Donald II

Donald II, or rather Domnall mac Causantín (in Modern Gaelic: Dòmhnall mac Chòiseim), was a king of the Picts who reigned between 889 and 900. He was the son of Constantine I (Constantín mac Cináeda), and succeeded Giric and Eochaid following their expulsion or death. The Prophecy of Berchán, which is not a prophecy at all but a poem written in the 12th century or later, gives him the epithet Dásachtach, "the Madman".

Donald II had to contend with Viking raids throughout his short reign.

The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba records that during his reign “The Northmen wasted Pictland…” and that “…a battle occurred between Danes and Scots at Innisibsolian where the Scots had victory”
 
According to the Chronicle, he was killed sometime in 900 by Vikings at Dunnottar in Aberdeenshire. It has been suggested that this event was part of King Harald Fairhair of Norway’s ravaging of Scotland as described in the Heimskringla. There is some disagreement about the nature of his death, with the Prophecy of Berchán attributing it to Gaels, not Vikings, and other sources reporting that he died at Forres.
 
Donald was succeeded by his cousin Constantine II, while his son Malcom, would become king in 943.

This scene was built by Dan Harris as part of a series of models on the Kings and Queens of Scotland. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see them first.