Eugein I of Alt Clut

Who is Eugein I of Alt Clut?

Eugein I was a ruler of Alt Clut, the kingdom later known as Strathclyde, sometime in the mid-7th century. According to the Harleian genealogies, he was the son of Beli I, presumably his predecessor as king, and the father of Elfin, who ruled sometime later. The Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach record another probable son, Dumnagual, who ruled Alt Clut and died in 694. Eugein was probably the brother or half brother of Bridei III of the Picts, the victor at the Battle of Dun Nechtain.

The Annals of Ulster record that a Hoan or Oan, King of the Britons, defeated and killed Domnall Brecc of Dál Riata at a place called Srath Caruin in 642. A stanza interpolated in the poem Y Gododdin, often known as the "Strathcarron interpolation" or simply The Battle of Strathcarron, refers to these events, indicating that the forces of "Nwython's grandson" triumphed over "Dyfnwal Frych", the ruler of "Pentir". Eugein's date of death is unknown, but he was certainly dead by 658, when another king of Alt Clut, Guret, has his death recorded by the Annals of Ulster. This Guret does not appear in the genealogies; he may have been a brother or son of Eugein.