Editing Kingdom of Strathclyde (section)

==Origins==
{{Main|Scotland during the Roman Empire}}
[[File:Britain 802.jpg|Map of Great Britain in 802, with Strathclyde straddling the Irish sea|thumb]]
[[File:Scotland Dumbarton Castle bordercropped.jpg|thumb|right|Looking north at [[Dumbarton Rock]], the chief fort of Strathclyde from the 6th century to 870. The fort of ''Alt Clut'' was on the right-hand summit.]]
[[File:Dumbarton across Clyde.jpg|thumb|right|Dumbarton seen across the estuary of the [[River Clyde]] at low tide.]]
[[File:Clach nam Breatann.jpg|thumb|Clach nam Breatann, Glen Falloch, perhaps the northern edge of Strathclyde]]

Ptolemy's ''Geographia''&nbsp;– a sailors' chart, not an ethnographical survey<ref>The description is Ó Corráin's, in R. Foster (ed.), ''The Oxford History of Ireland'', p.&nbsp;4.</ref>&nbsp;– lists a number of tribes, or groups of tribes, in southern Scotland at around the time of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] invasion and the establishment of [[Roman Britain]] in the 1st century AD. As well as the Damnonii, Ptolemy lists the [[Votadini|Otalini]], whose capital appears to have been [[Traprain Law]]; to their west, the [[Selgovae]] in the [[Southern Uplands]] and, further west in [[Galloway]], the [[Novantae]]. In addition, a group known as the [[Maeatae]], probably in the area around [[Stirling]], appear in later Roman records. The capital of the Damnonii is believed to have been at Carman, near Dumbarton, but around five miles inland from the [[River Clyde]].

Although the northern frontier of Roman Britain was [[Hadrian's Wall]] for most of its history, the extent of Roman influence north of the Wall is obscure. Certainly, Roman forts existed north of the wall, and forts as far north as [[Cramond Roman Fort|Cramond]] may have been in long-term occupation. Moreover, the formal frontier was three times moved further north. Twice it was advanced to the line of the [[Antonine Wall]], at about the time when Hadrian's Wall was built and again under [[Septimius Severus]], and once further north, beyond the [[river Tay]], during [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola]]'s campaigns, although, each time, it was soon withdrawn. In addition to these contacts, Roman armies undertook punitive expeditions north of the frontiers. Northern natives also travelled south of the wall, to trade, to raid and to serve in the Roman army. Roman traders may have travelled north, and Roman subsidies, or bribes, were sent to useful tribes and leaders. The extent to which Roman Britain was romanised is debated, and if there are doubts about the areas under close Roman control, then there must be even more doubts over the degree to which the Damnonii were romanised.<ref>For a brief survey of Rome and southern Scotland see Hanson, "Roman occupation".</ref>

The final period of Roman Britain saw an apparent increase in attacks by land and sea, the raiders including the [[Picts]], [[Scoti|Scotti]] and the mysterious [[Attacotti]] whose origins are not certain.<ref>The home of the Attacotti has been variously identified. [[Ireland]] is the most favoured location, and an association with the [[Déisi]] is plausible. A few authors have suggested the [[Outer Hebrides]] or the [[Northern Isles]].</ref> These raids will have also targeted the tribes of southern Scotland. The supposed final withdrawal of Roman forces around 410 is unlikely to have been of military impact on the Damnonii, although the withdrawal of pay from the residual Wall garrison will have had a very considerable economic effect.

No historical source gives any firm information on the boundaries of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, but suggestions have been offered on the basis of [[toponymy|place-names]] and [[topography]]. Near the north end of [[Loch Lomond]], which can be reached by boat from the Clyde, lies [[Clach nam Breatann]], the Rock of the Britains, which is thought to have gained its name as a marker at the northern limit of Alt Clut.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=Norman |title=Vanished Kingdoms |date=2011 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9781846143380 |page=63}}</ref> The [[Campsie Fells]] and the marshes between Loch Lomond and [[Stirling]] may have represented another boundary. To the south, the kingdom extended some distance up the strath of the Clyde, and along the coast probably extended south towards [[Ayr]].<ref>Alcock & Alcock, "Excavations at Alt Clut"; Koch, "The Place of ''Y Gododdin''". Barrell, ''Medieval Scotland'', p. 44, supposes that the diocese of [[Glasgow]] established by David I in 1128 may have corresponded with the late kingdom of Strathclyde.</ref>