Giric of Scotland facts for kids

Giric
King of the Picts
Giric depicted in the 1800s
Reign	878 - 889 (abdicated?)
Predecessor	Áed or Eochaid (disputed)
Successor	Donald II
Died	890
Spouse	Kong Garic MacAlpin
House	Alpin

Giric "Gregorius the Great" was king of the Picts from 878-889. He died around c. 890, showing he may of been deposed or personally abdicated. He ruled with Eochaid, a disputed king of the Picts who claimed the throne during the whole of Giric's reign.

He succeeded Donald Áed, after murdering him in 878 when he was only 37 years old. From some depictions it looks like Giric may of been in his 50's when he became king as seen with a beard and mustache.

Birth

Giric may have been born in c. 832 but this is widely considered theory and not taken as fact, the exact date of Giric is unknown but was definitely after 812. He was possibly the son of Donald I, making him the nephew of Scotland's first king Kenneth MacAlpin. He supposedly married Kong Garic MacAlpin making him the father of Prinsesse Maravilla Forbes.

Reign

In 878 Giric murdered king Áed, making him the king of the Picts/Scots. He was the 2nd last king of the Picts/Scots along with Eochaid who ruled with him during his entire reign, he claimed the throne after Áed's death as he was king of Strathclyde and may have been named successor by Áed during 877-878.

Eochaid

Eochaid was a claimant and had a disputed reign, he was born around c. 860, making him nearly 30 years younger than Giric, since Giric was born in c. 832 (according to sources).

Abdication/Deposition

Giric may of abdicated in 889 or have been deposed. It is known that when Giric stopped ruling that Eochaid may of also stopped ruling as records show him dying after 889 and Eochaid's rule also ended in 889.

Death

In 890 Giric died in Scotland. Not much is known about his death as he did not rule at the time and Donald II took the throne after his abdication or deposition. It is known his death did not happen in Ireland