|
Bridei son of Maelchon,〔Other forms include Brude son of Melcho and, in Irish sources, Bruide son of Maelchú and Bruidhe son of Maelchon; for Bede his father is Meilochon.〕 was king of the Picts from 554 to 584. Bridei is first mentioned in Irish annals for 558–560, when the ''Annals of Ulster'' report "the migration before Máelchú's son i.e. king Bruide".〔An earlier entry, reporting the death of "Bruide son of Máelchú" in the ''Annals of Ulster'' for 505 is presumed to be an error.〕 The Ulster annalist does not say who fled, but the later ''Annals of Tigernach'' refer to "the flight of the Scots before Bruide son of Máelchú" in 558. This has provoked considerable speculation in some cases as, in one version, the ''Annals of Ulster'' may associate this with the death of Gabrán mac Domangairt.〔The entry in question is AU 558.2; compare AU560.1 and AU560.2 where these are not associated and also AT559.2 and 559.3. For speculation, Morris, ''The Age of Arthur'', p. 182 ff.〕 As a contemporary, and one of the chief kings in Scotland, Bridei appears in Adomnán's ''Life of Saint Columba''.〔''Life'', I.1, I.10, II.33, II.35 and II.42.〕 Adomnán's account of Bridei is problematic in that it fails to tells us whether Bridei was already a Christian, and if not, whether Columba converted him.〔Smyth, pp. 103–107 argues against conversion, Sharpe, pp. 30–33 is uncertain. Bede, III.4, writes that Columba did convert Bridei, which represents the belief a century after Columba's death rather than a contemporary view.〕 The recent archaeological discoveries at Portmahomack, showing that there was a monastic community perhaps as early as the late 6th century, may provide some support for the idea that Bridei was either already a Christian, at least in name, or was converted by Columba. It is a matter of record that Bridei was not the only king in Pictland. The death of Galam — called "Cennalath, king of the Picts" — is recorded in 580 by the ''Annals of Ulster,'' four years before Bridei's death.〔The ''Annals of Tigernach,'' AT578.2 and 581.3, disagree on the dates, but confirm the sequence.〕 In addition, Adomnán mentions the presence of the "under-king of Orkney" at Bridei's court.〔Adomnán, ''Life'', II.42.〕 The ''Annals of Ulster'' report two expeditions to Orkney during Bridei's reign, or, as seems equally probable, one expedition twice, in 580 and 581.〔As with the earlier report of the "migration" in 558 and 560, it is possible that the reports which provide more detail were glossed much later.〕 The chief place of Bridei's kingdom, which may have corresponded with later Fortriu, is not known. Adomnán tells that after leaving the royal court, by implication soon afterwards, Columba came to the River Ness, and that the court was atop a steep rock. Accordingly, it is generally supposed that Bridei's chief residence was at Craig Phadrig, to the west of modern Inverness overlooking the Beauly Firth. Bridei's death is reported in the 580s, perhaps in battle against Pictish rivals in Circinn, an area thought to correspond with the Mearns.〔Annals of Tigernach, s.a. 584; ''Annals of Ulster,'' s.a. 584. The entry in 505 mentioned earlier is approximately one 84-year Easter cycle misplaced. Bridei's death in battle in Circinn is in the ''Annals of Tigernach,'' s.a. 752, apparently misplaced by two cycles; see M.O. Anderson, pp. 36–37.〕 The king lists of the ''Pictish Chronicle'' agree that Bridei was followed by one Gartnait son of Domelch. Bridei is suggested to have been the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd by John Morris in his ''Age of Arthur'', where he refers in passing and without authority, to "... Bridei, son of Maelgwn, the mighty king of north Wales, ...". Though the book has been a commercial success, it is disparaged by historians as an unreliable source of "misleading and misguided" information.〔D. P. Kirby and J. E. C. Williams, "Review of ''The Age of Arthur''", ''Studia Celtica'', 10-11 (1975-6), pp. 454 – 486; "an outwardly impressive piece of scholarship", it went on to argue that this apparent scholarship "crumbles upon inspection into a tangled tissue of fact and fantasy which is both misleading and misguided".〕 Juliet Marillier's trilogy ''The Bridei Chronicles'' is written as a combination of history, fiction and informed guesswork regarding this king's rise to power and rule. Her novels also describe events in the life of Bridei III ==Notes== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bridei I」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|