Editing Kenneth II of Scotland (section)

== 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.<ref>Duncan, p. 21.</ref> Whatever the reality, the Chronicle states that "[h]e immediately plundered <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Kingdom of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> 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, Wales|River Dee]] by [[Chester]]. These raids may belong to around 980 when the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' records attacks on [[Cheshire]].<ref>''ESSH'', p. 512; Duncan, p. 25.</ref>

In 973, the ''[[Chronicle of Melrose]]'' reports that Kenneth, with [[Máel Coluim, King of Strathclyde|Máel Coluim I]] (Máel Coluim mac Domnaill), the [[King of Strathclyde]], "Maccus, king of very many islands" (''i.e.'', [[Maccus mac Arailt|Magnús Haraldsson]] ([[Maccus mac Arailt]]), [[Kingdom of the Isles]]) and other kings, [[Wales|Welsh]] and [[Norsemen|Norse]], came to [[Chester]] to acknowledge the overlordship of the English king [[Edgar of England|Edgar the Peaceable]]<ref>''ESSH'', pp. 478–479; ''SAEC'', pp. 75–78.</ref> at [[King Edgar's council at Chester|a council in Chester]]. 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, and the western frontier lay on the [[Solway Firth|Solway]]. In the east, the frontier lay somewhere in later [[Lothian]], south of [[Edinburgh]].<ref>Duncan, pp. 24–25.</ref>

The ''[[Annals of Tigernach]]'', in an aside, name three of the [[Mormaer]]s of Alba in Kenneth's reign in an 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.<!--This could well be original research since I have lost the reference, if any, on which it is based.-->

The feud which had persisted since the death of [[Indulf of Scotland|king Indulf]] (Idulb mac Causantín) between his descendants and Kenneth's family persisted. In 977 the ''[[Annals of Ulster]]'' report that "Amlaíb mac Iduilb <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Amlaíb, King of Scotland|Amlaíb]], son of Indulf<nowiki>]</nowiki>, 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.<ref>Duncan, pp. 21–22; ''ESSH'', p. 484.</ref>

[[Adam of Bremen]] tells that [[Sweyn I of Denmark|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]].<ref>See ''ESSH'', pp. 483–484; 495–502.</ref>

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 [[Lady Finella|Finnguala]] (also called Fimberhele or Fenella), daughter of [[Cuncar of Angus|Cuncar]], [[Mormaer of Angus]], in revenge for the killing of her only son.<ref>The name of Cuncar's daughter is given as Fenella, Finele or Sibill in later sources. John of Fordun credits [[Constantine III of Scotland|Constantine III]] (Causantín mac Cuilén) and [[Kenneth III of Scotland|Kenneth III]] (Cináed mac Duib) with the planning, claiming that Kenneth II planned to change the laws of succession. See ''ESSH'', pp. 512–515.</ref>

''[[The Prophecy of Berchán]]'' adds little to our knowledge, except that it names Kenneth "the kinslayer", and states he died in [[Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross|Strathmore]].<ref>''ESSH'', p. 516.</ref>