Cuilén

Who was Cuilén?

Cuilén mac Ildulb, sometimes anglicised as Culen or Colin, and nicknamed An Fionn, "the White" was king of Scotland from 967 to 971. He was one of three known sons of King Indulf, the others being Amlaíb and Eochaid.

It is supposed that Cuilén was implicated in the death of his predecessor Dub, who had defeated Cuilén in battle in 965.

The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba reports several events in the reign of Cuilén. It says that Marcan son of Breodalach was killed in Lothian, that Cellach, Bishop of Cennrígmonaid and Máel Brigte, also a Bishop, died. Other reported deaths include Domnall mac Cairill and Máel Brigte mac Dubacain, the identities of whom are unknown, but they must evidently have been important men. Máel Brigte might be a son of the Dubacan mac Indrechtaig, Mormaer of Angus, who was killed at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937. Finally, we are told that Leot and Sluagadach went to Rome, presumably on church business.

In 971 Cuilén, along with his brother Eochaid, was killed in a hall-burning in Lothian by Amdarch, a prince of Strathclyde. The killing was said to be revenge for Cuilén's rape of Amdarch's daughter. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba does not say that he was buried on Iona, but the report of Dub's death makes it clear that this was likely the case.