Talk:Caustantín of the Picts

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[edit] "Constantine I"

It's easy enough to find references on Google books to show that this was once "Constantine I", for example this by Joseph Ritson. See also this page (nota bene: Donalds I to III and V and VI!). This page gives an idea of just how many of these made-up kings there were. Some of them, this one obviously, were Pictish kings, others were kings of Dál Riata, and rather a lot of them were just made up. More or less the same kind of thing as the List of legendary kings of Britain. One question I haven't been able to answer, although I haven't tried very hard, is "When was all this nonsense swept under the carpet?". Certainly by 1850, and very probably before, but I have no idea who or what provoked the change. Angus McLellan (Talk) 19:49, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

It's still appropriate to reference it. Consider Pope-elect Stephen. Michael Sanders 20:07, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

I don't think this is a comparable case. That of English Edwards, as discussed at Edward I of England#Accession (no references though) is closer, but even then there are decided differences. You've written: "He was sometimes during the Victorian era counted as Constantine I of Scotland, with no basis in fact; the title is now given to Constantine, son of Kenneth MacAlpin". But that's not quite right.

I'm not sure when he came to be added, but he was *removed* by the Victorian writers who created, more or less, the list you can find today on the Queen's website. He wasn't on the original, fantastical lists of Boece and Buchanan (their Constantine I died in the C5th). The fact he was included at all is likely a testimony to higher standards of scholarship from Thomas Innes onwards. Angus McLellan (Talk) 21:27, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

Okay, do you know when he first came to be called Constantine I? Michael Sanders 21:32, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

Not at the moment. Angus McLellan (Talk) 23:44, 28 December 2007 (UTC)