Matheson Collection > Clan Donald > Volume 1

18 THE CLAX POXAI^D.
CHAPTER IT.
DESCENT OF THE CLAN DONALD.
]{ise of the Kingdom of Alban. — Rise and Growth of English
Influence. — Feudal Scotland. — Origin of the Clan Donald. —
Theories on the Subject. — The Dalriadic Origin. — (icnealogy
of the Clan down to Somcrlcd.
Before introducing: upon the historical stage the
dynasty of Celtic princes, known as the Kings and
Lords of tlie Isles, it will conduce to clearness of
historical perspective if we trace briefly the rise of
the kingdom of Alban, and its gradual development
into feudal Scotland. The period in Scottish history
covered by the ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries
witnessed the growth of this larger imperial unity,
which commenced to be realised in the reign of
Kenneth MacAlpin. The new name of Alban, by
which the Kingdom of Scone came to be known in
the reign of Donald, the son of Constantino, does
not appear to have arisen from the addition of any
new territory acquired since the union of Pictavia
and Dalriada, and there seems to be no explanation
of the change, beyond the fact that we find it
recorded in the Irish Annals for the first time during
his reign. Thereafter, the Kings were no longer
designated Rcgcfi Picforum, but Bi Alhan, and in
the Pictish Chronicle Pictavia gives place to
Albania.
It does not appear that Northern Pictdom,
though reckoned nominally a province of Alban,
ever became fully incorporated with it while it