| Notes |
- Kenneth II
King of Alba
Reign 971–995
Predecessor Cuilén or Amlaíb
Successor Constantine III
Died 995
Fettercairn?
Issue Malcolm II, King of Alba
Boite mac Cináeda?
Dúngal?
Suibne?
House Alpin
Father Malcolm I, King of Alba
Kenneth II of Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cináed mac Maíl Coluim (Modern Gaelic: Coinneach mac
Mhaoil Chaluim[1] anglicised as Kenneth II, and nicknamed
An Fionnghalach, "The Fratricide";[2] died 995) was King
of Scots (Alba). The son of Malcolm I (Máel Coluim mac
Domnaill), he succeeded King Cuilén (Cuilén mac Iduilb) on
the latter's death at the hands of Rhydderch ap Dyfnwal in
971.
Contents
1 Primary sources
2 Children
3 Interpretation
4 Death
5 Notes
6 References
7 External links
Primary sources
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba was compiled in
Kenneth's reign, but many of the place names mentioned are
entirely corrupt, if not fictitious.[3] Whatever the reality, the
Chronicle states that "[h]e immediately plundered
[Strathclyde] in part. Kenneth's infantry were slain with very
great slaughter in Moin Uacoruar." The Chronicle further
states that Kenneth plundered Northumbria three times, first
as far as Stainmore, then to Cluiam and lastly to the River
Dee by Chester. These raids may belong to around 980,
when the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records attacks on
Cheshire.[4]
In 973, the Chronicle of Melrose reports that Kenneth, with Máel Coluim I (Máel Coluim mac Domnaill), the
King of Strathclyde, "Maccus, king of very many islands" (i.e. Magnus Haraldsson (Maccus mac Arailt), King
of Mann and the Isles) and other kings, Welsh and Norse, came to Chester to acknowledge the overlordship of
the English king Edgar the Peaceable.[5] It may be that Edgar here regulated the frontier between the southern
lands of the kingdom of Alba and the northern lands of his English kingdom. Cumbria was English, the western
frontier lay on the Solway. In the east, the frontier lay somewhere in later Lothian, south of Edinburgh.[6]
The Annals of Tigernach, in an aside, name three of the Mormaers of Alba in Kenneth's reign in entry in 976:
Cellach mac Fíndgaine, Cellach mac Baireda and Donnchad mac Morgaínd. The third of these, if not an error
for Domnall mac Morgaínd, is very likely a brother of Domnall, and thus the Mormaer of Moray. The
Mormaerdoms or kingdoms ruled by the two Cellachs cannot be identified.
The feud which had persisted since the death of King Indulf (Idulb mac Causantín) between his descendants
and Kenneth's family persisted. In 977 the Annals of Ulster report that "Amlaíb mac Iduilb [Amlaíb, son of
Indulf], King of Scotland, was killed by Cináed mac Domnaill." The Annals of Tigernach give the correct name
of Amlaíb's killer: Cináed mac Maíl Coluim, or Kenneth II. Thus, even if only for a short time, Kenneth had
been overthrown by the brother of the previous king.[7]
Adam of Bremen tells that Sweyn Forkbeard found exile in Scotland at this time, but whether this was with
Kenneth, or one of the other kings in Scotland, is unknown. Also at this time, Njal's Saga, the Orkneyinga Saga
and other sources recount wars between "the Scots" and the Northmen, but these are more probably wars
between Sigurd Hlodvisson, Earl of Orkney, and the Mormaers, or Kings, of Moray.[8]
The Chronicle says that Kenneth founded a great monastery at Brechin.
Kenneth was killed in 995, the Annals of Ulster say "by deceit" and the Annals of Tigernach say "by his
subjects". Some later sources, such as the Chronicle of Melrose, John of Fordun and Andrew of Wyntoun
provide more details, accurately or not. The simplest account is that he was killed by his own men in
Fettercairn, through the treachery of Finnguala (also called Fimberhele or Fenella), daughter of Cuncar,
Mormaer of Angus, in revenge for the killing of her only son.[9]
The Prophecy of Berchán adds little to our knowledge, except that it names Kenneth "the kinslayer", and states
he died in Strathmore.[10]
Children
Kenneth's son Malcolm II (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda) was later king of Alba. Kenneth may have had a second
son, named either Dúngal or Gille Coemgáin.[11] Sources differ as to whether Boite mac Cináeda should be
counted a son of Kenneth II or of Kenneth III (Cináed mac Duib).[12] Another son of Kenneth may have been
Suibne mac Cináeda, a king of the Gall Gaidheil who died in 1034.
Interpretation
Kenneth's rival Amlaíb, King of Scotland is omitted by the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba and later Scottish
king-lists. The Irish Annals of Tigernach appear to better reflect contemporary events. Amlaíb could be a direct
predecessor of Kenneth who suffered damnatio memoriae, or the rival king recognized in parts of Scotland. A
period of divided kingship appears likely.[13]
Amlaíb was the heir of his brother Cuilén, who was killed in a hall-burning. He might have served as a regent
north of the River Forth, during the absence of his brother. Kenneth was brother to the deceased Dub, King of
Scotland and was most likely an exile. He could claim the throne due to the support of friends and maternal kin.
He was likely older and more experienced than his rival king.[13] Amlaíb is the Gaelic form of Óláfr,
suggesting maternal descent from Norsemen. He could possibly claim descent from the Uí Ímair dynasty. Alex
Woolf suggests he was a grandson of Amlaíb Cuarán, King of Dublin or his cousin Olaf Guthfrithson, which
suggests his own group of supporters.[13]
Death
According to John of Fordun (14th century), Kenneth II of Scotland (reigned 971-995) attempted to change the
succession rules, allowing "the nearest survivor in blood to the deceased king to succeed", thus securing the
throne for his own descendants. He reportedly did so to specifically exclude Constantine (III) and Kenneth
(III), called Gryme in this source. The two men then jointly conspired against him, convincing Finnguala,
daughter of Cuncar, Mormaer of Angus, to kill the king. She reportedly did so to achieve personal revenge, as
Kenneth II had killed her own son. Entries in the Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, collected by William Forbes
Skene, provide the account of Finnguala killing Kenneth II in revenge, but not her affiliation to Constantine or
his cousins. These entries date to the 12th and 13th centuries.[14][15] The Annals of Ulster simply record
"Cinaed son of Mael Coluim [Kenneth, son of Malcolm], king of Scotland, was deceitfully killed", with no
indication of who killed him.[16][17]
In the account of John of Fordun, Constantine the Bald, son of King Cullen and Gryme were "plotting
unceasingly the death of the king and his son". One day, Kenneth II and his companions went hunting into the
woods, "at no great distance from his own abode". The hunt took him to Fettercairn, where Finella resided. She
approached him to proclaim her loyalty and invited him to visit her residence, whispering into his ear that she
had information about a conspiracy plot. She managed to lure him to "an out-of-the-way little cottage", where a
booby trap was hidden. Inside the cottage was a statue, connected by strings to a number of crossbows. If
anyone touched or moved the statue, he would trigger the crossbows and fall victim to their arrows. Kenneth II
gently touched the statue and "was shot though by arrows sped from all sides, and fell without uttering another
word." Finella escaped through the woods and managed to join her abettors, Constantine III and Gryme. The
hunting companions soon discovered the bloody king. They were unable to locate Finella, but burned
Fettercairn to the ground.[18] Smyth dismisses the elaborate plotting and the mechanical contraption as mere
fables, but accepts the basic details of the story, that the succession plans of Kenneth II caused his
assassination.[19] Alan Orr Anderson raised his own doubts concerning the story of Finella, which he
considered "semi-mythical". He noted that the feminine name Finnguala or Findguala means "white shoulders",
but suggested it derived from "find-ela" (white swan). The name figures in toponyms such as Finella Hill (near
Fordoun) and Finella Den (near St Cyrus), while local tradition in The Mearns (Kincardineshire) has Finella
walking atop the treetops from one location to the other. Anderson thus theorized that Finella could be a
mythical figure, suggesting she was a local stream-goddess.[20] A later passage of John of Fordun mentions
Finele as mother of Macbeth, King of Scotland (reigned 1040–1057), but this is probably an error based on the
similarity of names. Macbeth was son of Findláech of Moray, not of a woman called Finella.[20][21]
Notes
1. Cináed mac Maíl Coluim is the Mediaeval Gaelic
form.
2. Skene, Chronicles, p. 96.
3. Duncan, p. 21.
4. ESSH, p. 512; Duncan, p.25.
5. ESSH, pp. 478–479; SAEC, pp. 75–78.
6. Duncan, pp.24–25.
7. Duncan, pp. 21–22; ESSH, p. 484.
8. See ESSH, pp. 483–484 & 495–502.
9. The name of Cuncar's daughter is given as Fenella,
Finele or Sibill in later sources. John of Fordun credits
Constantine III (Causantín mac Cuilén) and Kenneth
III (Cináed mac Duib) with the planning, claiming that
Kenneth II planned to change the laws of succession.
See ESSH, pp. 512–515.
10. ESSH, p. 516.
11. Annals of the Four Masters, s.a. 998: "Dúngal Cináed's
son, was killed by Gille Coemgáin, Cináed's son." It is
not clear if the Cináeds (Kenneths) referred to are
Cináed mac Maíl Coluim (Kenneth II) or his nephew
and namesake Cináed mac Duib (Kenneth III). Smyth,
pp. 221–222, makes Dúngal followingE SSH p. 580.
12. Compare Duncan, p.345 and Lynch (ed), Genealogies,
at about p. 680. See also ESSH, p. 580.
13. Woolf (2007), p. 205-206
14. Cawley 2011, Malcolm (http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLa
nds/SCOTLAND.htm#_Toc253996179).Listing
includes all kings descended from him, excluding
Kenneth III.
15. The name of Cuncar's daughter is given as Fenella,
15. The name of Cuncar's daughter is given as Fenella,
Finele or Sibill in later sources. John of Fordun credits
Constantine III (Causantín mac Cuilén) and Kenneth
III (Cináed mac Duib) with the planning, claiming that
Kenneth II planned to change the laws of succession.
See ESSH, pp. 512–515.
16. Cawley 2011, Malcolm I (http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedL
ands/SCOTLAND.htm#_Toc253996179).Listing
includes all kings descended from him, excluding
Kenneth III.
17. Annals of Ulster, online translation. Entry U995.1 (htt
p://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/)
18. Skene, John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish
nation, Book IV, Chapters XXXII-XXXIV (32-34),
pages 165-169 (https://archive.org/details/johnoffordun
schr00fordrich)
19. Smyth, Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-
1000, p. 224-225 (https://books.google.com/books?id=
mxxwmg48bFgC&pg=PA226)
20. Anderson, Early sources of Scottish history, A.D. 500
to 1286, p. 515 (https://archive.org/details/cu31924028
144313)
21. Skene, John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish
nation, Book IV, Chapters XLIV (44), pages 180 (http
s://archive.org/details/johnoffordunschr00fordrich)
References
For primary sources see also External links below.
Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500–1286, volume 1. Reprinted with corrections. Paul
Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN 1-871615-03-8
Anderson, Alan Orr, Scottish Annals from English Chroniclers. D. Nutt, London, 1908.
Anon., Orkneyinga Saga: The History of the Earls of Orkne,y tr. Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards. Penguin, London,
1978. ISBN 0-14-044383-5
Duncan, A.A.M., The Kingship of the Scots 842–1292: Succession and Independenc eE.dinburgh University Press,
Edinburgh, 2002. ISBN 0-7486-1626-8
Lynch, Michael (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Scottish History. Oxford UP, Oxford, 2002. ISBN 0-19-211696-7
Smyth, Alfred P. Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-1000. Reprinted, Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 1998. ISBN 0-
7486-0100-7
Woolf, Alex. (2007), "Amlaíb son of Ildulb and Cinaed Son of Mael Coluim",F rom Pictland to Alba: 789 - 1070,
Edinburgh University Press, ISBN 978-0748612345
External links
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork The Corpus of Electronic Texts includes
the Annals of Ulster, Tigernach and the Four Masters, the Chronicon Scotorum, as well as Genealogies,
and various Saints' Lives. Most are translated into English, or translations are in progress
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
Kenneth II of Scotland
House of Alpin
Died: 995
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Cuilén1
Amlaíb mac Illuilb
King of Alba
971–995
Succeeded by
Constantine III
Notes and references
1. The succession after Cuilén's death is uncertain. Whilst Kenneth may have succeeded and faced a later challenge from Amlaíb, it is
also possible that Kenneth and Amlaíb shared the kingship before the latter's death.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenneth_II_of_Scotland&oldid=782000616"
Categories: 10th-century births 995 deaths House of Alpin Burials in Iona
10th-century Scottish monarchs
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932 - 995 (62 years)
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