The Picts are a mysterious tribe from Scottish history, often thought as ‘savage warriors’ we don’t know a lot about them as their historical records stem largely from the Roman Empire who were their bitter rivals. Despite many attempts by Romans to move in on Pictish territory, and having dominated other areas of Britain easily, they still could not conquer this ancient tribe.
The first mention of Picts comes from a Roman chronicler in 287 CE, yet no written record of them can be found post 900 CE which leaves historians puzzled by their ‘mysterious’ disappearance as all that remains of their legacy are carved stones, settlements and place names in Scotland.
Rest assured, researchers have confirmed there was much more to these ‘savage warriors’ than just that as they boasted a ‘sophisticated culture’ and a long history despite not being so well-known today. So, to learn more about the fascinating Picts of Scotland here are 13 facts about them.
13. The Picts mysteriously disappeared in the Middle Ages
Historical records indicate that by the Middle Ages the Pictish people did not exist across Scotland anymore. As Scotland emerged as a Gaelic kingdom under the control of rulers like King Kenneth MacAlpin, it is said that Kenneth used his Gael force (Scottish and Irish people) to kill Pictish nobles and assume control of their communities. Photo: via WikiCommons