Kenneth I MacAlpin King of Scotland ¹⁸⁸³

   Another name for Kenneth was Kenneth MacAlpin.¹⁸⁸³

  General Notes:

First king of the united Scots of Dalriada and the Picts and so of Scotland north of a line between the Forth and Clyde rivers.

Of his father, Alpin, little is known, though tradition credits him with a signal victory over the Picts by whom he was killed three months later (c. 834). Kenneth succeeded him in Dalriada and ruled in Pictavia also, ruling for 16 years. The period is obscure. The gradual union of the two kingdoms from 843 doubtless owes much to intermarriage. By the Pictish marriage custom, inheritance passed through the female. Nevertheless, Kenneth probably made some conquests among the eastern Picts and possibly invaded Lothian and burned Dunbar and Melrose. After attacks on Iona by Vikings he removed relics of St. Columba, probably in 849 or 850, to Dunkeld, which became the headquarters of the Scottish Columban church. He died at Forteviot, not far from Scone in Pictish territory, and was buried on the island of Iona.
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Kenneth I MacAlpin (c. 810 - 858; Middle Irish: Cináed mac Ailpín) was King of the Picts and, according to national tradition, the first King of Scotland.
The Annals of Ulster call Cináed rex Pictorum (King of the Picts) and the Pictish Chronicle tells that he ruled Pictavia. While the Annals of Innisfallen call him ri Alban (king of Alba ), they use the same title for Causantín mac Fergusa. The Annals of Ulster name Aedan mac Gabhran ri Alban but the title is next used for Cináed's grandson Domnall mac Causantín after which it is used regularly. Other than tradition, there are no good grounds for calling Cináed the first king of Scotland.

Cináed's origins are uncertain although a link with the Cenel nGabrain of Dál Riata seems possible. W.A. Cummins supposes Cináed's paternal grandfather to be king Find, although this, and his relationship to previous Pictish kings, can only be conjectured. The traditional view of Cináed as an alien Gael ruling over conquered Picts has little or no support.

Cináed's reign can be placed in the context of the recent end of the previous dynasty, which had dominated Fortriu for two or four generations. This followed the death of king Eógan mac Oengusa (Uen) of Fortriu, his brother Bran, king Aed mac Boanta of Dalriada "and others almost innumerable" in battle against the Vikings in 839. Although his reign is dated from 843, it was not until 848 that Cináed defeated the last of his rivals for power. The Pictish Chronicle claims that Cináed was king in Dál Riada for two years before becoming Pictish king in 843, but this is doubtful. In 849, Cináed had relics of Columba, which may have included the Monymusk Reliquary, transferred from Iona to Dunkeld. The Pictish Chronicle reports that he invaded Saxonia six times, captured Melrose and burnt Dunbar.

Cináed died at the palace of Forteviot in February 858. He was succeeded by his brother Domnall mac Ailpín (Donald I). ^1874,1883

  Life Events:

1. Acceded: King of Scotland, 843-859. ¹⁸⁸³

Kenneth married.