Kings, Mormaers, Rebels: Early Scotland's Other Royal Family

by John Marsden

Following the ancestral trail of the Cenél Loairn and its descendents through more than 600 years to illuminate the emergence of the medieval kingdom of the Scots, this well-researched study throws an unfamiliar light on one of the principal dynastic kindreds of Dalriada, the embryonic kingdom of the Scots in Argyll. Describing how Cenél Loairn displaced the Cenél nGabráin as kings of the north, achieving their pinnacle of ascendancy when Macbeth seized the high kingships of Scots in 1040, only to be thrown into terminal decline at his death—and that of his kinsman and successor Lulach—which prompted the resurgence of the Cenél nGabráin, this intensive discourse reveals a sequence of rebellions, kingships, and downfalls, that continued well into the second quarter of the 13th century, and formed the fascinating history of medieval Scotland.

Genres: History, Scotland

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

John Marsden is the author of a number of books on the early history of Scotland and Northumbria, including Somerled and Galloglas. In recent years he has made his home in the Western Isles of Scotland.

Reviews

[Ross Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent attempt to shed light on what is a very misunderstood and fragmentary period of Scottish history. However, herein lies a problem. The sources are so limited and fragmentary that the resulting book requires so much supposition, ‘what ifs’ and alternatives, and as such, can get a little bogged down in these and genealogies. However, it is difficult to see how this can be otherwise.
The earlier chapters are more hard going where they discuss the Cenel Loarn before they find more secure historical footing in Moray. Thereafter the discussion is on more secure footing discussing MacBeth, his immediate forebears and successors. There’s some good insight and research here. The issue of how and where to end the discussion is fudged a little, as it is unclear how relevant later risings following the death of Angus of Moray are. These are better discussed elsewhere in other works.
The book still stands up but could do with a little revision in early chapters, particularly considering the now accepted location of Fortriu in the north.
A fine read.