Cuilén (also Culén, Cuilean, anglicised Colin; died 971) was an early King of Alba (Scotland). He was a son of Illulb mac Custantín (Indulf), King of Alba, after whom he is known by the patronymic mac Illuilb (also mac Iduilb, mac Ilduilb etc.) of Clann Áeda meic Cináeda, a branch of the Alpínid dynasty.
During the 10th century, the Alpínids rotated the kingship of Alba between two main dynastic branches. Dub mac Maíl Choluim, a member of a rival branch of the kindred, seems to have succeeded after Indulf's death in 962. Cuilén soon after challenged him but was defeated in 965. Dub was eventually expelled and slain in 966/967. Whether Cuilén was responsible for his death is uncertain.
Following Dub's fall, Cuilén appears to have ruled as undisputed king from 966–971. Little is known of Cuilén's short reign other than his own death in 971. According to various sources, he and his brother, Eochaid, were slain by Britons. Some sources identify Cuilén's killer as Rhydderch ap Dyfnwal, a man whose daughter had been abducted and raped by the king. Rhydderch was evidently a man of eminent standing and seems to have been a son of Dyfnwal ab Owain, King of Strathclyde, and could have possibly ruled the Cumbrian Kingdom of Strathclyde at the time of Cuilén's death.
After Cuilén's assassination, the kingship of Alba may have been assumed by another member of Clann Áeda meic Cináeda, Cináed mac Maíl Choluim, a man who appears to have launched a retaliatory raid against the Cumbrians. There is evidence indicating that Cináed faced considerable opposition from Cuilén's brother, Amlaíb, a man who was accorded the title King of Alba in Irish sources recording his death at Cináed's hands in 977. Cuilén's son, Custantín, eventually succeeded Cináed as king. There is evidence to suggest that Cuilén had another son, Máel Coluim.
Name
Cuilén was one of three sons of Illulb mac Custantín, King of Alba (died 962).Busse (2006b); Broun (2004b); Broun (2004d); Hudson, B.T. (1994) pp. 91, 164, 169; Williams; Smyth; Kirby (1991) pp. 91–92. The two other sons were Eochaid (died 971) and Amlaíb (died 977).Broun (2004b); Broun (2004d); Hudson, B.T. (1994) pp. 91, 164, 169. Illulb was, in turn, a son of Custantín mac Áeda, King of Alba (died 952), a man who possessed strong connections with the Scandinavian dynasty of Dublin.Broun (2004a); Broun (2004d); Driscoll (1998) p. 113. There is evidence to suggest that some of Custantín's descendants bore Scandinavian names.Broun (2004d); Woolf (2001); Driscoll (1998) p. 113. For instance, Illulb's name could be either a Gaelicised form of the Old English personal name Eadwulf,Clarkson (2014) ch. 6; Walker (2013) ch. 4; Woolf (2007) p. 192; Dumville (2000) p. 81; Hudson, B.T. (1998b) p. 159, note 56; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 89. or a Gaelicised form of the Old Norse personal name Hildulfr.Clarkson (2014) ch. 6; Walker (2013) ch. 4; Woolf (2009) p. 258; Downham (2007) p. 155; Woolf (2007) p. 192; Busse (2006b); Dumville (2000) p. 81; Driscoll (1998) p. 113, note 55; Hudson, B.T. (1998b) p. 159, note 56; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 89; Anderson (1922) pp. 475, note 6, 484–485, note 3. If the latter possibility is indeed correct, Illulb's name could indicate that his mother was a member of a Scandinavian kindred.Broun (2015e); Downham (2007) p. 155. Likewise, Amlaíb's name could represent a form of the Gaelic personal name Amalgaid,Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 94. or else a Gaelicised form of an Old Norse personal name Óláfr.Woolf (2009) p. 258; Woolf (2007) p. 206; Dumville (2000) p. 81; Driscoll (1998) p. 113, note 55; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 94. Therefore, Amlaíb's name could indicate that his mother was a member of a Scandinavian kindred as well,Clarkson (2014) ch. 7; Woolf (2009) p. 258; Woolf (2001); Williams (1997) p. 96, note 33. and perhaps a descendant of Amlaíb Cúarán (died 980–981) or Amlaíb mac Gofraid (died 941).Woolf (2007) p. 206.
Further evidence of Scandinavian influence on the contemporary Scottish court may be a possible epithet accorded to Cuilén by the ninth to twelfth century Chronicle of the Kings of Alba.Downham (2007) p. 151; Busse (2006b); Dumville (2000) p. 81; Driscoll (1998) p. 113, note 55; Hudson, BT (1998a) p. 66; Williams; Smyth; Kirby (1991) pp. 91–92. In one instance, this source records Cuilén's name as "Culenri[n]g".Woolf (2007) pp. 199, 203; Duncan (2002) pp. 20–21; Hudson, B.T. (1998a) p. 66; Hudson, B.T. (1998b) p. 151; Skene (1867) p. 10.The n in Culenri[n]g is expanded from a scribal abbreviation. Woolf (2007) p. 203. Most likely this is just Cuilén Ríg – Ríg (modern Gaelic: rìgh) being the Gaelic word for "king". Whilst it has also been suggested that this word represents the Old Norse hringr, meaning "ring"Woolf (2007) p. 203; Busse (2006b); Duncan (2002) p. 20; Driscoll (1998) p. 113, note 55; Hudson, BT (1998a) p. 66; Hudson, B.T. (1998b) p. 151, note 34. or "ring-giver",Broun (2015c). the name instead may be corrupted from a scribal error, and the word itself might refer to something else.Woolf (2007) p. 203; Duncan (2002) pp. 20–21; Hudson, B.T. (1998a) p. 66; Hudson, B.T. (1998b) pp. 141, 151, note 34.
The Alpínid dynasty
Cuilén and his immediate family were members of the ruling Alpínid dynasty, the patrilineal descendants of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts (died 858). The root of this kindred's early success laid in its ability to successfully rotate the royal succession amongst its members.Broun (2001). For example, Illulb's father – a member of the Clann Áeda meic Cináeda branch of the dynasty – succeeded Domnall mac Causantín (died 900) – a member of the Clann Custantín meic Cináeda branch – and following a reign of forty years resigned the kingship to this man's son, Máel Coluim mac Domnaill (died 954).Clancy (2006a); Broun (2001); Woolf (2001); Woolf (2000) p. 152. Cuilén's father succeeded to the kingship following Máel Coluim's demise, and ruled as king until his own death in 962.Broun (2015e); Walker (2013) ch. 4; Broun (2004d); Duncan (2002) p. 20; Broun (2001). The record of Illulb's fall at the hands of an invading Scandinavian host is the last time Irish and Scottish sources note Viking encroachment into the kingdom.Duncan (2002) p. 20; Dumville (2000) p. 81. The Scandinavian Kingdom of York had collapsed by the 950s, and the warbands of the kings of Dublin seem to have ceased their overseas adventures during this period as well. Unlike English monarchs who had to endure Viking depredations from the 980s to the 1010s, the kings of Alba were left in relative peace from about the time of Illulb's fall. Free from such outside threats the Alpínids seem to have struggled amongst themselves.Duncan (2002) p. 20.
Contested kingship and kin-strife
There is some uncertainty regarding the succession after Illulb's demise. On one hand, he may well have been succeeded by Máel Coluim's son, Dub (died 966/967).Walker (2013) ch. 4; Woolf (2009) p. 258; Broun (2004c); Broun (2004d). Such a chronology is certainly evinced by the fourteenth century Chronica gentis Scotorum and various king lists.Hudson, B.T. (1994) pp. 91, 174, note 10; Skene (1872) pp. 160–161; Skene (1871) pp. 168–169. The twelfth-century Prophecy of Berchán, on the other hand, states that the kingship was temporarily shared by Dub and Cuilén. If correct, this source could indicate that neither man had been strong enough to displace the other in the immediate aftermath of Illulb's passing.Walker (2013) ch. 4; Hudson, B.T. (1996) pp. 49 § 164, 88 § 164; Hudson, B.T. (1994) pp. 91–92; Anderson (1930) p. 47 § 162; Anderson (1922) p. 474; Skene (1867) p. 95. Although the Alpínid branches represented by Illulb and Dub seem to have maintained peace throughout Illulb's reign,Broun (2004c). inter-dynastic conflict clearly erupted in the years that followed.Broun (2015d); Broun (2004c); Hudson, B.T. (1994) pp. 91–92.
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba may indicate that Dub spent much of his reign contending with Cuilén.Woolf (2000) p. 157. Certainly, this source states that the two battled each other on Dorsum Crup, where Dúnchad, Abbot of Dunkeld (died 965), and Dubdon, satrap of Atholl (died 965) were slain.Walker (2013) chs. 2, 4; Clarkson (2012) ch. 10; Charles-Edwards (2008) p. 183; Woolf (2007) pp. 199, 201–202; Duncan (2002) p. 20; Dumville (2000) p. 77; Woolf (2000) pp. 260–261; Hudson, B.T. (1998b) pp. 145, 151, 159; Hudson, BT (1994) p. 92; Anderson (1922) pp. 472–473; Skene (1867) p. 10. The battle seems to have taken place at Duncrub,Walker (2013) ch. 2; Woolf (2007) p. 202; Broun (2004b); Broun (2004c); Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92. possibly the same site as the first-century Battle of Mons Graupius.Clarkson (2012) ch. 1; Woolf (2007) p. 202; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92. The conflict itself is attested by the fifteenth–sixteenth century Annals of Ulster in 965, in an entry recording Dúnchad's fall in a clash between the men of Alba.Walker (2013) ch. 4; The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 965.4; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 965.4; Woolf (2007) p. 202; Dumville (2000) p. 77; Hudson, BT (1994) p. 92; Anderson (1922) p. 471. Although the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba states that Dub attained the victory, the same source reports that he was later expelled from the kingdom.McGuigan (2015) p. 275; Walker (2013) ch. 4; Woolf (2007) pp. 199, 202; Duncan (2002) p. 20; Dumville (2000) p. 77; Hudson, BT (1998b) pp. 151, 159; Hudson, B.T. (1996) p. 88 n. 99; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92; Anderson (1922) pp. 472–473; Skene (1867) p. 10. The Annals of Ulster reports Dub's death in 967.McGuigan (2015) p. 275; Walker (2013) ch. 4; The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 967.1; Walker (2013) ch. 4; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 967.1; Woolf (2007) pp. 196, 200, 202; Duncan (2002) p. 21; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92; Anderson (1922) p. 472. According to the so-called "X" group of king lists, Dub was killed at Forres and his body was hidden under a bridge at Kinloss during a solar eclipse.Duncan (2002) p. 21. The account of Dub's death preserved by the fifteenth century Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland,Hudson, B.T. (1998b) pp. 159–160 n. 64; Amours (1906) pp. 192–195; Laing (1872) pp. 92–93. and Chronica gentis Scotorum also associate the king's fall with an eclipse.Hudson, B.T. (1998b) pp. 159–160 n. 64; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92; Skene (1872) pp. 160–161; Skene (1871) pp. 168–169. If these sources are to be believed, Dub would seem to have fallen before the solar eclipse of 20 July 966.Duncan (2002) p. 21; Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92; Anderson (1922) p. 473 n. 3.
There is reason to suspect that the inscriptions displayed upon Sueno's Stone, alongside the Kinloss road at Forres, commemorate the final defeat and death of Dub.Hudson, B (2014) pp. 177–178; Walker (2013) ch. 4; Clarkson (2012) ch. 9; Broun (2004c); Foster (2004) p. 111; Sellar (1993) pp. 112–114; Duncan (1984) p. 140. One of the panels of this remarkable monument appears to show corpses and heads lying under an arch which may well represent a bridge. One of the heads is framed, which may be that of Dub himself.Foster (2004) p. 111; Duncan (2002) p. 21; Sellar (1993) pp. 112–113; Duncan (1984) p. 140. Although the stone does not appear to make reference to an eclipse, it is possible that such an event was inserted into the traditional account as a means to improve the tale. If so, the aforesaid date recorded by the Annals of Ulster may well be correct. The chronology of Dub's death could be evidence that his downfall came after Cuilén's consolidation of the kingship.Walker (2013) ch. 4; Woolf (2007) p. 200. Although it is conceivable that Dub was slain in favour of his successor,Woolf (2009) p. 258; Koch (2006); Duncan (2002) p. 21; Bannerman (1998) p. 21. this may not necessarily have been the caseBroun (2015d); Hudson, B.T. (1994) p. 92. – certainly Cuilén is not stated to have been responsible for his death – and it is possible that events transpired without Cuilén's interference.
Reign and death