Nechtan

Nechtan is a figure associated with Pictish kingship. Several Pictish rulers bore the name Nechtan, most notably Nechtan mac Der-Ilei, who reigned in the early 8th century and is considered one of the most significant Pictish kings. His reign is particularly well-documented compared to other Pictish monarchs, largely due to the influence of the Church and the increasing use of Latin in chronicles.

Nechtan mac Der-Ilei is known for his administrative reforms and his efforts to bring the Pictish Church into closer alignment with Roman practices. He is credited with expelling the Aeronic monks, who followed Celtic traditions, and promoting the Roman Easter observance. His reign also saw the construction of significant ecclesiastical buildings, and the establishment of a more centralized royal authority.

The historical sources for Nechtan are primarily Irish annals and later Scottish chronicles, which often present a biased perspective. Despite these limitations, Nechtan mac Der-Ilei emerges as a pivotal figure in late antique and early medieval Scotland, instrumental in shaping both the political and religious landscape of the Picts. Other Pictish kings named Nechtan appear in the regnal lists, but their reigns are less clearly defined and their impact on history is more obscure.