Kenneth I of Scotland

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Kenneth I
Posthumous painting by Jacob de Wet II, c. 1685
King of Scots
Reign	843 — 13 February 858
Predecessor	Title established
Successor	Donald I
King of the Picts
Reign	843 — 13 February 858
Predecessor	Drest X
Successor	Donald I
King of Dál Riata
Reign	841 — 850
Predecessor	Alpin II
Successor	Title disestablished
Born	c. 810 Iona, Scotland
Died	13 February 858(858-02-13) (aged 47–48) Forteviot, Perth and Kinross, Scotlan
Burial	Iona Abbey
Issue	Constantine I, King of Scots Aed, King of Scots Máel Muire ingen Cináeda Unknown daughter
Full name Cináeda mac Ailpín
House	Alpin
Father	Alpin II, King of Dalriada
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Cináeda mac Ailpín (Modern Gaelic: Coinneach mac Ailpein; c. 810 — 13 February 858) often known as Kenneth I and nicknamed the Conqueror (Scottish Gaelic: an Conqueror) was the King of Scotland from 843 until his death in 858. He was also the King of the Picts from 843 to 858 and the King of Dál Riata from 841 until the disestablishment of the title in 850. He was the first Scottish king. However, according to Scottish mythology, he was the sixty-ninth Scottish king. However, there is little evidence to prove this.

He inherited the throne of Dál Riata from his father, Alpin II (Alpin mac Echdach), founder of the Alpínid dynasty. Kenneth conquered the kingdom of the Picts in 843 after defeating the Pictish king, Drest X. Kenneth became the fist Pictish king to rule under the Alpínid dynasty. He started a campaign to conquer all of Scotland and assimilate the Picts which eventually gave him his nickname, "the Conqueror". Forteviot became the capital of his kingdom. He fought of the Britons of the Kingdom of Strathclyde and the Vikings where he kicked both of their troops off of Scotland and where Kenneth eventually defeated them. Kenneth also relocated relics including the Stone of Scone from Iona Abbey in Iona to his new domain.

Kenneth was one of Europe's most powerful rulers and was considered one of Scotland's greatest kings during his time. Because of his reputation as one of Scotland's greatest kings, he became an important figure in Scottish history. He managed to put down rebellions and invasions from other kingdoms such as the Vikings. He was the first King of Scotland. He unified the Gaels with the Picts, thus, he formed a united kingdom of Scotland.