| Donald II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| King of the Picts /King of Alba | |
| Reign | 889 – April 900 |
| Predecessor | Giric |
| Successor | Constantine II |
| Born | c. 30 June 862Fordoun,Aberdeenshire |
| Died | April 900 Forres,Moray |
| Burial | |
| Issue | Malcolm I of Scotland |
| House | Alpin |
| Father | Causantín mac Cináeda, King of the Picts |
Domnall mac Causantín (Modern Gaelic:Dòmhnall mac Chòiseim, IPA:[ˈt̪oːvnəɫ̪ˈmaʰkˈxoːʃɪm]),[1]anglicised asDonald II (died 900), wasKing of the Picts orKing of Alba in the late 9th century. He was the son ofConstantine I (Causantín mac Cináeda). Donald is given theepithetDásachtach, "the Madman", byThe Prophecy of Berchán.[2]
Donald usurped the throne from his cousin,Giric in 889 who killed his uncle Àed Mac Cináeda(r. 877–879). He continuously fought the Vikings in The North, winning victories but would be killed in 900 at war, possibly against KingHarald Fairhair. He was succeeded by his cousin Caustantín Mac Àeda (Constantine II)
Donald became king on the death or deposition ofGiric (Giric mac Dúngail), the date of which is not certainly known but usually placed in 889. TheChronicle of the Kings of Alba reports:
Doniualdus son of Constantini held the kingdom for 11 years [889–900]. TheNorthmen wastedPictland at this time. In his reign, a battle occurred between Danes and Scots at Innisibsolian where the Scots had victory. He was killed at Opidum Fother [modernDunnottar] by the Gentiles.[3]
It has been suggested that the attack onDunnottar, rather than being a small raid by a handful of pirates, may be associated with the ravaging ofScotland attributed toHarald Fairhair in theHeimskringla.[4] The Prophecy of Berchán places Donald's death at Dunnottar, but appears to attribute it to Gaels rather than Norsemen; other sources report he died atForres.[5] Donald's death is dated to 900 by theAnnals of Ulster and theChronicon Scotorum, where he is calledking of Alba, rather thanking of the Picts. He was buried onIona. Like his father, Constantine, he died a violent death at a premature age.
The change fromking of the Picts toking of Alba is seen as indicating a step towards thekingdom of the Scots, but historians, while divided as to when this change should be placed, do not generally attribute it to Donald in view of his epithet.[6] The consensus view is that the key changes occurred in the reign ofConstantine II (Causantín mac Áeda),[7] but the reign ofGiric has also been proposed.[8]
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba has Donald succeeded by his cousin Constantine II. Donald's sonMalcolm (Máel Coluim mac Domnall) was later king as Malcolm I. The Prophecy of Berchán appears to suggest that another king reigned for a short while between Donald II and Constantine II, saying "half a day will he take sovereignty". Possible confirmation of this exists in the Chronicon Scotorum, where the death of "Ead, king of the Picts" in a battle against theUí Ímair is reported in 904. This, however, is thought to be an error, referring perhaps toÆdwulf, the ruler ofBernicia, whose death is reported in 913 by the otherIrish annals.[9]
Donald II of Scotland | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Alba 889–900 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
