The Sub-Roman Period 

The second period of upheaval is known to historians as the Dark Ages or alternately as the Sub-Roman period. This lasted from the period of the Roman withdrawal from the province around 410 AD until the year 800 AD. This time witnessed an on-going conflict between several different peoples for the control of central Scotland. This conflict involved five different political entities in what is now modern Scotland. Each of which had the upper hand at different times during this period. This time in Scottish history has always been incredibly confusing for non-historians given its complexity. However it can to some extent be clarified by a brief description of each of the political entities involved in the on-going mayhem. Plus a clear description of the Roman(Latin) slang terms which were usually applied to them by scribes. These were usually Christian monks in the subsequent centuries.

                                                 The Scotti

First of all were the Scotti (Latin – ‘raider’) originally from Ireland. They had established themselves in what is now Argyll (from the Gaelic for ‘the coast of the Gaels’). Founding the Kingdom of Dalriada in the fifth century AD they had a period of dominance in the early sixth century. In the ninth century the Scotti or Scots played a key role in the founding of the new Kingdom of Scotland. The new kingdom being called Alba in the newly dominant language of Gaelic after the foundation of the kingdom in the 840’s AD.

                                               The Saxonici

The second group in the Sub-Roman period were the Anglo-Saxons (Latin ‘Saxonici’). During the course of the early seventh century the Saxon kingdom in the North of England known as the the Northumbrians had expanded in to what is now south-eastern Scotland. The Northumbrians  were a Germanic people whose dominance had became increasingly manifest after they crushed the Welsh Gododdin (‘Votadini’). During the course of the seventh century they had taken over their territory in south-east Scotland up to the river Forth. During the course of the century after 550 AD the Northumbrians gradually expanded their territory by defeating the other groups in their turn. Until by the 680’s they had over-run the important Pictish province of Fife. It seemed inevitable that the Northumbrians would expand their territory into the heart of the Pictish kingdom itself. Only to be decisively defeated at the battle of Nectansmere in 685 in the Sidlaw hills just north of the River Tay.  Along with Bannockburn one of the truly decisive battles in Scottish history.

 

                                        The Kingdom of Strathclyde

The other Welsh (Anglo-Saxon ‘Walha’) kingdom of Strathclyde continued until its destruction by the Vikings in the 870’s.

                                                            The Picti

The third political entity and in terms of geographical extent by far the largest was the Pictish kingdom. Covering the bulk of the area of modern Scotland the Picts (Latin Picti ‘ the Painted or tattooed people’). The Picts are the most enigmatic of all of the peoples of Dark Age Scotland. Having left only a few written records in a language which has yet to be deciphered. However they also left a large number of carved standing stones whose meaning again has yet to be understood.

                                                                  Pictomania

All of these factors have led to a whole industry being built up detailing their supposed origins and disappearance. Often described as ‘Pictomania’ this phenomenon has served to disguise their true importance and history over the centuries. Becoming predominant over the other peoples following their decisive victory over the Northumbrians in 685. They were the chief victims of the Viking onslaught in the ninth century AD. This culminated in a crushing disaster in 839 when most of the Pictish aristocracy were wiped out in a pitched battle by a marauding Viking army.

                                                           Kenneth Macalpine

This subsequently led through marriage to the Pictish kingship going to  the Scottish king Kenneth Macalpine . He subsequently moved the centre of the new Scottish kingdom away from the exposed western seaboard. Which was so vulnerable to Viking seaborne attack to the richer and more central areas of the former Pictish kingdom. There after the Pictish kingdom was increasingly absorbed in to the new Scottish kingdom. This continued  under the pressure of the on-going desperate struggle for survival with the Vikings during the course of the ninth and tenth centuries.