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Nechtan I of the Picts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nechtan son of Erip was a king of the Picts. The Pictish Chronicle king lists claim that he was the brother of Drest.
The king lists supply a number of epithets for Nechtan: Morbet and Celchamoth and the Latin Magnus (the Great). He is said to have reigned for twenty-four years.[1] In a rare change from a bald statement of names and years, the king lists provide a tradition linking Nechtan to the foundation of Abernethy:
"So Nectonius the Great, Wirp's son, the king of all the provinces of the Picts, offered to Saint Brigid, to the day of judgement, Abernethy, with its territories ... Now the cause of the offering was this. Nectonius, living in a life of exile, when his brother Drest expelled him to Ireland, begged Saint Brigid to beseech God for him. And she prayed for him, and said: "If thou reach thy country, the Lord will have pity on thee. Thou shalt possess in peace the kingdom of the Picts."[2]
A life of Saint Boite, after whom Monasterboice is named, claims that Buite raised Nechtan from the dead, and associated him with Kirkbuddo in Strathmore.[3]
It has been suggested that these traditions should be associated with a later Pictish king, with the very similar name of Nechtan son of Irb.[4]
Nothing else can be said of Nechtan with any certainty.
- Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500–1286, volume 1. Reprinted with corrections. Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN 1-871615-03-8
- Smyth, Alfred P. Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-1000. Reprinted, Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 1998. ISBN 0-7486-0100-7
| Preceded by Talorc I |
King of the Picts unknown |
Succeeded by Drest II |
