Bridei son of Beli

Bridei son of Beli, born in the year six hundred sixteen, ascended to the kingship of Fortriu and the Picts in six hundred seventy-one. His reign, which lasted until his death in six hundred ninety-two, heralded the beginning of the Verturian hegemony, a pivotal era in Scottish history. This period was characterized by the unification of Pictish provinces under the leadership of the kings of Fortriu, fostering a robust Pictish state and a distinct identity that encompassed the majority of the peoples north of the Forth.

Raised in the court of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria, Bridei was the son of Beli, the king of the British kingdom of Altclut. His lineage suggests a connection to the influential Edwin of Northumbria through his mother, while his grandfather may have been the earlier Pictish king Nechtan nepos Uerb. Bridei's ascent to power was likely facilitated by his kinsman, King Ecgfrith of Northumbria, following the expulsion of his predecessor, Drest son of Donuel, who had led a rebellion against Northumbrian rule.

During his reign, Bridei implemented an expansionary policy, engaging in a series of military campaigns from six hundred seventy-nine to six hundred eighty-three. These efforts culminated in the formation of a confederation of Pictish territories that pledged allegiance to him through both alliances and conquests. His most significant victory came at the Battle of Dun Nechtain in six hundred eighty-five, where he decisively defeated Ecgfrith and his Northumbrian forces, effectively ending their overlordship over the Picts, Gaels, and many Britons.

Following this triumph, Bridei consolidated his territorial control and actively promoted the concept of the Picts as a unified people under a single ruler. This vision continued to evolve under the subsequent reigns of his descendants, Bridei son of Der-Ilei and Naiton son of Der-Ilei, who were likely his grandchildren, ensuring the legacy of his leadership endured in the annals of Scottish history.