 |
The House Of MacAlpin |
|
Colin
967-971
Colin King of Scots was known as Cuilean Finn (the White) and was the son of King Indulf. After the murder of his cousin King Dubh, which he was widely suspected of involvement in, he took possession of his domain. Colin had two sons Constantine (who was later to become Constantine III) and Malcolm MacAlpin.
Contemporary chroniclers described Colin as 'useless in the govenment of the kingdom' and as being 'sore given to violating maids, a lustful adulterer with the wives of nobles and private persons.'
After a reign of only four years he was assassinated in 971 at Lothian by Riderch, sub-king of Strathclyde. The attack was in vengeance for the rape of Riderch's daughter by Colin and the murder of his brother during a campaign to control Strathclyde. The chronicle of Melrose records that Riderch was said to have 'mutilated him in Lothian.' The murder was part of the ongoing conflict between the MacAlpin dynasty and the nobles of Strathclyde. Colin was the fourth King of Scotland in a row to die violently. His brother, Eochaid was also killed in the same year. He was succeeded by his cousin, Kenneth II.