoriansandscholarshiprejectthisversionofevents
completely.TheoriginalsourcesexplicitlynameCinaedMacAlpinas"kingofthePicts",notofthe
ScotsandhisnameisPictish,notScottish.Thestoryofhis"swindlingorslaughteringthePictsall
surviveonlyinmedievalmanuscripts,withnoearlierprovenance"(McHardy,167).
ItiswidelyrecognizedtodaythatKennethMacAlpinwasdescendedfromKingAedFindof
ScottishDalriadaandConstantinsonofFergusofthePicts;hewasthereforeanagreeablechoiceas
kingtoboththeScotsandthePicts.TheclaimthathewipedoutthePictishnationwithaScottish
forceaftermurderingthenoblePictishcourtisuntenable.Firstly,therewasno`PictishCourt'asit
wouldhavebeenimaginedbylatermedievalwritersand,secondly,asnoted,KennethMacAlpin
hadalegitimateclaimtothethroneofthePictsandwouldhavehadnoneedtoexertforcetoclaim
thetitleofking.KennethMacAlpinunitedthePictsandScotsmoresecurelythanConstantin,
leadingthemincampaignsagainsttheEnglishtodrivethemcompletelyfromtheregionwhich
wouldbecomeScotland.Hecametothethronein843CEand,ineightyears,extendedhis
kingdomfurtherthananyotherruleroftheregionbeforehim.Bythetimeofhisdeathin858CE,
thebordersofScotlandasanationwererecognizableinitspresentformandtheEnglishhadbeen
drivensouthintotheirownlands.
BesidestheEnglishencroachments,KennethMacAlpinroutinelyhadtofendofftheincreasingraids
byVikingswhoharassedthecoast.HemovedtherelicsofSt.ColumbafromtheholyislandofIona
toDunkeld(thenewecclesiasticalseat),tosecurethemfromVikingraidsandisalsocreditedwith
settingtheStoneofDestinyatSconeasasymbolofnationalprideandpowertoinspirehispeople.
Afterhisdeath,theVikingraidscontinuedand,asMcHardynotes:
Manyoftheseraidswereextremelybrutal.SurvivingAnnalsfromboth
IrelandandEnglandtellofrepeatedraidsyearonyear.Theraidscontinued
formuchofthecenturyandintimewereaccompaniedbytheVikingssettling.
Whilemanyoftheraidswerecarriedoutbyhandfulsoflongshipswithuptoa
coupleofhundredraiders,therewerealsosomeyearswhentheNorthmen
arrivedinmuchgreaterforce.Theyweresuccessfulintakingovermostof
ScotlandnorthofInverness,theHebridesandthenorthernislesofOrkney
andShetland,andtheycameclosetototallyconqueringthePictsonatleast
oneoccasion(161).
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InresponsetothethreatoftheVikinginvasions,thePictsandtheScotsbecameevenmoreunified.
Giric,sonofDonaldMacAlpin,Kenneth'sbrother,isthelastrulermentionedas`kingofthePicts'
and,afterhisdeathinc.899CE,thePictsarenotmentionedinhistoryagain.McHardywrites:"the
tribalpeoplesofPictishandScottishorigincombinedtoformthenewpoliticalentityofAlbawhich
inturnbecameScotland"(175).Dr.GordonNoblesupportsthisclaim,statingtherewas"an
increasingamalgamationofPictsandScots-probablybecauseofincreasingVikingpressureonthe
nativekingdomsofnorthernBritain"(Wiener,3).ThePictsoftheancientworlddidnotdisappear
norweretheyconqueredanddestroyed;theyremained,theindigenouspeopleofnorthern
Scotland,andtheirancestorsstillwalktheirlandsandfieldsinthepresentday

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
JOSHUAJ.MARK
Afreelancewriterandpart-timeProfessorofPhilosophyatMaristCollege,New
York,JoshuaJ.MarkhaslivedinGreeceandGermanyandtraveledthrough
Egypt.Heteachesancienthistory,writing,literature,andphilosophy.

HELPUSWRITEMORE
We'reasmallnon-profitorganisationrunbyahandfulofvolunteers.Eacharticlecosts
usabout$50inhistorybooksassourcematerial,pluseditingandservercosts.Youcan
helpuscreateevenmorefreearticlesforaslittleas$5permonth,andwe'llgiveyou
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BECOMEAMEMBER

BIBLIOGRAPHY
RexPictorum:TheHistoryoftheKingsofthePictsbyRonaldHenderson
ThePuzzlingAncientPictsofScotlandbyJamesWiener
Keay,J.&J,CollinsEncyclopediaofScotland(HarperCollinsPublishers,2001).
MacLean,F,AConciseHistoryofScotland(BeekmanHouse,1970).
McHardy,S,ANewHistoryofthePicts(LuathPressLtd,2011).
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SomersetFry,P.&F,TheHistoryofScotland(Barnes&Noble,1995).
CITETHISWORK

LEGALNOTICE
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Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike .Thislicenseletsothersremix,tweak,andbuilduponthiscontentnoncommercially,aslongastheycredittheauthorandlicensetheirnewcreationsundertheidenticalterms.

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