The Philosopher King and the Pictish Nation

by Julianna Grigg

Overview

The political climate of early medieval northern Britain was dynamic. Throughout the 7th and 8th centuries, identifiable kingdoms came into prominence and new ideas on political governance promoted territorial consolidation. Among these kingdoms, Pictland also underwent a political evolution. This book examines a crucial stage in the emergence of Pictland as a cohesive nation under dynastic kingship. It draws on Irish and Anglo-Saxon comparanda and archaeological evidence to offer a new perspective on the way in which power was articulated to forge national identity. Central to this narrative was a dynasty of Pictish kings whose political careers shaped the destiny of their kingdom, none more so than the philosopher king Necthon, son of Derilei, whose expansionary tactics and diplomacy married political action with the formative influence of Christianity. The book reappraises Necthon's reign to present the first comprehensive examination of this authoritative king while offering important insights into the processes that propel political consolidation. [Subject: History, Medieval Studies, Irish Studies, British Studies]

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781846825637
Publisher:	Four Courts Press
Publication date:	09/14/2015
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

A Note On Orthography 9

Acknowledgments 11

Abbreviations 13

Introduction 15

Part 1

1 Economics of power 25

The agricultural environment in transition 27

Settlement in transition 36

Units of lordship 43

Funerary practices and religious transformation 52

Conclusion 60

2 The emergent state 61

The historic horizon 62

The institution of clientage 67

Bishops and ecclesiastical organization 72

Governance and the assembly 81

The supra-regional political assembly 84

Constructing the state 92

Defining the state 94

Conclusion 98

3 The king's prerogative 99

Succession and genealogical aspirations 100

Constructing the role of a Christian theocratic monarch 105

Political identity and the origo gents Pictorum 114

The king's executive functions 122

Conclusion 133

Part 2

4 Necthon the scholar king 137

Politics in northern Britain in the early eighth century 138

Abbot Ceolfrid's letter to Necthon 150

The philosopher king 161

Conclusion 163

5 Necthon the just king 165

Ecclesiastical reform 166

Expulsion of the familia Columbae 173

Ecclesiastica Pictorum 177

Clericatus 189

Interregnal contest 192

Conclusion 196

Conclusion 197

Bibliography 202

Index 223