Coming Soon: THE DISCOVERY OF THE ANCIENT PICTISH KINGDOM OF CIRCINN

White Caterthun hillfort as seen from Brown Caterthun

White Caterthun

For a long time now scholars have tried to figure out precisely where the ancient Pictish kingdom of Circinn lay.  Their efforts have proven fruitless.

Although Circinn appears multiple times in the sources, its true location or extent is only revealed in two instances.  First, we learn that Fordoun in Strathmore, Aberdeenshire, was in Mag Gerginn.  Not particularly helpful, as there is an ongoing debate as to whether Circinn = Gerginn or whether these two names should be seen as different places.  Second, an 8th century battle in Circinn is said to occur at a site named Asreith, an utterly opaque name that no one has successfully identified.

In a future article I will discuss my candidate for Asreith, one which will indicate that Circinn and Gerginn may, in fact, be the same kingdom.  Furthermore, my Asreith candidate will allow me to pinpoint exactly what Circinn itself was as well as describe the extent of the plain (mag) it controlled. 

The importance of Circinn for Arthurian research concerns the Irish Annals of Tigernach entry on the death of Artur son of Aedan in Circinn.  This entry is contradicted by Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, in which Artur is said to perish fighting the Miathi.