17 Facts About Dal Riada

Dal Riata or Dal Riada was a Gaelic kingdom that encompassed the western seaboard of Scotland and north-eastern Ireland, on each side of the North Channel.

Dal Riada Riata had a strong seafaring culture and a large naval fleet.

Dal Riada Riata is said to have been founded by the legendary king Fergus Mor in the 5th century.

Dal Riada Riata spanned the North Channel and included parts of western Scotland and northeastern Ireland.

Dal Riada Riata had a large war fleet manned by skilled sailors, capable of undertaking far-reaching expeditions.

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Columba's founding Iona within the bounds of Dal Riada Riata ensured that the kingdom would be of great importance in the spread of Christianity in northern Britain, not only to Pictland, but to Northumbria, via Lindisfarne, to Mercia, and beyond.

Bede offers a different, and probably older, account wherein Dal Riada Riata was conquered by Irish Gaels led by a certain Reuda.

Time in which Dal Riada Riata arose was one of great instability in Ulster, following the Ulaid's loss of territory to the Airgialla and the Ui Neill.

Ultimately, the Dal Riada Riata, according to the earliest genealogies, are descendants of Deda mac Sin, a prehistoric king or deity of the Erainn.

Dal Riada Riata reached its greatest extent in the reign of Aedan mac Gabrain, who was said to have been consecrated by Columba, who Aedan granted the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland.

Dal Riada Riata did expand to include Skye, possibly conquered by Aedan's son Gartnait.

Fiachnae campaigned against the Northumbrians, and besieged Bamburgh, and the Dal Riada Riatans are thought to have fought in this campaign.

Dal Riada Riata remained allied with the Northern Ui Neill until the reign of Domnall Brecc, who was persuaded by the king of Dal Riada nAraidi, Congal Caech, to renounce this alliance.

Since it has been thought that Dal Riada Riata swallowed Pictland to create the Kingdom of Alba, the later history of Dal Riada Riata has tended to be seen as a prelude to future triumphs.

Dal Riada was apparently followed by the last named king of Dal Riata Aed mac Boanta, who was killed in the great Pictish defeat of 839 at the hands of the Vikings.

In Rosemary Sutcliff's 1965 novel The Mark of the Horse Lord, the Dal Riada undergo an internal struggle for control of royal succession, and an external conflict to defend their frontiers against the Caledones.

Dal Riada Riata is a playable nation in Paradox Interactive's 4X video game Crusader Kings II.