The Kingdom of Ystrad Clud - Strathclyde - flourished from the 5th to the 8th centuries, stretching from Loch Lomond south to the kingdom of Rheged around the Solway. Its capital was Al Clud; the mighty fortified rock at Dumbarton. Bede called Dumbarton ‘Altcluit’ - ‘rock of the Clyde’.
The Strathclyde Britons spoke a P-Celtic Brythonic language. The name ‘Strathclyde’ comes from the Brythonic ‘Ystrad Clud’ meaning ‘Valley of the Clyde’. Clud, Clota or Clutida was the native goddess of the river Clyde.
King Riderch I - Rhydderch Hael 'the Generous' - ruled Strathclyde at the time of Kentigern, c AD 600. He is also mentioned by Adamnán as a contemporary of Columba. Riderch appears in Welsh myth and legend as the owner of Dyrnwyn, a magical sword; one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain.
In AD 642, the Annals of Ulster report that the Britons of Alt Clut led by Eugein son of Beli defeated the men of Dál Riata and killed Domnall Brecc, grandson of Áedán.
In AD 870–1 Dumbarton was captured after a four-month siege by a Viking army from Dublin, who cut off its water supply. King Artgal map Dumnagual, King of the Britons of Strathclyde was taken to Áth Cliath - Viking Dublin - as a captive.
Amlaíb and Ímar returned to Áth Cliath from Alba with two hundred ships, bringing away with them in captivity to Ireland a great prey of Angles and Britons and Picts.
Annals of Ulster, AD 871
After this defeat the centre of Strathclyde moved 18 km upstream to Govan. The Strathclyde Britons founded a new political centre and royal stronghold at a site called Doomster Hill, around the church of St Constantine, on the southern bank of the Clyde.
In AD 937, the King of Strathclyde, Owen I, was defeated by King Athelstan of England at the Battle of Brunanburh.
Govan Old Parish Church stands on the ancient site of the settlement of the Strathclyde Britons. The Church houses a collection of some of Scotland's most important early Christian tombstones, sculpted stones, hogback tombs, and gravestones marking royal burials of the Kings of Strathclyde.
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