THE HOUSE OF ALPIN (843-942) Vaught-Jasper-Trusty-Molloy, Genealogy Tree View of the ancient Iona Abbey on the island of Iona Little has been written about many of the early kings since written records were not kept. As written records were later kept, we are able to learn more about Scotland's kings and queens. Alpin was king of the Dalriadic Scots. The kingdom after the Romans withdrew from Caledonia (the name the Romans called the land north of Britannia) in 407 was divided among four tribes, three of which were Celtic, and the fourth the Angles. Those tribal divisions were the Picts, the Scots, the Britons and the Angles. At one time, Scotland was occupied by five different peoples. The Picts lived in the large area north of the rivers Forth and Clyde. The Scots, from Ireland, made their home in Argyll in the fifth and sixth centuries. The Angles held Lothian, the ancient Britons had retreated to Strathclyde, and, in the ninth century, the invading Norsemen settled in Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, Sutherland and the Western Isles. The unification of these different peoples began in the mid-ninth century, when Kenneth MacAlpin became king of both Picts and Scots. The Scots were to become dominant over the majority of the country, although alternative power-bases existed until the end of the Middle Ages - for example, in the Norse Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Very little is known about many of the early kings up to the end of the eleventh century other than their accession dates (often because kings won their crowns by killing other kings) and their deaths (particularly if these were sudden and violent). Unlike Anglo-Saxon England, there are few surviving literary chronicles of early rulers in Scotland. Two of the most well-known - Macbeth and Malcolm Canmore - were immortalized by Shakespeare's Macbeth in a form that bears little resemblance to historical events. Perhaps the most eloquent testament to the lives of the early Scottish kings is the island of Iona with its abbey and burial ground, resting place of many Scottish, Irish and Norwegian kings.

Kenneth I (r. 843-859)   Kenneth, son of Alpin, King of Scotia succeeded his father in 843. He defeated the Picts about 843, uniting them with the Scots in the new kingdom of Alba, which comprised a large part of present day Scotland. Sources for the period disagree about the exact date of his victory, but Kenneth features as a notable warrior who reputedly invaded Northumbria six times and fought off attacks by the Britons of Strathclyde as well as by the Norsemen. Using dynastic marriage to solve the problem, Kenneth married his daughter to Rhun, the Strathclyde king. Because of the Norse threat to Iona, the burial place of St Columba (an Irish Scot who brought Christianity to Alba), he removed the saint's relics to a new church which he founded in Pictland at Dunkeld, Perthshire. However, Iona continued to be the burial place of Scottish kings even after St Columba's relics were moved, until the eleventh century. Kenneth died in 858 at Forteviot, near Perth, probably of a tumour. As the first king of Scots and Picts, (southern Picts), MacAlpin is surrounded by legends of brutal treachery. One such legend says murdered seven Earls of Dalriada, kinsmen who might have disputed his claim to King of Scots and Picts. According to another, he is said to have invited the Pictish King Drostan with all his nobles to banquet with him at Scone. While they were seated, and perhaps taking advantage of their gluttony of both drink and food, the Scots drew out the bolts supporting the boards, whereupon the Picts fell into the hollows below their benches. While caught in some strange contraption up to their knees, they were all slaughtered. Truth? It is impossible to be certain, but slaughters like this were commonplace in the early medieval period. The ascendency of Kings was a bloody and treacherous affair -- not for the faint of heart. Not many Scots kings during this period reigned more than a few years. Kenneth I "Macalpin" King of Scotland is the 34th great grandfather of the Molloys. The Cthedral at Dunkeld

Donald I  (r. 860-863) An ancient Celtic cross on the island of Iona, Scotland. Iona was a place of special significance to the early Scottish kings Donald I King of Scotland is the 38th great grand uncle of the Molloys. Their common ancestors are Alpin King of Scotland and Mrs-Alpin Queen of Scotland.

Constantine I  (r. 862-877) An ancient Celtic cross on the island of Iona, Scotland. Iona was a place of special significance to the early Scottish kings Constantine was the son of Kenneth I. The Norse invaded his kingdom several times, and he was killed in battle against them at Forgan, Fife in 877. Constantine I King of Scotland the 33th great grandfather of the Molloys.

Aedh (Hugh)  (r. 877-878) Aedh (Hugh) King of Scotland is the 37th great grand uncle of the Molloys. Their common ancestors are Kenneth I "Macalpin" King of Scotland and Mrs-Kenneth I Queen of Scotland.

Donald II (r. 889-900) Donald, son of Constantine I, struggled to repel the Norse invasions. He died at Forres, Moray in 900. Donald II Dasachtach, King of Scotland is the 32th great grandfather of the Molloys.

Constantine II (r. 900-943) Constantine was the sone of Aed and ruled for 40 years. He invaded Northumbria and successfully fought the Norse invaders. To establish peace wit the Norsemen in Ireland, he married his daughter to Olaf III. He was finally defeated in 937 by the Anglo-Saxton king Athelstan at the Battle of Brunanburh. During that battle his eldest son was killed. In 943 he abdicated his throne, entered a monastery in St. Andrews and died in 952. Constantine II of Scotland and the Molloys are 1st cousins 38 times removed. Their common ancestors are Kenneth I "Macalpin" King of Scotland and Mrs-Kenneth I Queen of Scotland.