| Taran Mac Ainften | |
|---|---|
| King of the Picts | |
| Reign | 693–697 |
| Predecessor | Bridei III |
| Successor | Bridei IV |
| Father | Entifidich |
Taran Mac Ainften was aKing of the Picts from 693 until 697,[1] according to the Pictish king-lists. His name is the same as that of the Celtic thunder-god,Taranis.[2]
His father is just a name, which occurs in various forms, e.g.,Entifidich in thePoppleton Manuscript,[3]Enfidaig,[4]Amfredech,[5]Anfudeg,[6] and asAmfodech in the French king-list embedded in theScalacronica.[7] The list inNational Library of Scotland MS, Advocates' 34.7.3,[8] seems to say that Taran was the brother of KingNechtan mac Der-Ilei,[9] which could mean that Taran's mother was the Pictish princessDer-Ilei. However, the latter list is problematic and places the reign of KingBridei IV, Nechtan's brother, after Nechtan; on the other hand, the list is one of those that is aware that Bridei was the son ofDargart mac Finguine, indicating access to material not available to some of the other lists.[10]
Some of the king lists say he reigned for fourteen years; however, thePoppleton manuscript andLebor Bretnach lists,[11] along with theScalacronica list, give four years only,[12] so thex may be a mistake. He was almost certainly succeeded by Bruide, the son of Dargart and Der-Ilei, although in what circumstances, it is hard to say.
Entries from theIrish annals, whichAlan Orr Anderson suggested may be related to this Taran, are a report in theAnnals of Ulster reporting "the killing of Ainfthech and Nia Néill and the sons of Boendo",[13] where Ainfthech may be Taran's father,[14] and then Taran's deposition in 696,[15][16] and finally the report in theAnnals of Ulster that "Tarachin went to Ireland" in 698.[17][18][19]
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of the Picts 693–697 | Succeeded by |
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