Donald I of Scotland
Domnall mac Ailpín (died 13 April 862) was king of the Picts from 858 to 862. He followed his brother Cináed to the throne.
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba says that Domnall reigned for four years, matching the notices in the Annals of Ulster of his brother's death in February 858 and his own April 862.[1] The Chronicle notes:
In his time the Gaels with their king made the rights and laws of the kingdom, [that are called the laws] of Áed, Eochaid's son in Forteviot.[2]
The laws of Áed Find are entirely lost, but it has been assumed that, like the laws attributed to Giric and Causantín mac Áeda, these related to the church and in particular to granting the privileges and immunities common elsewhere.[3] The significance of Forteviot as the site of this law-making, along with Cináed's death there and Causantín mac Áeda's later gathering at nearby Scone, may point to this as being the heartland of the sons of Alpín's support.
The Chronicle of Melrose says of Domnall, "in war he was a vigorous soldier ... he is said to have been assassinated at Scone."[4] No other source reports Domnall's death by violence.
The Prophecy of Berchán may refer to Domnall in stanzas 123–124:
Evil will be Scotland's lot because of [the death of Cináed]; long will it be until his like will come. Long until the king takes [sovereignty], the wanton son of the foreign wife. He will be three years in the kingdom and three months (although thou countest them). His tombstone will be above Loch Awe. He dies of disease.[5]
Although Domnall is generally been supposed to have been childless, it has been suggested that Giric was a son of Domnall, reading his patronym as mac Domnaill rather than the commonly supposed mac Dúngail.[6] This, however, is not widely accepted.[7]
Domnall died, either at the palace of Cinnbelachoir (location unknown), or at Rathinveralmond (also unknown, and may be the same place, presumed to be near the junction of the Almond and the Tay, near Scone).[8] He was buried on Iona.
Notes
References
- Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500–1286, volume 1. Reprinted with corrections. Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN 1-871615-03-8
- A.A.M. Duncan,The Kingship of the Scots 842–1292: Succession and Independence. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2002. ISBN 0-7486-1626-8
- Smyth, Alfred P., Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80–1000. Edinburgh UP, Edinburgh, 1984. ISBN 0-7486-0100-7
| Preceded by: Cináed |
King of the Picts (traditionally King of Scots) 858–862 |
Succeeded by: Causantín |
