Seven Children of Cruithne facts for kids

The Seven Children of Cruithne (Old Irish: Mórseiser do Chruithne claind) is an old poem written in Old Irish. It's like a short song with four lines. This poem tells us one of the oldest stories about how the Picts believed their kingdom began. The Picts were an ancient people who lived in what is now Scotland.

In this story, a legendary founder named Cruithne is said to have created the Pictish kingdom. He had seven sons, and he divided his land into seven parts, one for each son. The poem suggests that each son then ruled the entire kingdom one after another. This idea helped to show that the Pictish kingdom was united.

About the Poem

This poem is written in Old Irish, a very old form of the Irish language. It has four lines, and each line has seven syllables. The lines are grouped into two pairs that rhyme with each other.

The poem was added to a larger book called the Lebor Bretnach. It was put into a special section about "Pictish Origins." This happened around the time when the list of Pictish Kings was updated. It was likely added during the rule of King Causantín son of Cinaed, who reigned from 862 to 876 AD. The poem itself was probably written a little earlier, before 850 AD.

Why Was This Poem Important?

The mid-9th century was a tough time for the Picts. Vikings often attacked their lands. These attacks made the Pictish kings less powerful. People started to wonder if the kings could still protect them.

The poem Seven Children of Cruithne was probably created to help unite the Picts. It showed an image of a single, strong Pictish kingdom. It suggested that all the different areas, from the Firth of Forth in the south to the Pentland Firth in the north, were part of one original land. This helped to remind everyone that they were one people, even when times were hard.

The Poem Itself

Here is the poem in its original language and then translated into English.

Original Gaelic Text

Mórseiser do Cruithne claind
Raindset Albain i seacht raind
Cait Ce Círig cetach clann
Fíb Fidach Fotla Fortrenn

English Translation

Seven of Cruithne’s offspring
Divided Alba into seven shares
Cait, Ce, Círig, children with hundreds,
Fife, Fidach, Fotla, Fortriu.