Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Galwyddel (Novantae / Galloway)

The northern tribe of the Novantae had long settled this area in south-western Scotland before the Roman occupation. These Picts had been cut off from the main Pictish kingdoms by the declaration of a kingdom of the Damnonii Britons at Alt Clut in the second century, and this was probably reinforced by Magnus Maximus' reorganisations of 382-383. Alt Clut cut right into their tribal lands. Even so, the Novantae Picts probably formed one of the 'four kingdoms' which formed in Lowland Scotland in the second century.

Initially in the fifth century the Picts of Galwyddel appear to have been governed from Ynys Manau, before being acquired by the growing kingdom of Rheged. The regional capital of Dun Rheged was formed at this time (Dunragit, near Stranraer).

However, once Rheged collapsed between 595-638, the region apparently fell under Ynys Manau's control again, and remained independent of its neighbour, Alt Clut, until AD 900, its occupants continuing to be recognised as Picts, separate from the Northern Britons of the area. Soon after that, probably as the Vikings invaded Ynys Manau, Strathclyde (Alt Clut) absorbed Galwyddel. Its name, however, lives on in modern Galloway.

AD 82

Continuing a campaign which in the previous two years had secured the territory of the Votadini, the Roman governor of Britannia secures the western coast up to the Clyde to contain the tribesmen there and perhaps prevent Irish landings.