Kenneth I of Scotland

Cináeda mac Ailpín (Modern Gaelic: Coinneach mac Ailpein; c. 810 — 13 February 858) often known as Kenneth I and nicknamed the Conqueror (Scottish Gaelic: an Conqueror) was the King of Scotland from 843 until his death in 858. He was also the King of the Picts from 843 to 858 and the King of Dál Riata from 841 until the disestablishment of the title in 850. He was the first Scottish king. However, according to Scottish mythology, he was the sixty-ninth Scottish king. However, there is little evidence to prove this.

Kenneth I
Posthumous painting by Jacob de Wet II, c. 1685
King of Scots
Reign	843 — 13 February 858
Predecessor	Title established
Successor	Donald I
King of the Picts
Reign	843 — 13 February 858
Predecessor	Drest X
Successor	Donald I
King of Dál Riata
Reign	841 — 850
Predecessor	Alpin II
Successor	Title disestablished
Born	c. 810 Iona, Scotland
Died	13 February 858(858-02-13) (aged 47–48) Forteviot, Perth and Kinross, Scotlan
Burial	Iona Abbey
Issue	Constantine I, King of Scots Aed, King of Scots Máel Muire ingen Cináeda Unknown daughter
Full name Cináeda mac Ailpín
House	Alpin
Father	Alpin II, King of Dalriada
Religion	Roman Catholicism

He inherited the throne of Dál Riata from his father, Alpin II (Alpin mac Echdach), founder of the Alpínid dynasty. Kenneth conquered the kingdom of the Picts in 843 after defeating the Pictish king, Drest X. Kenneth became the fist Pictish king to rule under the Alpínid dynasty. He started a campaign to conquer all of Scotland and assimilate the Picts which eventually gave him his nickname, "the Conqueror". Forteviot became the capital of his kingdom. He fought of the Britons of the Kingdom of Strathclyde and the Vikings where he kicked both of their troops off of Scotland and where Kenneth eventually defeated them. Kenneth also relocated relics including the Stone of Scone from Iona Abbey in Iona to his new domain.

Kenneth was one of Europe's most powerful rulers and was considered one of Scotland's greatest kings during his time. Because of his reputation as one of Scotland's greatest kings, he became an important figure in Scottish history. He managed to put down rebellions and invasions from other kingdoms such as the Vikings. He was the first King of Scotland. He unified the Gaels with the Picts, thus, he formed a united kingdom of Scotland.

Birth

Not much is known about Kenneth's birth except he was born around 810 in Iona, Argyllshire and was the son of King Alpin II of Dalriada, a land which covered modern day Northern Ireland and the Hebrides - Argyll.

Reign

Upon his fathers death in 839 he became king of Dalriada styled "Cinaed, son of Alpin" and also king of Scots due to the fact that the Hebrides - Argyll were important parts of the land at the time. At this time the Picts were conquered by Vikings with Bridei VI of Pictland being defeated, and Kenneth was set to become the next monarch. Although it wasn't until 843 he became king of the now united Pictish & Scottish tribes.

Death

On February 13, 858 in Forteviot, Kenneth died of natural causes. He was buried in Iona and succeeded by his brother Donald MacAlpin or Domnall MacAilpín.

Family (children)

Name	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Gender	Monarch of
NN ingen Cináed	c. 834	Unknown	Female	(none)
Constantine I, king of Picts and Scots	c. 836 (maybe 832)	877 (definitely)	Male	Scotland/Pictland
Áed, king of Picts and Scots	838 (definitely)	878 (definitely)	Male	Scotland/Pictland
Máel Muire ni Cináeda	842 (definitely)	912 (definitely)	Female	High Queen of Ireland (maybe)
Máel Muire of Ireland	Before Feb 858	Unknown	??????	(none)
Cináéda MacAlpin	Before Feb 858	Unknown	??????	(none)
Aedr of MacAlpin	Before Feb 858	Unknown	??????	(none)
(Name Unknown)	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Female	(none)
Progenitor of Clan MacNab	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Male	(none)
? Inig. Kenneth	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Female	(none)
?? Inig. Kenneth	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Female	(none)
Áed mac Cináeda	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Male	(none)
mother of Eochaid MacAlpin	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Female	(none)
Unk Daughter 1	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Female	(none)
Unk Daughter 2	Before Feb 858	Unknown	Female	(none)

Family (siblings)

Name	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Gender	Monarch of
Donald I, king of Picts and Scots	812	April 13th 862	Male	Scotland/Pictland
NN ingen Ailpín	c. 820	Unknown	Female	(none)
Gregor MacAlpin	c. 820	c. 868	Male	(none)
NN ingen Ailpín	830	Unknown	Female	(none)
Achaius mac Ailpín	between 787-847	Unknown	Male	(none)
Áed mac Ailpín	between 787-847	Unknown	Male	(none)
Domnall mac Ailpín	between 787-847	Unknown	Male	(none)

Depictions

The frieze in Edinburgh

Ever since the 1800s, depictions of Kenneth have started to appear, first in Edinburgh Portrait Gallery, and later with some more depictions. Depictions of Kenneth are hard to find but the ones used the most are the frieze in Edinburgh and a newly found depiction from the 1700's.

The depiction from the 1700s.

Monarchs after Kenneth

Donald I, king of Picts - His brother (ruled 858-862)

Constantine I, king of Picts - His son (ruled 862-877)

Aed, king of Picts - His other son (ruled 877-878)

To see all Scottish monarchs see Scottish monarchs

To see all monarchs from the House of Dunkeld see House of Dunkeld

And for Kenneth's house of Alpin see House of Alpin