Draft:Kenneth's conquest of Pictland

Between 839 and 843, Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Dál Riata launched a successful campaign into the Pictish Kingdom, crowning himself King of the Picts and ultimately leading to the decline of the Pictish language and culture. {{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Kenneth's Conquest of Pictland

| place = Scotland, United Kingdom

| result = Dál Riatan victory

• Gaelicisation of the Picts

| combatant1 = Dál Riata

| combatant2 = Pictland

| commander1 = Kenneth I

| commander2 = Drest X{{executed}}

| strength1 = 2,000–2,500

| strength2 = 3,000

| casualties1 = Unknown

| casualties2 = Unknown

| partof = Dark Age Wars in North Britain

| caption = King Kenneth I of Dál Riata and later of Pictland.

| date = 839-843

| territory = Dál Riata and Pictland are incorporated into the one title, known later as Alba.

}}

Background

For much of it's history, the Gaelic Kingdom of Dál Riata was dominated by it's much larger Pictish neighbor until the Battle of 839, where the Picts were crushed in a devastating defeat by Norweigan Vikings.

This led to the emergence of a power vacuum, leading to Kenneth marching an army across Pictland, besieging Stirling Castle around 842 and beating the Picts at the Battle of Forteviot.

The Irish Annals suggest that Kenneth had a claim to the Pictish throne via his mother, who was allegedly a Pictish princess, although this is somewhat uncertain. It's most likely that she was descended from the noble House of Fortriu, which had a claim to the throne.

It is unclear how Drest X was killed, but according to Legend, he was killed at a feast in Scone along with the other Pictish nobles between 841 and 848.