Editing Constantine II of Scotland (section)

== Vikings and bishops ==
[[File:NMSMonymuskReliquary2.jpg|thumb|The cult of Saint [[Columba]] and its relics were associated with victory in battle. The ''Cathbuaid'', Columba's [[crozier]] or staff, has been lost but the 8th century ''Breccbennach'' or [[Monymusk Reliquary]] shown here, which held relics of Columba, is known to have been carried into battle from the reign of King [[William the Lion]] onwards.<ref>Yorke, ''The Conversion of Britain'', pp. 190–191; Alcock, ''Kings and Warriors'', pp. 327–329; Smyth, ''Warlords and Holy Men'', p.136. See also the [[Cathach of St. Columba]], a 7th century [[psalter]] to which similar powers were attributed.</ref>]]

The earliest event recorded in the ''[[Chronicle of the Kings of Alba]]'' in Constantine's reign is an attack by Vikings and the plundering of [[Dunkeld]] "and all Albania" in his third year. This is the first use of the word Albania, the [[Latin]] form of the [[Old Irish]] ''Alba'', in the ''Chronicle'' which until then describes the lands ruled by the descendants of Cináed as Pictavia.<ref>Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', pp. 122–126; Anderson, ''Early Sources'', pp. 444–446, where Albania is translated as Scotland; Broun, "Dunkeld".</ref>

These Norsemen could have been some of those who were driven out of [[Dublin]] in 902 or were the same group who had defeated Domnall in 900. The ''Chronicle'' states that the Northmen were killed in ''Srath Erenn'', which is confirmed by the ''Annals of Ulster'' which records the death of [[Ímar ua Ímair|Ímar grandson of Ímar]] and many others at the hands of the men of Fortriu in 904. This Ímar was the first of the [[Uí Ímair]], the grandsons of Ímar, to be reported; three more grandsons of Ímar appear later in Constantín's reign. The ''[[Fragmentary Annals of Ireland]]'' contain an account of the battle, and this attributes the defeat of the Norsemen to the intercession of Saint [[Columba]] following fasting and prayer. An entry in the ''[[Chronicon Scotorum]]'' under the year 904 may possibly contain a corrupted reference to this battle.<ref>Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', pp. 127–128, 130–131; Anderson, ''Early Sources'', pp. 398, 399, 444–446; ''Annals of Ulster'', s.a. 902, 904; ''Chronicon Scotorum'', s.a. 902, 904; ''Fragmentary Annals'', FA 429.</ref>

The next event reported by the ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'' is dated to 906. This records that:
{{blockquote|King Constantine and Bishop [[Cellach I|Cellach]] met at the ''Hill of Belief'' near the royal city of [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]] and pledged themselves that the laws and disciplines of the faith, and the laws of churches and gospels, should be kept ''pariter cum Scottis''.<ref>After Anderson, ''Early Sources'', p. 445.</ref>}} The meaning of this entry, and its significance, have been the subject of debate.

[[Image:Moot hill.jpg|thumb|left|The [[moot hill]] at Scone, perhaps the ''Hill of Belief'' of 906<ref>Bannerman, "Scottish Takeover", p. 79.</ref>]]

The phrase ''pariter cum Scottis'' in the [[Latin]] text of the ''Chronicle'' has been translated in several ways. [[William Forbes Skene]] and [[Alan Orr Anderson]] proposed that it should be read as "in conformity with the customs of the Gaels", relating it to the claims in the king lists that Giric liberated the church from secular oppression and adopted Irish customs.<ref>Anderson, ''Early Sources'', p. 445, note 1; Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', p. 135. This version is followed by Smyth, ''Warlords and Holy Men'', pp. 188–189.</ref> It has been read as "together with the Gaels", suggesting either public participation or the presence of Gaels from the western coasts as well as the people of the east coast.<ref>Driscoll, p. 37, translates the phrase in this way; Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', pp. 135–136.</ref> Finally, it is suggested that it was the ceremony that followed "the custom of the Gaels" and not the agreements.<ref>Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', p. 136; see also Smyth, ''Warlords and Holy Men'', p. 188.</ref>

The idea that this gathering agreed to uphold Irish laws governing the church has suggested that it was an important step in the [[gaelicisation]] of the lands east of Druim Alban.<ref>Smyth, ''Warlords and Holy Men'', pp. 188–189, writes that "it marks the final triumph of the Gaelic order over the old Pictish order".</ref> Others have proposed that the ceremony in some way endorsed Constantine's kingship, prefiguring later royal inaugurations at Scone.<ref>Driscoll, ''Alba'', p. 37; Duncan, ''Kingship of the Scots'', pp. 15–16.</ref> Alternatively, if Bishop Cellach was appointed by Giric, it may be that the gathering was intended to heal a rift between king and church.<ref>Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', pp. 137–138.</ref>