Taran of the Picts

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Taran, son of Ainftech was a King of the Picts (692-96)^[1] according to the Pictish king-lists. His name is the same as that of the Gaulish thunder-god, Taranis.^[2]

His father is just a name, which occurs in various forms, e.g. Entifidich in the Poppleton manuscript,^[3] Enfidaig,^[4], Amfredech,^[5] Anfudeg,^[6] and as Amfodech in the French king-list embedded in the Scalacronica.^[7] The list in National Library of Scotland MS, Advocates' 34.7.3,^[8], seems to say that Taran was the brother of King Nechtan,^[9] which could mean that Taran's mother was the Pictish princess Der-Ilei. However, the latter list is problematic and places the reign of King Bruide, Nechtan's brother, after Nechtan; on the other hand, the list is one of the lists which is aware that Bruide was the son of Dargart, 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, the Poppleton and Lebor Bretnach lists,^[11] along with the Scalacronica list, give four years only,^[12] so the x 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.

[edit] Notes

^ The four year reign and the accession in 692 are chosen by Marjorie O. Anderson,, Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1973), p. 175.
^ op. cit., p. 90.
^ op. cit., p. 248.
^ op. cit., p. 263.
^ op. cit., pp. 266, 272.
^ op. cit., p. 280.
^ op. cit., p. 297.
^ =M.O. Anderson, List D; Skene, no, XXIII.
^ It writes frater eius after Taran's listing; see M.O. Anderson, op. cit. p. 266.
^ see Thomas Owen Clancy, "Philosopher-King: Nechtan mac Der-Ilei", in the Scottish Historical Review, 83, 2004, pp. 125–149.
^ Marjorie Anderson believes these lists to derive from a list kept at Abernethy; she and others believe these lists, marked by "un-gaelicized" name forms, to be more reliable; see M.O. Anderson, op. cit. pp. 77-102.
^ 'op. cit., pp. 248, 263, 297.

[edit] References

Anderson, Marjorie O., Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1973)
Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Philosopher-King: Nechtan mac Der-Ilei", in the Scottish Historical Review, 83, 2004, pp. 125–149

Preceded by Bridei map Beli	King of the Picts 692–96	Succeeded by Bruide mac Der-Ilei

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Monarchs of Scotland (Alba)

	Traditional List of Monarchs of the Picts Legendary Monarchs: Drest I • Talorc I • Nechtan I • Drest II • Galan • Drest III • Drest IV • Gartnait I • Cailtram • Talorc II • Drest V • Galam • Bridei I • Gartnait II • Nechtan II • Cinioch • Gartnait III • Bridei II • Talorc III • Talorgan I • Gartnait IV • Drest VI • Bridei III • Taran • Bridei IV • Nechtan IV • Drest VII • Alpín I • Óengus I • Bridei V • Cináed I • Alpín II • Talorgan II • Drest VIII • Conall • Caustantín • Óengus II • Drust IX • Uen • Uurad • Bridei VI • Ciniod II • Bridei VII • Drest X
something	Traditional List of Monarchs of the Scots Kenneth I • Donald I • Constantine I • Áed • Giric • Donald II • Constantine II • Malcolm I • Indulf • Dub • Cuilén • Kenneth II • Constantine III • Kenneth III • Malcolm II • Duncan I • Macbeth • Lulach • Malcolm III • Donald III • Duncan II • Donald III • Edgar • Alexander I • David I • Malcolm IV • William I • Alexander II • Alexander III • First Interregnum • John • Second Interregnum • Robert I • David II • Robert II • Robert III • James I • James II • James III • James IV • James V • Mary I • James VI* • Charles I* • Charles II • The Covenanters • The Protectorate • Charles II* • James VII* • Mary II* • William II* • Anne* * also monarch of Ireland and England