Editing Cuilén (section)

== Contested kingship and kin-strife ==
[[File:Dub mac Maíl Choluim (Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 489, folio 32v).jpg|thumb|The name of Cuilén's rival kinsman, [[Dub mac Maíl Choluim]], as it appears on folio 32v of Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 489.<ref>[[#T2|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2012)]] § 967.1; [[#T1|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008)]] § 967.1; [[#B14|''Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 489'' (n.d.)]].</ref>]]

[[File:Sueno's Stone 20080430 panels 3-4.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Photograph of an inscribed panel on Sueno's Stone|upright|Detail of inscriptions upon [[Sueno's Stone]] which may represent Dub's demise. The visible arch could represent a bridge, and the framed head under the arch may represent Dub, whose body was traditionally said to have been hidden beneath a bridge.]]

There is some uncertainty regarding the succession after Illulb's demise. On one hand, he may well have been succeeded by Máel Coluim's son, [[Dub mac Maíl Coluim|Dub]] (died 966/967).<ref>[[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] p. 258; [[#B6|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#B5|Broun (2004d)]].</ref>{{#tag:ref|Dub is the eponymous ancestor of the mediaeval [[Clann Duib]] earls of Fife.<ref>[[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 257; [[#B6|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#L1|Lynch (2001)]]; [[#B8|Bannerman (1998)]].</ref>|group=note}} Such a chronology is certainly evinced by the fourteenth century ''[[Chronica gentis Scotorum]]'' and various king lists.<ref>[[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] pp. 91, 174, note 10; [[#S2|Skene (1872)]] pp. 160–161; [[#S1|Skene (1871)]] pp. 168–169.</ref> The twelfth-century ''[[Prophecy of Berchán]]'', on the other hand, states that the kingship was temporarily shared by Dub and Cuilén. If correct, this source could indicate that neither man had been strong enough to displace the other in the immediate aftermath of Illulb's passing.<ref>[[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#H5|Hudson, B.T. (1996)]] pp. 49 § 164, 88 § 164; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] pp. 91–92; [[#A4|Anderson (1930)]] p. 47 § 162; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 474; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 95.</ref> Although the Alpínid branches represented by Illulb and Dub seem to have maintained peace throughout Illulb's reign,<ref>[[#B6|Broun (2004c)]].</ref> inter-dynastic conflict clearly erupted in the years that followed.<ref>[[#B3XXX|Broun (2015d)]]; [[#B6|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] pp. 91–92.</ref>

The ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'' may indicate that Dub spent much of his reign contending with Cuilén.<ref>[[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 157.</ref> Certainly, this source states that the two battled each other on ''Dorsum Crup'', where Dúnchad, [[Abbot of Dunkeld]] (died 965), and [[Dubdon of Atholl|Dubdon, ''satrap'' of Atholl]] (died 965) were slain.<ref>[[#W7|Walker (2013)]] chs. 2, 4; [[#C7|Clarkson (2012)]] ch. 10; [[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] p. 183; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 199, 201–202; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 20; [[#D3|Dumville (2000)]] p. 77; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 260–261; [[#H4|Hudson, B.T. (1998b)]] pp. 145, 151, 159; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1994)]] p. 92; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] pp. 472–473; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 10.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The account of Dub and Cuilén identifies these men as ''Niger'' and ''Caniculus'' respectively. These are literal [[Latinisation of names|Latinisations]] of their names which in turn mean "black" and "little dog".<ref>[[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 92, 199–200, 202; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 20; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] pp. 472–473, 472 nn. 5–6; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 10.</ref> The chronicler's employment of such Latinisations, including the term ''satrap'', seems to be an example of pride in his volubility with [[Latin]].<ref name="W1-202">[[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 202.</ref> The latter term appears to refer to a ''[[mormaer]]''.<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2012)]] ch. 9; [[#C6|Charles-Edwards (2006)]] vol. 1 p. 212 n. 3; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 260–261.</ref> ''The Prophecy of Berchán'' identifies Cuilén and Dub in Gaelic as ''fionn'' and ''dubh'', meaning "white" and black".<ref>[[#H1|Hudson, B.T. (1998a)]] p. 66; [[#H5|Hudson, B.T. (1996)]] pp. 49 § 164, 88 § 164; [[#A4|Anderson (1930)]] p. 47 § 162; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 474; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 95.</ref>|group=note}} The battle seems to have taken place at [[Duncrub]],<ref>[[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 2; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 202; [[#B4|Broun (2004b)]]; [[#B6|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92.</ref> possibly the same site as the first-century [[Battle of Mons Graupius]].<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2012)]] ch. 1; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 202; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92.</ref> The conflict itself is attested by the fifteenth–sixteenth century ''[[Annals of Ulster]]'' in 965, in an entry recording Dúnchad's fall in a clash between the men of Alba.<ref>[[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#T2|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2012)]] § 965.4; [[#T1|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008)]] § 965.4; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 202; [[#D3|Dumville (2000)]] p. 77; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1994)]] p. 92; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 471.</ref> Although the ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'' states that Dub attained the victory, the same source reports that he was later expelled from the kingdom.<ref>[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] p. 275; [[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 199, 202; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 20; [[#D3|Dumville (2000)]] p. 77; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1998b)]] pp. 151, 159; [[#H5|Hudson, B.T. (1996)]] p. 88 n. 99; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] pp. 472–473; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 10.</ref> ''The Annals of Ulster'' reports Dub's death in 967.<ref>[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] p. 275; [[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#T2|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2012)]] § 967.1; [[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#T1|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008)]] § 967.1; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 196, 200, 202; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 21; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 472.</ref> According to the so-called "X" group of king lists, Dub was killed at [[Forres]] and his body was hidden under a bridge at [[Kinloss, Scotland|Kinloss]] during a [[solar eclipse]].<ref name="D2-21">[[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 21.</ref> The account of Dub's death preserved by the fifteenth century ''[[Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland]]'',<ref>[[#H4|Hudson, B.T. (1998b)]] pp. 159–160 n. 64; [[#A3|Amours (1906)]] pp. 192–195; [[#L2|Laing (1872)]] pp. 92–93.</ref> and ''Chronica gentis Scotorum'' also associate the king's fall with an eclipse.<ref>[[#H4|Hudson, B.T. (1998b)]] pp. 159–160 n. 64; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92; [[#S2|Skene (1872)]] pp. 160–161; [[#S1|Skene (1871)]] pp. 168–169.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The account preserved by ''Chronica gentis Scotorum'' relates that Dub was murdered in his bed,<ref>[[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 203; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1994)]] p. 92; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 473 n. 3; [[#S2|Skene (1872)]] pp. 160–161; [[#S1|Skene (1871)]] pp. 168–169.</ref> and is seemingly the inspiration behind the fictive murder of Duncan by [[Macbeth (character)|Macbeth]], portrayed in the second act of ''[[Macbeth]]'', an early modern [[Shakespearean tragedy|tragedy]] composed by the English playwright [[William Shakespeare]] (died 1616).<ref>[[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 203, n. 38.</ref>|group=note}} If these sources are to be believed, Dub would seem to have fallen before the solar eclipse of 20 July 966.<ref>[[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 21; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 473 n. 3.</ref>

There is reason to suspect that the inscriptions displayed upon [[Sueno's Stone]], alongside the Kinloss road at Forres, commemorate the final defeat and death of Dub.<ref>[[#H3|Hudson, B (2014)]] pp. 177–178; [[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#C7|Clarkson (2012)]] ch. 9; [[#B6|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#F1|Foster (2004)]] p. 111; [[#S5|Sellar (1993)]] pp. 112–114; [[#D4|Duncan (1984)]] p. 140.</ref> One of the panels of this remarkable monument appears to show corpses and heads lying under an arch which may well represent a bridge. One of the heads is framed, which may be that of Dub himself.<ref>[[#F1|Foster (2004)]] p. 111; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 21; [[#S5|Sellar (1993)]] pp. 112–113; [[#D4|Duncan (1984)]] p. 140.</ref> Although the stone does not appear to make reference to an eclipse, it is possible that such an event was inserted into the traditional account as a means to improve the tale. If so, the aforesaid date recorded by the ''Annals of Ulster'' may well be correct.<ref name="D2-21"/> The chronology of Dub's death could be evidence that his downfall came after Cuilén's consolidation of the kingship.<ref>[[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 200.</ref> Although it is conceivable that Dub was slain in favour of his successor,<ref>[[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] p. 258; [[#K1|Koch (2006)]]; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 21; [[#B8|Bannerman (1998)]] p. 21.</ref> this may not necessarily have been the case<ref name="B3XXX;H2-92">[[#B3XXX|Broun (2015d)]]; [[#H2|Hudson, B.T. (1994)]] p. 92.</ref> – certainly Cuilén is not stated to have been responsible for his death<ref name="D2-20"/> – and it is possible that events transpired without Cuilén's interference.<ref name="B3XXX;H2-92"/>