Alex Woolf Alex Woolf
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2160 pictland 29/8/07 15:47 Page 1 THE NEW EDINBURGH HISTORY OF SCOTLAND THE NEW EDINBURGH HISTORY OF SCOTLAND GENERAL EDITOR: ROGER A. MASON NEHS2 FROM PICTLAND TO ALBA ALBA, 789–1070 FROM PICTLAND TO FROM PICTLAND TO ALBA 789–1070 789–1070 ALEX WOOLF ALEX WOOLF In the 780s northern Britain was dominated by two great kingdoms – Pictavia, centred in north-eastern Scotland, and Northumbria, which straddled the modern Anglo-Scottish border. Within a hundred years both of these kingdoms had been thrown into chaos by the onslaught of the Vikings and within two hundred years they had become distant memories. This book charts the transformation of the political landscape of northern Britain between the middle of the eighth and the middle of the eleventh centuries. Central to this narrative is the mysterious disappearance of the Picts and their language and the sudden rise to prominence of the Gaelic- speaking Scots who would replace them as the rulers of the North. From Pictland to Alba pays close attention to the fragmentary sources which survive from this darkest period in Scottish history and guides readers past the pitfalls which beset the unwary traveller in these dangerous times. Many of the sources are presented in full and their value as witnesses are thoroughly explored and evaluated. Unlike most other volumes dealing with this period, this is a book which ‘shows its workings’ and encourages readers to reach their own conclusions about the origins of Scotland. Alex Woolf is Lecturer in Early Scottish History at the University of St Andrews. ALEX WOOLF Series cover design: River Design, Edinburgh Cover illustration: Photograph of the Hunterston Brooch, made around AD 700 and discovered in Hunterston, Ayrshire in the 1830s. © The Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland. Edinburgh University Press Edinburgh 22 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LF www.eup.ed.ac.uk ISBN 978 0 7486 1234 5 The New Edinburgh History of Scotland From Pictland to Alba The New Edinburgh History of Scotland General editor: Roger Mason, University of St Andrews Advisory editors: Dauvit Broun, University of Glasgow; Iain Hutchison, University of Stirling; Norman Macdougall, University of St Andrews; Nicholas Phillipson, University of Edinburgh From Caledonia to Pictland to James Fraser, University of Edinburgh From Pictland to Alba – Alex Woolf, University of St Andrews Domination and Lordship – Richard Oram, University of Stirling The Wars of Scotland – Michael Brown, University of St Andrews The First Stewart Dynasty – Steve Boardman, University of Edinburgh Scotland Re-formed – Jane Dawson, University of Edinburgh Empire, Union and Reform – Roger Mason, University of St Andrews Nation, State, Province, Empire – Ned Landsman, State University of New York, Stony Brook Industry and Unrest – Iain Hutchison, University of Stirling Impaled upon a Thistle –present Ewen Cameron, University of Edinburgh From Pictland to Alba ‒ Alex Woolf Edinburgh University Press © Alex Woolf, Edinburgh University Press Ltd George Square, Edinburgh Typeset in / Ehrhardt by Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Manchester, and printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham, Wilts A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN (hardback) ISBN (paperback) The right of Alex Woolf to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act . Publisher’s acknowledgement Edinburgh University Press thanks Mercat Press, publishers of the Edinburgh History of Scotland,for permission to use The New Edinburgh History of Scotland as the title for this ten-volume series. Contents Maps and Genealogical Tables vi Acknowledgements vii General Editor’s Preface ix Note on Spelling and Pronunciation xi Introduction Land and People: Northern Britain in the Eighth Century : (–) Chapter The Coming of the Vikings Chapter The Scaldingi and the Transformation of Northumbria Chapter Last Days of the Pictish Kingdom (–) Chapter The Grandsons of Cinaed and the Grandsons of Ímar Chapter The Later Tenth Century: A Turmoil of Warring Princes Chapter The Fall of the House of Alpín and the Moray Question : Chapter Scandinavian Scotland Chapter Pictavia to Albania TableofEvents Guide to Further Reading The Principal Medieval Chronicles used in this Volume Bibliography Index Maps and Genealogical Tables Map I. Northern Britain and Ireland c. Map I. Northumbria and its principal churches Map I. Dál Riata Map . Scandinavia in the Viking age Map . The wanderings of St Cuthbert’s body in the late ninth century Map . Southumbria Map . Æeelstan’s campaign of Map . Suggested locations for the battle of Brunanburh, Map . The central transit zone of the Alpínid kingdom in the tenth and eleventh centuries Map . Gaelic Cenéla in the Alpínid kingdom Map . Anglo-Scottish relations c. Table . Some Northumbrian kings of the later eight century Table . The Dál Riatan origins of the men of Alba Table . The Moray dynasty Table . Scandinavian kings of the early eleventh century Table . Cumbrian kings of Strathclyde Table . The descent of Gospatric son of Maldred Table . Congalach of Knowth and the kingship of Tara Table . The relationship between Magnus Haraldsson of Norway and Ingibjorg of Orkney Table . Comparison of generation lengths in Viking Age dynasties Table . The relationship of Thorsteinn to Sigurer Table . Thorfinnr the Mighty and his kinsmen Acknowledgements I was first asked to write this book, volume two in a projected series, shortly after I had arrived in Scotland nearly a decade ago. As the new boy on the block, and a foreigner, I felt both flattered and overawed by the commission. Since then I have taught myself the history of Scotland in the early and central middle ages through the process of teaching others, principally undergraduates first in the University of Edinburgh and, since , in the University of St Andrews. I owe a great deal to the gen- erosity and professionalism of my immediate colleagues in both these universities. Above all, however, I owe my introduction to and education in early Scottish history to my friends Dauvit Broun, Thomas Clancy, Stephen Driscoll, Katherine Forsyth and Simon Taylor who have encouraged and helped me at every stage of the way. Over the years all of them have been drawn, one by one, into the employ of the University of Glasgow. To this list of ‘usual suspects’ can be added my successor at Edinburgh, James Fraser. Since moving to St Andrews I have gained a great deal from the friendship and support of Barbara Crawford of the Strathmartine Centre, whose knowledge of Scandinavian Scotland is second to none and who, perhaps unusually for an academic, finds it easy to agree to differ. Furth of Scotland, mention must be made of Catherine Swift and Colmán Etchingham who for some years have been the main organisers of the Irish Conference of Medievalists at which many of the ideas presented in this volume were first aired; as both facilitators and critics Cathy and Colmán deserve thanks. Conversations with Lesley Abrams and David Parsons have, over the years, greatly enhanced my understanding of many aspects of the early middle ages but especially those relating to Scandinavian settlement. In the closing stages of the work mention must be made of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, who funded a period of leave during viii which much of the final draught of the book was completed. My colleagues Roger Mason, the general editor of the series, and Michael Brown, author of the only volume in the series to have appeared at the time of writing, have given invaluable guidance as to the final shape of the book. Dauvit Broun and Simon Taylor have read the entire text in manu- script and contributed enormously to the finished product. Finally, I must make mention of two people who were involved at the beginning of the project. John Davey, lately retired, conceived the project and per- suaded Edinburgh University Press to take it up. Throughout his career in publishing he was a great supporter of serious works on Scottish history and cultural heritage. The late Patrick Wormald was one of the original publisher’s readers for my initial proposal for this volume. His support and encouragement at this time and at another very difficult point in my career deserve my enduring gratitude. I am truly sorry that he did not live to see this book. General Editor’s Preface The purpose of the New Edinburgh History of Scotland is to provide up- to-date and accessible narrative accounts of the Scottish past. Its authors will make full use of the explosion of scholarly research that has taken place over the last three decades, and do so in a way that is sensitive to Scotland’s regional diversity as well as to the British, European and transoceanic worlds of which Scotland has always been an integral part. Chronology is fundamental to understanding change over time and Scotland’s political development will provide the backbone of the narra- tive and the focus of analysis and explanation. The New Edinburgh History will tell the story of Scotland as a political entity, but will be sen- sitive to broader social, cultural and religious change and informed by a richly textured understanding of the totality and diversity of the Scots’ historical experience. Yet to talk of the Scots – or the Scottish nation – is often misleading. Local loyalty and regional diversity have more fre- quently characterised Scotland than any perceived sense of ‘national’ sol-