Editing Cuilén (section)

== Clann Áeda meic Cináeda power centre ==
[[File:Cuilén mac Illuilb (Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 489, folio 33r) 2.jpg|thumb|right|The title accorded to Cuilén on folio 33r of Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 489.<ref>[[#T2|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2012)]] § 971.1; [[#T1|''The Annals of Ulster'' (2008)]] § 971.1; [[#B14|''Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 489'' (n.d.)]].</ref> Cuilén's patrilineal ancestor Áed mac Cináeda – eponym of Clann Áed meic Cináeda – is the last king to be accorded the Latin title ''[[rex Pictorum]]'' ("king of the Picts").<ref>[[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] pp. 251–252; [[#B19|Broun (2007)]] p. 72; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 340.</ref> Scottish kings were afterwards styled in Gaelic ''[[rí Alban]]'' ("king of Alba").<ref>[[#B18|Broun (2015a)]] pp. 120, 122–123; [[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] p. 252.</ref>]]

The rotating succession of the Alpínid dynasty was similar to that practiced in [[Gaelic Ireland|Ireland]] by the [[Northern Uí Néill|Cenél nEógain]] and [[Clann Cholmáin]] branches of the [[Uí Néill]], a dominant Irish kindred that monopolised the [[kingship of Tara]] between the eighth and tenth centuries.<ref>[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] p. 274; [[#W4|Woolf (2009)]] p. 258; [[#B10|Broun (2001)]]; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 223–224; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 152–154.</ref> This alternation amongst the Uí Néill was facilitated by the considerable distance between the two segments. The inability of either branch to dominate the other, and therefore cut off their rivals from key resources, enabled such a rotating scheme to succeed.<ref>[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] p. 274; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 223–224; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 153–154.</ref>

[[File:Cast of hogback stone, Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow - DSC06243.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Photograph of a hogback sculpted tombstone|A [[Hogback (sculpture)|hogback]] grave slab on display in [[Glasgow]]. Such monuments may be indicative of Scandinavian settlement in [[Perthshire]] and [[Fife]]. The aforesaid evidence of Scandinavian influence upon Cuilén's immediate family could indicate that his kindred was involved with such immigration.<ref name="B1XXX"/>]]

The similarities between the regulated Irish and Scottish successions suggest that the power centres of the two Alpínid branches were also separated.<ref>[[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 224; [[#R2|Ross, AD (2003)]] pp. 140–141; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 154.</ref> By the early eleventh century, after the final fall of Clann Áeda meic Cináeda, the opposing Clann Custantín meic Cináeda branch faced challenges to the kingship from the [[Province of Moray|Moray]]-based [[Clann Ruaidrí (Moray)|Clann Ruaidrí]].<ref name="Ruaidrí1">[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] pp. 274–275; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 224; [[#R2|Ross, AD (2003)]] pp. 140–141; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 154–157.</ref>{{#tag:ref|It is possible that Clann Ruaidrí possessed a matrilineal link with Clann Áeda meic Cináeda, a familial connection with the Alpínids that may have enabled members of Clann Ruaidrí to launch bids for the kingship.<ref>[[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] p. 183; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 240–241; [[#R2|Ross, AD (2003)]] p. 141; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 154–155.</ref> The first certain member of this kindred to appear on record is [[Findláech mac Ruaidrí]] in 1020.<ref>[[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 154.</ref> It is possible that this man's father – the eponymous Ruaidrí – or grandfather married a member of Clann Áeda meic Cináeda.<ref>[[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 155.</ref>|group=note}} This could indicate that Clann Áeda meic Cináeda was similarly seated north of the [[Mounth]] in Moray, with the power base of Clann Custantín meic Cináeda situated in the south.<ref>[[#T4|Taylor (2016)]] p. 8; [[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] pp. 274–275; [[#R1|Ross, A (2008)]]; [[#W1|Woolf (2007)]] p. 224; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] pp. 154–157.</ref> That the latter kindred was hostile to the men of the north may be evidenced by the record of Máel Coluim mac Domnaill's invasion of Moray preserved by the ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba''.<ref>[[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 157; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1994)]] pp. 150–158; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 452; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 10.</ref> Furthermore, both this dynast and his son, Dub, are stated by ''Chronica gentis Scotorum'' to have been killed by Moravians.<ref>[[#R2|Ross, AD (2003)]] p. 143; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 157; [[#S2|Skene (1872)]] pp. 159–161; [[#S1|Skene (1871)]] pp. 167–169.</ref> In contrast to these records of conflict, there is no evidence of hostility between Clann Áeda meic Cináeda and the men of Moray.<ref>[[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] p. 183; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 157.</ref>

On the other hand, the fact that king lists locate Dub's demise to Forres might indicate that Clann Custantín meic Cináeda was instead based in the north.<ref name="branch1">[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] pp. 256, 275–276.</ref> Moreover, the fact that ''The Prophecy of Berchán'' records that Custantín mac Áeda retired to St Andrews,<ref>[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] pp. 256, 275–276; [[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] p. 183; [[#H5|Hudson, B.T. (1996)]] pp. 47 § 47, 87 § 156, 87 n. 95; [[#A4|Anderson (1930)]] p. 45 § 154; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] p. 448; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 92–93.</ref> a site where his descendants, Illulb and Cuilén, are also said to have been buried,<ref>[[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] p. 183; [[#H5|Hudson, B.T. (1996)]] p. 88, 88 n. 98, 88 n. 100; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] pp. 471, 477; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 94–95.</ref> coupled with the location of Cuilén's death in the south against the Cumbrians, could reveal that Clann Áeda meic Cináeda was centred south of the Mounth.<ref name="branch1"/> Such a location may also be evidenced by the aforesaid deaths of the Abbot of Dunkeld and the ''satrap'' of Atholl, men who seem to have fallen supporting the cause of Cuilén against Dub.<ref>[[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] p. 183; [[#H4|Hudson, B.T. (1998b)]] pp. 151, 159; [[#A1|Anderson (1922)]] pp. 472–473; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 10.</ref>