Editing Eochaid ab Rhun (section)

== Sources of the royal succession ==
[[File:Áed mac Cináeda (Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 489, folio 26r).jpg|thumb|left|The title of [[Áed mac Cináeda]] as it appears on folio 26r of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489 (the ''[[Annals of Ulster]]'').<ref>[[#T2|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2017)]] § 878.2; [[#T1|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008)]] § 878.2; [[#B18|''Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 489'' (n.d.)]].</ref> As far as the [[Irish annals]] are concerned, Áed was the last [[King of the Picts]]. Nevertheless, other sources report that Áed was succeeded by Eochaid and [[Giric]].<ref>[[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] pp. 251–252.</ref>]]

It is uncertain who assumed the kingship of Strathclyde after Rhun.<ref>[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 24; [[#D4|Downham (2007)]] p. 163.</ref> If Rhun and Custantín both died in 876, Eochaid could well have succeeded his father.<ref name="C7-825">[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25.</ref> Certainly, Custantín's brother, [[Áed mac Cináeda]], succeeded as [[King of the Picts]] and ruled as such upon his death two years later.<ref>[[#B6|Broun (2015a)]]; [[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 24; [[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 116; [[#B12|Broun (2004a)]]; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] pp. 54–55; [[#W1|Williams; Smyth; Kirby (1991)]] p. 4; [[#S1|Smyth (1989)]] p. 215.</ref> Whilst the ''Annals of Ulster'' reports that Áed was killed by his own companions,<ref>[[#T2|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2017)]] § 878.2; [[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 24; [[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25; [[#A2|Anderson, MO (2010)]] p. 124 n. 69; [[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25; [[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] p. 251; [[#T1|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008)]] § 878.2; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 116; [[#C1|Calise (2002)]] p. 172; [[#D3|Duncan (2002)]] p. 11; [[#B14|Broun (1997)]] p. 122, 122 n. 50; [[#W5|Wormald (1996)]] p. 149; [[#L1|Lynch (1991)]] p. 44; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 356.</ref> several [[Middle Ages|mediaeval]] king-lists state that he was slain by a certain [[Giric]].<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 116; [[#C1|Calise (2002)]] pp. 166–167, 173, 233; [[#D3|Duncan (2002)]] p. 11; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 357, 357 n. 2; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 151, 204, 288, 301, 400.</ref> Quite who reigned as king after Áed is uncertain, although there are several plausible possibilities.<ref name="C3-324">[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 24.</ref>

[[File:Barochan Cross 20120410.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photo of a stone high cross|[[Barochan Cross]], a stone [[high cross]],<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 9 ill.; [[#D19|Driscoll; O'Grady; Forsyth (2005)]]; [[#A6|Allen; Anderson (1903)]] pp. 456 fig. 475a, 458–459 fig. 475b.</ref> dating between the eighth and tenth century.<ref>[[#L3|Laing (2000)]] p. 97; [[#K7|Keppie; Newall; Alldrit et al. (1996)]] p. 41 n. 2.</ref> This British monument is an example of the so-called 'Govan School' of sculpture.<ref>[[#D19|Driscoll; O'Grady; Forsyth (2005)]]; [[#L3|Laing (2000)]] p. 97.</ref>]]

According to the ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'', Eochaid succeeded Áed and held the kingship for eleven years. The chronicle adds that it was further said that Giric also reigned during this period because he was Eochaid's {{lang|la|alumnus}}<ref name="combine1">[[#B5|Broun (2015c)]]; [[#E1|Evans (2015)]] p. 150; [[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 24; [[#A2|Anderson, MO (2010)]] p. 123; [[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25; [[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] pp. 252; [[#D4|Downham (2007)]] p. 163; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 118–119; [[#C8|Clancy (2006b)]]; [[#B10|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#B4|Broun (2004d)]] p. 127; [[#D3|Duncan (2002)]] pp. 11–12; [[#D17|Dumville, D (2000)]] p. 78; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 147 n. 8; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] pp. 149, 154–155, 155 n. 26; [[#M1|Macquarrie (1998)]] p. 13, 13 n. 3; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] p. 206; [[#S1|Smyth (1989)]] p. 216; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] pp. 10–11; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] pp. 363–364, 364 n. 1; [[#C14|Collingwood (1920)]] p. 58; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 9.</ref> ("foster father",<ref>[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 24; [[#A2|Anderson, MO (2010)]] p. 123; [[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25; [[#B10|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#D3|Duncan (2002)]] pp. 11–12; [[#D17|Dumville, D (2000)]] p. 78; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] p. 141, 155, 155 n. 26; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] p. 206; [[#S1|Smyth (1989)]] p. 217; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 364, 364 n. 1.</ref> "guardian")<ref name="C3-324"/> and {{lang|la|ordinator}}<ref name="combine1"/> ("guardian",<ref>[[#A2|Anderson, MO (2010)]] p. 123; [[#B10|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#S1|Smyth (1989)]] p. 217; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 364.</ref> "governor",<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 8 ¶ 25; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120.</ref> or "king-maker").<ref name="W2-120">[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120.</ref> A solar eclipse is also noted during their reigns—an event dated to the [[feast day|feast]] of St Ciricius—and the two are stated to have been ejected from the kingdom.<ref name="combine1"/>

The chronicle reports that [[Áed Findliath|Áed Findliath mac Néill]] died in the second year of Eochaid's reign. Since Áed indeed expired in 879, the chronicle's chronology is evidently accurate for the outset of Eochaid's reign.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 118–119.</ref> As for the eclipse, the chronicle appears to place it in the context of the final year of Eochaid's kingship.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 118–119; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] p. 10.</ref> Nevertheless, it is clear that the eclipse is identical to that which took place on 16 June 885,<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 119; [[#C8|Clancy (2006b)]]; [[#B10|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#D17|Dumville, D (2000)]] p. 78; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] pp. 134, 155 n. 27; [[#M2|McCarthy; Breen (1997)]] p. 16; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] p. 10; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 364 n. 3.</ref> as 16 June is certainly the feast day of at least one saint named Ciricius.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 119; [[#T9|Thurston; Attwater (1990)]] pp. xviii, 553; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] p. 10; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 364 n. 3; [[#S12|Stokes (1895)]] p. 117; [[#C24|''Ciric the Child Martyr'' (n.d.)]].</ref>{{#tag:ref|The feast day is that of [[Cyricus and Julitta|St Cyricus]], a fourth-century [[child martyr]] who was executed with his mother, Julitta, in [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]].<ref>[[#F3|Farmer (2004)]] § Cyricus and Julitta; [[#T9|Thurston; Attwater (1990)]] pp. xviii, 553; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] p. 10; [[#F1|Forbes (1872)]] p. 117; [[#C24|''Ciric the Child Martyr'' (n.d.)]].</ref> This saint's name likely lies behind the historic Scottish place name of Lungyrg, now [[Kinneff]] and [[Catterline]];<ref>[[#T8|Taylor (1998)]] p. 20.</ref> and of Ecclesgrieg, now known as [[St Cyrus]].<ref>[[#C10|Clancy (2013)]] p. 20; [[#T8|Taylor (1998)]] p. 20; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] p. 10; [[#C24|''Ciric the Child Martyr'' (n.d.)]].</ref> The handful of known dedications to St Cyricus in England, Scotland, and Wales probably date to the eighth century.<ref>[[#C10|Clancy (2013)]] p. 20.</ref> It is possible that Giric regarded him as his [[patron saint]].<ref>[[#J2|Jackson (2008)]] p. 48; [[#C26|Cowan (1981)]] p. 10; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 364 n. 3; [[#C24|''Ciric the Child Martyr'' (n.d.)]].</ref>|group=note}} Since the dates given by the chronicle and the ''Annals of Ulster'' show that there was an eleven-year gap between the previous reign and the next, it is evident that the eclipse indeed occurred in the midst of Eochaid's reign.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 119.</ref> The chronicle's inconsistency in regard to the eclipse may owe itself to an attempt to increase the dramatic effect of the regime change by associating a remarkable astronomical event with Eochaid's expulsion.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 119; [[#C8|Clancy (2006b)]].</ref>

Other than the chronicle, the only source to associate both Eochaid and Giric as kings is the twelfth century ''[[The Prophecy of Berchán]]''.<ref>[[#A2|Anderson, MO (2010)]] p. 123; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] pp. 44–45 §§ 134–140, 85–86 §§ 134–140; [[#A3|Anderson, AO (1930)]] pp. 40–42 §§ 132–138; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] pp. 366–367; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 87–88.</ref> According to the latter, Eochaid ruled as king for thirteen years until he was expelled and succeeded by Giric (described as "the son of fortune").<ref>[[#M1|Macquarrie (1998)]] p. 13; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] pp. 44–45 §§ 134–140, 85–86 §§ 134–140; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] pp. 55–57; [[#M8|Macquarrie (1990)]] p. 7; [[#A3|Anderson, AO (1930)]] pp. 40–42 §§ 132–138; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] pp. 366–367, 366 n. 3; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 87–88.</ref> The discrepancies between the two sources may partly stem from an ethnic bias. Certainly, ''The Prophecy of Berchán'' is critical of Eochaid's British heritage whilst Giric is celebrated as a [[Scottish people|Scot]].<ref>[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 25; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] p. 154 n. 23; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] pp. 55–56; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] pp. 44–45 §§ 134–140, 85–86 §§ 134–140; [[#A3|Anderson, AO (1930)]] pp. 40–42 §§ 132–138; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] pp. 366–367; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 87–88.</ref>