Dalriada

Born in approximately 434 AD, Fergus Mor Mac Erc is considered the father of the Royal lines of Scotland and thus the father of Scotland itself. Fergus was the first Scottish based King of Dalriada, a country split by the sea, with a base in Ireland (the area of now County Antrim, Ireland) and territory also in the western portions of what is now Scotland.

There are two legends concerning the origins of Scottish Dalriada (also known as Scotia Minor). One tells of a famine that caused the tribe of the Dal Riada to move into northern Ireland and parts of western Scotland. The other says that the Dal Riada moved north in Ireland because of famine and then aligned themselves with the Picts in Northern Ireland, thus gaining the right to settle in the Pict land of Caledonia (now called Scotland). In either case the settlement of Alba by the Irish Scotti apparently started around the second century AD. By the late fourth century, the Scotti had attained enough strength to draw the attention of the Picts. They were soon attacked and in retaliation Niall of the Nine Hostages, the High King of Ireland, landed with a sizeable force to punish the Picts. The little colony of Scottish Dalriada was saved and slowly gained strength over the next one hundred years. It is during the late fifth century that Fergus Mor (Big or Chief?) Mac (son of) Erc arrived in Scottish Dalriada. ..... more


Pictish stone carving from Dalriada
  • A1 = Fergus Mór, d:501;
    • B1 = Domangart, King of Dalriada, lvd:501/506, m. Fedelmia of Breichniog;
      • C1 = King Gabrān, lvd:537/559, m. Lluan of Breichniog;
        • D1 = King Aedān, lvd:574/604, m. Ygerna Del Acqs High Queen of the Celtic kingdoms;
          • E1 .. Arthyr, King Arthur of the Round Table?;
          • E2 = King Eochaidh Buidh, lvd:608/620;
            • F1 = King Domnall Breac, lvd:630/642;
              • G1 = King Domangart, lvd:659/672;
                • H1 = King Eochaih 'Roman Nose', lvd:695/699;
                  • I1 = King Eochaih Angbhadh, lvd:726/733;
                    <========
      • J1 = King Aed Find, lvd:725/769;
        • K1 = King Eochaid IV, lvd:747/781,  <==  House of MacAlpin
                             m. Fergusa, Princess of Picts;
        • K2 ~ King Eacime, ruler of Argyll, lvd:725/769;
          • L1 ~ Godfrey Mac Fergus, Toiseach of the Isles, d:835;
            • M1 ~ Niallghusa;
              • N1 ~ Suibne;
                • O1 ~ Echmarcach, lvd:1013;
                  • P1 ~ Solmund;

Back to Index Page