Eochaid (son of Rhun) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eochaid
Eochaid's name as it appears on folio 29r of Paris Bibliothèque Nationale Latin 4126 (the Poppleton manuscript): "Eochodius".
Issue	Dyfnwal? Lann?
Father	Rhun ab Arthgal

Eochaid (who lived around 878–889) was a Briton from the 800s. He might have been a king of Strathclyde or even the Picts. Eochaid was the son of Rhun ab Arthgal, who was the King of Strathclyde. This means Eochaid came from a long line of British kings.

His mother was the daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, who was the King of the Picts. Because his mother was from the royal Alpínid family, Eochaid might have had a claim to the Pictish throne. This could explain why some records say he ruled the Picts after Cináed's son, Áed, died in 878. Sources say Áed was killed by a man named Giric, who also became king after Áed.

It's not clear if Eochaid and Giric were related, friends, or even enemies. They might have ruled the Pictish kingdom together as allies. Or, they could have ruled one after the other as opponents. Another idea is that Giric was King of the Picts, while Eochaid was King of Strathclyde. Eochaid's time as king happened when the Kingdom of Strathclyde seemed to grow south. It expanded into lands that used to belong to the Kingdom of Northumbria. This expansion happened because Vikings conquered the northern English kingdom.

Records show that Eochaid and Giric were removed from power in 889. The next king, Domnall mac Custantín, was from the Alpínid family. He might have been the one who forced them out. The way old texts describe this time suggests that the Pictish kingdom was changing. It was weakened by political problems and Viking attacks. It then became a Gaelic kingdom, known as the Kingdom of Alba.

Eochaid is not mentioned in records after 889. We also don't hear about the Kingdom of Strathclyde again until the early 900s. That's when a king named Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde is said to have died. We don't know who Dyfnwal's parents were, but he was probably related to Eochaid. He might even have been Eochaid's son or a descendant. Eochaid might also have had a daughter named Lann. She is recorded as the mother of Muirchertach mac Néill, King of Ailech.

Who Was King After Áed?

After Rhun, it's not certain who became King of Strathclyde. If Rhun died in 876, Eochaid might have taken his father's place. Áed, the brother of Custantín, became King of the Picts and ruled for two years until his death. The Annals of Ulster says Áed was killed by his own companions. However, other old lists of kings say he was killed by Giric. It's unclear who truly became king after Áed.

Different Stories About Eochaid and Giric

The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba says that Eochaid became king after Áed. It states he ruled for eleven years. The chronicle also mentions that Giric ruled during this time. This was because Giric was Eochaid's "foster father" or "guardian," and perhaps even a "king-maker."

The chronicle also mentions a solar eclipse during their reigns. This event happened on June 16, 885. This date fits with the timeline of Eochaid's rule. The chronicle says Eochaid and Giric were then forced out of the kingdom.

Another source, the Prophecy of Berchán, also links Eochaid and Giric as kings. It says Eochaid ruled for thirteen years before being expelled. Then, Giric (called "the son of fortune") took over. These two sources have some differences. The Prophecy of Berchán doesn't speak highly of Eochaid's British background. But it praises Giric as a Scot.

Eochaid and Giric: Friends or Rivals?

Giric's family background is not clear. Some versions of the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba say his father was Dúngal. Other versions say his father was Domnall. It's possible Giric had his own claim to the throne. But he might have just been a "kingmaker." He could have helped remove Áed and put Eochaid in power.

Giric's Possible Family Ties

Some historians think Giric's father's name, "Dúngal," might be an old form of the Welsh name Dyfnwal. If this is true, Giric's father could have been Dyfnwal ap Rhydderch, King of Al Clud. This would make Giric the brother of Arthgal. If so, Giric might have killed Áed to get revenge for Arthgal's death. If Giric and Eochaid were both descendants of Dyfnwal, then Eochaid might have ruled as king with Giric as his guardian.

Another idea is that Giric was the son of Domnall mac Ailpín. If this is true, Giric would have had a strong claim to the Pictish throne. The fact that Áed became king after Custantín might mean Giric was denied the kingship. This could explain why Giric might have killed Áed. It also suggests that Giric might have gotten help from Eochaid, who was his relative through his mother. This could explain why they might have shared the Pictish kingship.

Eochaid's Claim to the Throne

Eochaid might have claimed the kingship because of his mother's Alpínid family. If this was the case, he might have only been able to rule with Giric's help. Giric could have been an ally, a supporter, or even a guardian for a young Eochaid. In the 800s, the word ordinator was used for a powerful ruler who set up a less powerful one. So, the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba might mean that Giric, as ordinator, helped make Eochaid king.

It's possible that Eochaid ruled both the Strathclyde Britons and the Picts. He might have started as King of Strathclyde before becoming King of the Picts. The idea of shared kingship might simply mean Eochaid ruled the British kingdom while Giric ruled the Pictish one. If so, Giric might have gained some control over Strathclyde during Eochaid's reign. This could have been the price for Eochaid's help in protecting the British kingdom from other descendants of Cináed.

The Pictish kingship during this time is very unclear. It's also possible that Eochaid and Giric were rivals, not allies. The Prophecy of Berchán speaks negatively about the Britons during Giric's time, which might suggest they were enemies.

Growth of the British Kingdom

We don't know much about the Kingdom of Strathclyde until the early 900s. After losing Al Clud, the Kingdom of Strathclyde seems to have grown. By 927, its southern border reached the River Eamont, near Penrith. This expansion south might have happened because the Kingdom of Northumbria became much weaker after Viking conquests. The Cumbrians and Scandinavians in the late 800s and early 900s might have worked together. The beautiful Scandinavian-influenced sculptures at Govan suggest friendly relations.

There's a good chance Eochaid ruled during this growth of Strathclyde. The Pictish and British kingdoms were not attacked by Vikings during his time. A union of the Pictish and British kingdoms could have allowed Eochaid to expand British power southward.

Changes in the Pictish Kingdom

The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba says that Domnall mac Custantín became the next king of the Scottish kingdom. The Annals of Ulster and Chronicon Scotorum confirm Domnall's kingship and report his death in 900. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba says Domnall ruled for eleven years, which means he started in 889. This matches the eleven-year reign given to Eochaid.

Domnall was the first king to be called "King of Alba" in records from that time. Before this period, the Gaelic word Alba meant "Britain." The changing words used by English, Irish, and Scottish sources suggest that the Pictish kingdom went through a big change during this time.

For example, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle called the Irish Scottas until the 890s. By the 920s, this term was used for the people who used to be called Picts. The Irish annals stopped using the terms Picti and "king of the Picts" in the 870s. Áed, Domnall's uncle, was the last Pictish king to be called that. By the 900s, they used "men of Alba" and "king of Alba" for these people. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba last used the term Pictavia during Domnall's reign. After that, the kingdom was called Albania.

The political changes and family problems in the Pictish kingdom in the late 800s might have led to a new political system. This new system brought the Alpínid family back to power. Or, the change could have happened specifically during the time of Giric and Eochaid. Giric might have taken the throne by taking advantage of the chaos caused by constant Viking attacks. The Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata had fallen apart under similar pressure. Giric might have used military power from this broken kingdom to take the Pictish throne. This bringing together of Gaelic noble power into the struggling Pictish kingdom could explain how Pictavia eventually became Alba.

The Alpínid family might have been exiled in Ireland when they were temporarily out of power. Domnall's aunt, Máel Muire ingen Cináeda, had strong connections in Ireland. She was married to two kings of Tara and was the mother of another. If Domnall and his cousin, Custantín mac Áeda, grew up in Ireland before becoming kings of Alba, their Gaelic upbringing could have helped continue the Gaelicisation of Pictavia. If the Alpínid successors of Eochaid and Giric were indeed protected in Ireland, this might explain why the Chronicle of Ireland doesn't mention their takeover.

If the Pictish transformation happened during the time of Giric and Eochaid, the new name "Alba" might have meant to include Pictish, Gaelic, British, and English people. Some king lists claim that Giric conquered Ireland and England during his reign. This is a big claim, but it might mean he led a multi-ethnic alliance in the north. So, Alba—a term previously used for Britain—might have been meant to describe a new political idea: a "North Britain."

What Happened to Eochaid?

The reigns of Eochaid and Giric are not very clear. But Giric later became a legendary figure. He was seen as someone who freed the Gaelic Church from the Picts and conquered parts of Ireland and England. Eochaid, however, is only mentioned in the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba and the Prophecy of Berchán. Later king lists and chronicles don't include Eochaid in their stories of Scottish history. In fact, Eochaid and another king, Amlaíb mac Illuilb, King of Alba, are the only Scottish kings not found in these lists. The time when Eochaid and Giric ruled is the only period between the reigns of Cináed and Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Alba when a direct male descendant of the Alpínid family was not known to rule the Pictish/Alban kingdom.

Eochaid is not mentioned after his removal from power in 889. We don't know when or how he died. Some king lists say Giric was killed at Dundurn. Evidence of a big fire at the site might be related to this event, marking the end of the fort's use. If Giric's downfall stories are true, and if he and Eochaid were allies, it's possible they both fell together. Or, Giric's death could have led to Eochaid being removed from kingship. We don't know who killed Giric, but the next king, Domnall, is a possibility.

Nothing is recorded about the kingship of Strathclyde until the early 900s. That's when the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba mentions the death of Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde. We don't know who Dyfnwal's parents were. He could have been another son of Rhun. Or, he could have been a descendant of Eochaid, perhaps a son or grandson. He might also have been from a more distant branch of the same royal family. Eochaid might also have had a daughter named Lann. She is mentioned as the wife of Niall Glúndub. If this is true, Eochaid's grandson would have been Lann's son, Muirchertach mac Néill.

See also

In Spanish: Eochaid de Escocia para niños

• Máel Coluim, son of the king of the Cumbrians, who was likely related to Eochaid and might have been King of Strathclyde or King of Alba.

Images for kids

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  The title of Áed mac Cináeda as it appears on folio 26r of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489 (the Annals of Ulster).

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  Barochan Cross, a stone high cross, dating between the eighth- and tenth century. This British monument is an example of the so-called 'Govan School' of sculpture.

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  The name of Giric as it appears on folio 30v of Lat. 4126: "Grig filius Dunegal".

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  A mounted warrior, the most prominent figure displayed upon the Govan sarcophagus. This monument is perhaps the finest example of the 'Govan School' of sculpture. The sarcophagus could be that of Custantín mac Cináeda, the Pictish king who orchestrated the death of Eochaid's paternal grandfather.

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  The name of Eochaid's maternal grandfather, Cináed mac Ailpín, as it appears on folio 30v of Lat. 4126: "Kynedus filius Alpini". Eochaid's maternal Alpínid ancestry could well account for his association with the Pictish kingship.

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  Several hogbacks on display in Govan. These massive sculpted monuments show influence of Scandinavian, Pictish, English, and Gaelic artistry. They probably marked the graves of the royalty and nobility of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Such stones are found in regions of northern Britain settled by Vikings.

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  The title of Domnall mac Custantín, the first recorded King of Alba, as it appears on folio 27v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489.

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  An excerpt from folio 124r of British Library Cotton Tiberius B I (the "C" version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle): "Peohtas". The excerpt refers to eighth-century Picts of the Kingdom of the Picts.

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  An excerpt from folio 141r of British Library Cotton Tiberius B I: "Scotta leode". The excerpt refers to tenth-century Scottish people of the Kingdom of Alba.

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  The name of Eochaid's maternal aunt, Máel Muire ingen Cináeda, as it appears on folio 28v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489.

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  The kingdoms of Alba and Strathclyde, and the Scandinavian and Northumbrian territories in about 900.

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  The site of the mediaeval fortress of Dundurn, said to be the site of Giric's last stand. One possibility is that Eochaid perished with Giric here.

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  The title of Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde, a possible descendant of Eochaid, as it appears on folio 29r of Paris Bibliothèque Nationale Latin 4126: "rex Britanniorum".