Editing Eochaid ab Rhun (section)

== Legacy ==
[[File:St Fillan's Hill - geograph.org.uk - 945328.jpg|thumb|right|Photograph of the site of the mediaeval fortress of [[Dundurn, Scotland|Dundurn]], said to be the site of Giric's last stand. One possibility is that Eochaid perished with Giric here.]]

Although the apparent reigns of Eochaid and Giric are obscure and uncertain, Giric eventually came to remembered as a legendary figure, credited as the liberator of the Gaelic Church from the Picts,<ref>[[#B7|Broun (2015d)]]; [[#W8|Walker (2013)]] ch. 1 ¶ 48; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 120, 320; [[#B10|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] p. 206.</ref> and the architect of military conquests of Ireland and England.<ref>[[#B7|Broun (2015d)]]; [[#T3|Terrell (2011)]] p. 338, 338 n. 50; [[#C2|Charles-Edwards (2008)]] pp. 177, 179; [[#B10|Broun (2004c)]]; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120; [[#V1|Veitch (1998)]] p. 211; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] p. 206; [[#C6|Clancy (1996)]] p. 125; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] pp. 364–365, 365 n. 2; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 151, 174, 204, 288, 301, 305.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The fortress of Dundurn sits near [[Loch Earn]].<ref name="W2-12055">[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120 n. 55.</ref> The name of this body of water is derived from the Gaelic {{lang|mga|Éire}} or {{lang|mga|Éireann}}, which refer to Ireland.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120 n. 55; [[#W9|Watson (2002)]] pp. 175, 183.</ref> This derivation could indicate that the claims of Giric's military conquest of Ireland actually refer to the region of [[Strathearn]].<ref name="W2-12055"/> Another source that may cast light upon this era is the ''Dunkeld Litany''. Although parts of this liturgical text date to the post-mediaeval period,<ref name="W2-120"/> it is possible that others preserve an authentic contemporary core.<ref>[[#E3|Edmonds (2015)]] p. 60; [[#H9|Hudson, B (2014)]] p. 89; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120; [[#C6|Clancy (1996)]] p. 121.</ref> At one point, the litany implores God to protect Giric from his enemies and grant him a long life.<ref>[[#H9|Hudson, B (2014)]] p. 89; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 120; [[#V1|Veitch (1998)]] pp. 198, 207; [[#C6|Clancy (1996)]] p. 122; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] p. 206; [[#W5|Wormald (1996)]] pp. 142, 150; [[#H6|Haddan; Stubbs (1873)]] p. 283; [[#F1|Forbes (1872)]] p. xliii.</ref>|group=note}} Eochaid, on the other hand, is only attested by the ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'' and ''The Prophecy of Berchán''.<ref>[[#H10|Hudson, BT (2002)]] p. 49; [[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] p. 206.</ref> Unlike Giric, later mediaeval king-lists and chronicles fail to include Eochaid within their accounts of [[Scottish history]].<ref>[[#H10|Hudson, BT (2002)]] p. 49.</ref> In fact, Eochaid, and the later Alpínid [[Amlaíb, King of Scotland|Amlaíb mac Illuilb, King of Alba]], are the only Scottish kings not noted by the king-lists.<ref>[[#H11|Hudson, BT (1990)]] p. 107 n. 21.</ref> The window within which Eochaid and Giric appear to have reigned marks the only point between the careers of Cináed and [[Malcolm II of Scotland|Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Alba]] that a patrilineal Alpínid is not known to have ruled the Pictish/Alban realm.<ref>[[#B13|Broun (2015b)]] p. 187; [[#L1|Lynch (1991)]] p. 42.</ref>

Eochaid is unattested after his apparent expulsion in 889,<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 9 ¶ 3.</ref> and the date of his death is unrecorded<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 123; [[#M1|Macquarrie (1998)]] pp. 13–14; [[#M8|Macquarrie (1990)]] p. 8.</ref> and unknown.<ref>[[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] p. 163 tab. 1a.</ref> According to various king-lists, Giric was slain at [[Dundurn, Scotland|Dundurn]].<ref>[[#H9|Hudson, B (2014)]] p. 99; [[#K2|Konstam (2010)]] p. 36; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] pp. 120 n. 55, 125; [[#C6|Clancy (1996)]] p. 125; [[#A5|Alcock; Alcock; Driscoll (1989)]] pp. 192–194; [[#D8|Driscoll, ST (1987)]] pp. 178–179, 193; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] pp. 151, 174, 178, 288, 301.</ref>{{#tag:ref|''The Prophecy of Berchán'' associates Giric with a "strong house" on the banks of the Earn. This might also refer to the fortress of Dundurn.<ref>[[#H3|Hudson, BT (1996)]] pp. 45 § 139, 86 § 139, 206–207; [[#A3|Anderson, AO (1930)]] p. 41 § 137; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 367; [[#S5|Skene (1886)]] p. 330 n. 107; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 88.</ref> If the association of Giric with Dundurn is accurate, it would appear to demonstrate that the fortress was Giric's power base,<ref>[[#G2|Grant (2000)]] p. 97.</ref> and served as a royal site.<ref>[[#A5|Alcock; Alcock; Driscoll (1989)]] p. 194.</ref>|group=note}} Evidence of extensive burning at the site may relate to this event, and may mark the end of the fort's use.<ref>[[#D9|Driscoll, ST (2001b)]].</ref>{{#tag:ref|The destruction of Al Clud in the 870s marks the last time that this fortress appears on record until the thirteenth century.<ref>[[#C23|Clancy (2009)]] p. 28; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 109; [[#D14|Driscoll, ST (2003)]] p. 81; [[#D15|Driscoll, ST (2001a)]]; [[#D1|Duncan (1996)]] p. 90.</ref> One possibility is that the site was discredited by its fall, and came to be regarded as unsuitable to the ruling dynasty thereafter.<ref>[[#O6|Oram (2008)]] p. 169; [[#D23|Driscoll, ST (1998b)]] p. 40.</ref> Such degradation may explain the apparent abandonment of Dundurn.<ref>[[#O6|Oram (2008)]] p. 169.</ref>|group=note}} If the accounts of Giric's downfall are to be believed, and if both he and Eochaid were allied together at the time, it is conceivable that both Eochaid and Giric fell together.<ref>[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 26; [[#W1|Williams; Smyth; Kirby (1991)]] p. 143.</ref> Alternately, Giric's killing could have contributed to Eochaid's ejection from the kingship.<ref>[[#W8|Walker (2013)]] ch. 1 ¶ 48.</ref> Although it is unknown who was responsible for Giric's reported demise, one candidate is the succeeding Domnall.<ref>[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. 3 ¶ 26; [[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 125; [[#W1|Williams; Smyth; Kirby (1991)]] p. 143.</ref> Alternately, Domnall's path to throne could have been paved by magnates who afterwards sent for him.<ref>[[#W2|Woolf (2007)]] p. 125.</ref>

[[File:Dyfnwal, King of the Britons (Lat. 4126, folio 29r).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Refer to caption|The title of [[Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde]], a possible descendant of Eochaid, as it appears on folio 29r of Paris Bibliothèque Nationale Latin 4126: "{{lang|la|rex Britanniorum}}".<ref>[[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] p. 150; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 9; [[#L2|''Lat. 4126'' (n.d.)]] fol. 29v.</ref>]]

Certainly, nothing is recorded concerning the kingship of Strathclyde until the turn of the tenth century, when the ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'' notes the passing of a certain [[Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde]].<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 9 ¶ 4; [[#D4|Downham (2007)]] p. 163; [[#D20|Davidson (2002)]] p. 130; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] pp. 150, 156–157; [[#A1|Anderson, AO (1922)]] p. 445; [[#S3|Skene (1867)]] p. 9.</ref> Dyfnwal's parentage is uncertain. On one hand, he could have been another son of Rhun.<ref>[[#C3|Clarkson (2014)]] ch. genealogical tables; [[#C9|Charles-Edwards (2013b)]] p. 572 fig. 17.4; [[#O1|Oram (2011)]] ch. 2; [[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] chs. genealogical tables, 9 ¶ 4; [[#B4|Broun (2004d)]] p. 135 tab.</ref> On the other hand, he could have been descended from Eochaid:<ref>[[#H2|Hudson, BT (1998)]] p. 157 n. 39.</ref> either as a son<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 9 ¶ 4; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] pp. 56, 72, 173 genealogy 6; [[#C14|Collingwood (1920)]] pp. 56 tab., 58.</ref> or grandson. Alternately, Dyfnwal could have represented a more distant branch of the same dynasty.<ref>[[#C7|Clarkson (2010)]] ch. 9 ¶ 4.</ref> Eochaid may have also had a daughter, Lann, the wife of [[Niall Glúndub]] attested by the ''[[Great Book of Lecan]]'' version of the twelfth century ''[[Banshenchas]]''.<ref>[[#B9|Bartrum (2009)]] p. 286; [[#C8|Clancy (2006b)]]; [[#B8|Bhreathnach (2005)]] p. 270; [[#H7|Hudson, BT (2004b)]]; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] pp. 56, 171 genealogy 4, 173 genealogy 6, 174 n. 6; [[#D5|Dobbs (1931)]] p. 188.</ref> As such, if the ''Banshenchas'' is to be believed, a maternal grandson of Eochaid was Lann's son, [[Muirchertach mac Néill]].<ref>[[#B9|Bartrum (2009)]] p. 286; [[#H8|Hudson, BT (2006)]]; [[#B8|Bhreathnach (2005)]] p. 270; [[#H7|Hudson, BT (2004b)]]; [[#H4|Hudson, BT (1994)]] p. 171 genealogy 4; [[#D5|Dobbs (1931)]] p. 188.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Nevertheless, this version of the ''Banshenchas'' and others also state that Muirchertach's mother was Ailinn, daughter of [[Ainbíth mac Áeda, King of Dál Fiatach]].<ref>[[#B8|Bhreathnach (2005)]] p. 270; [[#D5|Dobbs (1931)]] pp. 187, 226; [[#D11|Dobbs (1930)]] pp. 312, 336.</ref>|group=note}}