Constantine (MacAlpin) King of Scots (abt. 874 - 952)

Born about 0874 in Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 0952 at about age 78 in Céli Dé (Culdee) monastery of St Andrews

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Biography

Constantine II (MacAlpin) King of Scots is a member of House of Alpin.

House of Alpin

Clann Áeda (Southern Branch)

Birth and Exile in Ireland

Constantín mac Áeda was born, the son of Aodh, King of the Picts and an unknown wife. ^[1][2][3][4] Upon the murder of his father, Aodh, Constantine fled to Ireland where he was brought up by Gaelic monks. ^[5]

Children of Constantine and an Unknown Wife

The name of Constantine's wife is not known. ^[1]

• Unknown mac Causantín, 936/937, killed in battle , possibly, Battle of Brunanburh. ^[1]
• Indulf [(Illulb) mac Causantín, 945, appointed sub-king of Strathclyde (945- ); 954, succeeded as Indulf, King of Scots (954-962); 962, killed by Vikings in battle at Invercullen (Cullen); buried on Iona. ^[1][6] Alternatively, possibly died as a monk at St Andrews. ^[7]
• Unknown Daughter mac Causantín, 937, married Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin (934-939), King of York (939-941); he died in 941. ^[1][2]

Constantine II, King of Scots

He succeded in 900 as Constantine II, King of Scots on the death of his 1st cousin, Donald II, King of Scots and reigned for 40 years. ^[1][8] At the time of his succession, Britain was host to two major polities seeking to establish their respective hegemonies. In the north, the Picts and Dál Riata were merging into the Kingdom of Alba, joining together in defense against Scandinavian Vikings and the Norwegian Viking rulers of Dublin and York. In the south, the Kingdom of Wessex was "liberating" Anglo-Saxon England from subjugation by Danish Vikings. Both emergent kingdoms were also expanding into the Midlands of Britain. ^[9]

Conflicts Leading to Alliance with the Vikings of Dublin

Constantine II first defended against the Vikings in the 903 attack by the grandsons of Ivar (Ímar), King of Dublin, who plundered Alba and particularly Dunkeld (Dincalden). ^[1][10] While further details of the battle are unknown, he decisively defeated them in Strathearn (now, Perthshire), killing Ivar (Ímar), grandson of Ivar (Ímar). ^[11][12][13] During the seven year interlude between Viking assaults, Constantine II established equal protections for the rights of the Scottish church in ceremonies in 906 at the Hill of Credulity in Scone ^[2][3][14]

Constantine II came under Viking attack again in 910 by Ragnall, another grandson of Ivar (Ímar), King of Dublin. Having reasserted Scandinavian control of York after it had been ravaged by King Edward the Elder, Ragnall seized Bernicia forcing its ruler, Ealdred I of Bamburgh, into refuge at the court of Constantine II. This led to the first battle of Corbridge, where the Bernicians and the forces of Constantine II were quickly defeated and driven back to Alba. ^[15][16]

Four years later in 918, Ragnall, also known by then as King of Jórvík, King of Dublin, King of Mann, and King of Northumbria, wasted the Alban city of Dunblaine. In response, Constantine II led an army south into the second battle of Corbridge. The Scots were again defeated, but having inflicted great damage on the Vikings, they withdrew, and both sides declared a victory. ^{[16][1][17][9][2]} Modern historians debate the dates and the number of battles, but the "one certain outcome of [battles] of Corbridge was that it saw the last of the hostility between Constantine II and the York Danes...For the rest of his remarkably long reign...Constantine II can be seen...as the consistent ally of the York dynasty." ^[16]

During the resulting peace, Constantine II, transformed Pictland into the Gaelic-dominated Kingdom of Alba. Probably a consequence of his upbringing by the Irish monks, Constantine II was "...responsible for the gaelicisation of Pictland, including his patronage of the Irish Céli Dé (Culdee) monastic reformation." Among the reforms during his reign, the words "Scots" and "Scotland" were used for the first time to mean the people and lands of Alba, and he organized Alba into "seven provinces, or mormaerdoms." ^[18]

Conflicts Resulting in Submission to the Anglo-Saxons of Wessex

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 923, "the king of Scots and the whole Scottish nation accepted King Edward the Elder as father and lord" ^[19][1][20] Alred P. Smyth, however, suggests "this West-Saxon account" inaccurately describes a treaty as a submission. He also points out that Alba had become politically aligned with York, and King Edward lacked the power at that time to force submission on York or Alba. ^[16][21] Further, this treaty did not last, and Edward's successor, King Æthelstan, was unable to secure Constantine II's submission until 927. ^[22] This peace with Wessex was broken again in 933, when Constantine II renewed "his alliance with Olaf Guthfrithsson, Norse king of Dublin and claimant to York, to whom he gave his daughter in marriage." ^[2] However, King Æthelstan invaded Scotland in 934, "both with a land and naval force," bringing "into submission all the kings in this island [including] Constantine II, King of Scots." ^[1][22] The Wessex presumptions of Alban submission were again proved false, when Constantine II formed an alliance with the Strathclyde Britons and the Viking king of Dublin in 937 and invaded Northumbria. This final resistance was met with overwhelming force as "King Æthelstan then invaded as far as Dunnottar, ^[23] and inflicted crushing defeat on Constantine II and Olaf at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937, when Constantine II’s son is said to have been killed." ^{[24][2][25][26]}

Death

As an old man, Constantine II was persuaded, or possibly forced, to abdicate in 943 by his successor, Malcolm I, King of Scots, and retired to the Céli Dé (Culdee) monastery of St Andrews. He died and was buried there in 952, but was later reburied at Iona. ^{[1][2][27][28]}

Research Notes

1. Birth year estimate, 874 - the unsourced estimate of birth in 874 would make him 4 years old when his father was killed in 878; 26 years old at his succession in 900 and 78 years old at his death in 952. The unsourced estimated birth year is possible and not unlikely.
2. The Annals of Ulster and the Chronicles of the Kings of Alba differ on the dates of events in the life of Constantine II. Alex Woolf offers in-depth solutions in his "From Pictland to Alba 789-1070." ^[29]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} Cawley, Charles, Medieval Lands: a Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, (Hereford, UK: Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, 2006), chap. 1. ORIGINS, KINGS of SCOTLAND 834-1034, AEDH, son of [KENNETH I King of Scotland, 1. Constantine
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Cannon, John; Hargreaves, Anne. The Kings and Queens of Britain (Oxford Quick Reference). Kindle edition, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 95. [Kindle]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Woolf, Alex. From Pictland to Alba, AD 789-AD 1070, The New Edinburgh History of Scotland. Mason, Roger, gen. ed. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008), 122.
4. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine the son of Áed held the throne for 40 years...” Constantine II 900-943.
5. ↑ Woolf, Alex, From Pictland to Alba, AD 789-AD 1070, The New Edinburgh History of Scotland. Mason, Roger, gen. ed. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008), 322.
6. ↑ Anderson, Allan Orr. Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500 to 1286. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1922), vol. 1, [Chronicle of the Kings of Scotland, version D, Skene's Picts and Scots, p. 151], 470.
7. ↑ Anderson, Allan Orr. Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500 to 1286. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd,1922), vol. 1, [Berchan's Prophecy, stanzas 158-161, Skene's Picts and Scots, pp. 93-94], 471.
8. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine the son of Áed held the throne for 40 years...” Constantine II 900-943.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Lynch, Michael, editor, The Oxford Companion to Scottish History, Anglo-Scottish Relations, 1. 900-1100, (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2011), 9-13.
10. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine...In his third year the Norsemen raided Dunkeld, and all of Albany [in 903]. Certainly in the following year the Norsemen were beaten in Strathearn [in 904 (U904.4)],” Constantine II 900-943.
11. ↑ Ó Corráin, Professor Donnchadh; Morgan, Dr Hiram, CELT; Corpus of Electronic Texts, (Cork, Ireland: University College, 2023), Annals of Ulster [904.4], 355
12. ↑ Anderson, Marjorie O[gilvie]. Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland. (Edinburgh: Berlinn, 2013), 141.
13. ↑ Broun Dauvit, Constantine II [Causantín mac Aeda, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, (United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2004), Constantine II.
14. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine...vowed that the laws and teachings of the faith, and the rights of the churches and gospels, to be protected equally with the Scots...From that day the hill earned its name, that is, the Hill of Credulity...” Constantine II 900-943.
15. ↑ Celt: Annals of Ulster : U918.4
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3} Smyth, Alfred P, Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD80-1000, The New Edinburgh History of Scotland, Mason, Roger, gen. ed. (Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 1984), 196-199.
17. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine...In his 18th. year a battle was fought at Tinemore between Constantine and Rægnald [in 918, Rægnald was a Viking chief, later king of York 919-921], and the Scots won...” Constantine II 900-943.
18. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alba. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1886). vol. 1, 340, map on facing page.
19. ↑ King Alfred the Great, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, (A.D. 890), Giles, J. A., trans., Ingram, J., trans., (Salt Lake City, UT: Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, 1996), EBook #657, citing, "A.D. 924. This year Edward was chosen for father and for lord by the king of the Scots, and by the Scots, and King Reginald, and by all the North-humbrians, and also the king of the Strath-clyde Britons, and by all the Strath-clyde Britons,"A.D. 924.
20. ↑ Anderson, Allan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500 to 1286, (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1922), vol. 1, citing, “Chronicles of Melrose. p. 27; 'In the year 921, the king of the Scots with his whole nation, and Ronald, king of the Danes inhabiting Northumbria, and king Sigtrygg, did homage to king Edward.'” 409.
21. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alba. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1886). vol. 1, 349-350.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1} Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alba. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1886). vol. 1, 350-359.
23. ↑ Groome, Francis H. , ed., Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, Dunnotar Castle, (Muskegon, MI: Electric Scotland USA, 1898), 442.
24. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine...There was also the battle of Duinbrunde in his 34th [If this was the famous battle of Brunanburgh, it was in 937, i.e. the 37th year.] year when the son of Constantine fell....Æthelstan the son of Edward King of Saxons [In 939]...died. ” Constantine II 900-943.
25. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alba. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1886). vol. 1, 354.
26. ↑ Anderson, Allan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500 to 1286, (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1922), vol. 1, citing, “Annals of the Four Masters, vol. i, p. 640, s.a. 938=940; 'A victory [was gained] by [Edmund], the king of England, over Constantine, Aed's son ; Anlaf or Olaf, Sigtrygg's son ; and the Britons.'” 431.
27. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alba. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1886). vol. 1, 360.
28. ↑ The Pictish Chronicle (Chronically de Origine Antiquorum Pictorum), MS. COLB. BIB. IMP. PARIS, 4126, Weeks, T. H., trans., citing, “Constantine...And infirm in his old age he took the staff [i.e. entered a monastery (in fact St. Andrews)...and he entrusted the kingdom to Malcolm the son of Donald [The year of Constantine's abdication is unknown, 943 seems probable. He died in 952. (U952.1)].” Constantine II 900-943.
29. ↑ Woolf, Alex, From Pictland to Alba, AD 789-AD 1070, The New Edinburgh History of Scotland. Mason, Roger, gen. ed. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008), 126-176.

See also:

• Anderson, Marjorie O[gilvie]. Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland. (Edinburgh: Berlinn, 2013). 72, 79, 141, 190, 198, 217, 251, 254, 263, 267, 274, 283, 288, 290.
• Ó Corráin, Professor Donnchadh; Morgan, Dr Hiram, CELT; Corpus of Electronic Texts, (Cork, Ireland: University College, 2023), Index.
• Wikipedia contributors, Constantine II of Scotland, (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2023), Constantine II of Scotland.
• Wikipedia contributors House of Alpin, )Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2023), House of Alpin