Kenneth I

Kenneth I (Kenneth mac Alpin), d. 858, traditional founder of the kingdom of Scotland. He succeeded his father, Alpin, as king of Dalriada (the kingdom of the Gaelic Scots in W Scotland) and c.843 obtained the Pictish throne, thus establishing the nucleus of the kingdom of Scotland. Because of continual depredations by the Danes from the Irish coast, Kenneth moved his capital eastward to Scone.

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Kenneth I

 or Kenneth MacAlpin

(died c. 858, Forteviot, Scot.) First king of the united Scots of Dalriada and the Picts. He inherited (834?) the Scottish kingdom of Dalriada from his father, Alpin, who is thought to have been killed by the Picts. He also gained control over Pictavia, and from 843 the two kingdoms were gradually joined, an important step in the making of a unified Scotland. The union was probably accomplished both by intermarriage and by conquest.

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Kenneth I

surnamed MacAlpine. died 858, king of the Scots of Dalriada and of the Picts (?844--858): considered the first Scottish king