List of kings of Strathclyde facts for kids
The Kingdom of Strathclyde was an old kingdom in what is now western Scotland. It was ruled by kings from a group of people called the Brythons.
The main city of this kingdom was Dumbarton Rock, which the Brythons called Alt Clut. This means "Rock of the Clyde." But around the year 870, Viking warriors from Dublin attacked and captured the rock after a long, four-month siege. After this, the kingdom's center moved to Govan, which used to be a religious place.
Later, the kingdom was sometimes called Cumbria. It might have even ruled parts of the modern English region of Cumbria in the 900s and 1000s. In the 1000s, the kingdom of Alba (which became Scotland) took over Strathclyde. Even after being conquered, Strathclyde kept its own special laws and language, called Cumbric language, alongside Gaelic, until the 1100s.
Early Kings of Alt Clut (The Rock of Clyde)
Historians have put together a list of the kings who ruled Alt Clut. It's important to remember that some of these records are very old and can be a bit tricky to understand perfectly.
- Ceretic Guletic (410–450)
- Dyfnwal Hen/Dumnagual Hen (450–475)
- Erbin (475–480)
- Cinuit (480–485)
- Gereint (485–490)
- Tutagual (490–495)
- Caw (495–501) (was removed from power)
- Domgal (501–508)
- Clinoch (508–540)
- Cinbelin (540–558)
- Tutagual / Tudwal (559–573)
- Riderch Hael (fl. (573–612)
- Constantine (?)
- Neithon / Nechtan / Nwython (612–621)
- Beli I (621–633)
- Eugein map Beli (633–645)
- Guret/Gwriad (645–658)
- Mermin (?–682)
- Elfin (?–693)
- Bridei son of Beli I King of the Picts (672–693)
- Dumnagual II (693–694)
- Beli II (694–722)
- Teudebur (722–750)
- Rotri (750–754)
- Dumnagual III (754–760)
- Eugein II (760–780)
- Riderch II (780–798)
- Cynan (798–816)
- Dumnagual IV (816–?)
- Neithon (859–?)
- Arthgal (died 872)
How We Know About These Kings
The information about these early kings comes from very old writings. One of the oldest is a book called Life of Saint Columba. It mentions a king named Roderc who ruled at the Rock of Clyde.
Other important sources are old Irish records, like the Annals of Ulster. These records helped historians learn about kings from the mid-600s to the mid-700s. For example, they mention kings like Bili mac Elphine and Taudar mac Bile.
Some Welsh family trees also provide names, but these are not always confirmed as kings. It's like trying to put together a puzzle with some missing pieces! Sometimes, historians have to guess or use other clues to fill in the gaps.
One famous king was Eugein map Beli. He is thought to be the king who defeated Domnall Brecc in a battle in 642. This battle was a big deal and showed the strength of the Britons in the area.
Kings of Strathclyde / Cumbria (Later Period)
After the Vikings attacked Dumbarton Rock, the kingdom changed. It was often called Strathclyde or Cumbria. Here are some of the kings from this later period:
- ? Arthgal ap Dyfnwal (died 872), he might have been the last king of Alt Clut or the first of Strathclyde.
- Rhun ab Arthgal
- ? Eochaid, son of Rhun, possibly a King of Strathclyde or even a King of the Picts.
- Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde (died 908×915)
- Owain ap Dyfnwal (ruled around 934)
- Dyfnwal ab Owain (died 975)
- ? Rhydderch ap Dyfnwal (ruled around 971), possibly a King of Strathclyde.
- Máel Coluim, son of Dyfnwal (died 997)
- ? Owain ap Dyfnwal (died 1015), possibly a King of Strathclyde.
- Owain Foel (ruled around 1018), the last king mentioned in records.
- Máel Coluim, son of the king of the Cumbrians (ruled around 1054), possibly a King of Strathclyde or King of Alba.
- David, Prince of the Cumbrians, who later became David I, King of Scotland, in 1124.
