Talorcan son of Drestan
Background
The Annals of Ulster record for the year 713 that Talorcan was "bound" by his brother, the Pictish king Naiton son of Der-Ilei.{{sfn|Clancy|2004|p=133}} As Naiton's father was Dargart mac Finguine, this implies that Talorcan was the son of Naiton's mother Der-Ilei, who was probably a daughter or sister of the earlier Pictish king Bridei son of Beli.{{sfn|Clancy|2004|pp=134-135}} Talorcan's father Drestan was probably also a king of Atholl, or at least a member of its royal line.{{sfn|Clancy|2004|p=135}} Talorcan may have been making a bid for the Pictish kingship in 713, as indicated by a further entry for the year in the Annals of Ulster recording the death of another of Naiton's brothers Ciniod son of Der-Ilei.{{sfn|Clancy|2004|p=135}}
Talorcan was "completely bound" in 734 near Dunollie, the stronghold of Cenél Loairn, then under the control of Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig; before being drowned in 739 by the Pictish king Onuist son of Uurguist.{{sfn|Fraser|2009|p=298}} Both the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach explicitly describe Talorcan as rex Athfoitle or King of Atholl at his death.{{sfn|Fraser|2009|p=253}}
References
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Bibliography
- {{cite journal |last1=Clancy |first1=Thomas Owen |date=2004 |title=Philosopher-king: Nechtan mac Der Ilei |journal=Scottish Historical Review |volume=83 |issue=2 |pages=125-149 |doi=10.3366/shr.2004.83.2.125 }}
- {{cite book |last=Fraser |first=James |year=2009 |title=From Caledonia to Pictland: Scotland to 795 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9780748612321 }}