Image: Alexander III and Ollamh Rígh

Description: Coronation of King Alexander on Moot Hill, Scone. He is being greeted by the ollamh rígh Alban, the royal poet of Scotland, who is addressing him with the proclamation "Benach De Re Albanne" (= Beannachd Dé Rígh Albanaich - "God Bless the King of Scots"); the poet goes on to recite Alexander's genealogy. Malcolm II, Earl of Fife, depicted holding the sword standing beside King Alexander. (Albannaich is the plural form of Albannach, "Scot" or "Scotsman" and refers to the Scots collectively [as a nation]. The unique title of the Scots monarchs has long been "King of Scots" rather than "of Scotland" as opposed to the monarchs of England and other countries, who are titled "King [or Queen] of England" etc.. This style is ancient, and reflects the Gaelic tradition of the chief as "father" of his "clann" [lit. children]. As the monarch is the "Chief of Chiefs" he or she is the "father" or "mother" of the people, not merely the ruler of the land.)
Title: Alexander III and Ollamh Rígh
Credit: Late medieval manuscript of the Scottichronicon by Walter Bower. From folio 206 in Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 171; it is included in D.E.R. Watt, Simon Taylor and Brian Scott (eds.), Scotichronicon by Walter Bower in English and Latin, volume 5, (Aberdeen, 1990), illus 1, facing p. 288.
Author: Unknown
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No