Editing Kenneth MacAlpin (section)

=== King of Alba ===
According to historical tradition, a new kingdom was formed after Kenneth annexed the kingdom of the Picts. This kingdom's [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] name was [[Alba]], which was later replaced with [[Scotia]] and [[Scotland]]. The rulers of the kingdom initially held the title of [[King of Alba]], however in reality it wasn't until at least 42 years after Kenneth's death that the title King of Alba was ever used. Kenneth is retroactively listed in the royal lists dating to later periods as the first King of Scotland; modern historians, however, argue the final unification of the kingdom took place half a century later and that Kenneth's main political achievement should be considered the creation of a [[House of Alpin|new dynasty]]. This dynasty sought to dominate all of Scotland, under which the Scots assimilated the Picts, resulting in the quick disappearance of the Picts' language and institutions.{{Sfn|Anderson|2004b|p=1}}{{Sfn|Mackenzie|2003|p=90}}{{Sfn|GRE|2005|p=405}}

[[File:Coronation Chair and Stone of Scone.jpg|thumb|right|Illustration of the [[Stone of Scone]] in the [[Coronation Chair]] at [[Westminster Abbey]], 1855]]

After the conquest of [[Pictavia]], the Scots from Dál Riada began to migrate ''[[Glossary of French words and expressions in English|en masse]]'' to the territories populated by the Picts. The list of Pictish kings concludes in 850 and the list of kings of Dál Riada also ends around the same time, meaning the title ceased to exist. Kenneth I and his administration moved to Pictavia; it is possible the Scots moved to the region before the war and that such settlements played a major role in the selection of [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]] as the capital of the Kingdom. Kenneth moved relics from an [[Iona Abbey|abandoned abbey]] on [[Iona]], where [[Viking raids]] made life untenable, to [[Dunkeld]], which was the centre of the [[Church of Scotland]], in 848 or 849, according to the ''[[Chronicle of the Kings of Alba]]''. The coronation stone was also moved from the island to Scone, for which it is referred to as the [[Stone of Scone]]. According to archaeological excavations, [[Forteviot]] was probably originally a royal residence but the place is not mentioned in the chronicles after the death of [[Donald I]]. The mass migration of Scots to the east most likely led to the assimilation of the Picts. Although the [[Irish annals]], which date to the late 9th century, mention the title King of the Picts, the Picts may not have remained independent. The Pictish civil system and clerical laws were completely replaced with the Scottish legal system, and it is likely similar changes occurred in other spheres of the Pictish society. The Picts did not revolt against this assimilation process.{{Sfn|Anderson|2004b|p=1}}{{Sfn|Henderson|2004|pp=115–121}}{{Sfn|MacKay|1892|pp=437–439}}{{Sfn|Goring|2009|p=661}}

The ''Chronicle of the Kings of Alba'' describes the events that occurred during Kenneth's reign without specifying their dates. He invaded [[Lothian]] in the [[Kingdom of Northumbria]] six times, and captured the towns of [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]] and [[Dunbar]], and razed them. The [[Celtic Britons]] from the [[Kingdom of Strathclyde]] attacked Kenneth's kingdom and burnt [[Dunblane]]. Furthermore, Viking invaders raided Pictavia, ravaging the territories "from Clunie to Dunkeld".{{Sfn|Anderson|2004b|p=1}}{{Sfn|Mackenzie|2003|p=94}}

Kenneth strengthened his power by arranging royal marriages with neighbouring states, marrying his daughters to the kings of Strathclyde and Ireland.{{sfn|Anderson|2004b|p=1}}{{Sfn|Mackenzie|2003|p=94}} According to the ''[[Chronicle of Melrose]]'', Kenneth was one of the first Scottish lawgivers but his laws have not survived to the 21st century.{{Sfn|Fyodorov|2017|p=80}}