Dunnichen

Dunnichen ( Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Neachdain ) is a small town in Scotland, the same in the traditional county of Angus, today the unitary authority name. The place is between Forfar and Letham. It is close to the Dunnichen Hill and Mere are Dunnichen ( Nechtansmere, Scottish Gaelic Dhun Neachdain, Old Irish Dún Nechtain ), where the battle is said to have taken place at Dunnichen Mere.

Mythology and History

In 1810 the antiquarian George Chalmers the location of the Battle of Dunnichen Mere thought here ( Scottish Gaelic: BlaR Dhun Neachdain ) to be able to locate on May 20, 685. Here the Picts fought under their king Bridei Mac Bili against a Northumbrian army under King Ecgfrith who fell during the battle. After this localization had been accepted for many years, is rather doubted lately it.

James Headrick wrote down in 1845 a local legend, after the battle between King Arthur and his son Mordred had been beaten at Dunnichen.

In the early 19th century was excavated on alleged battlefield of Dunnichen Stone, a Pictish Stone, which is now preserved in Meffan Institute in Forfar. A replica has been placed in the park in front of the Dunnichen Parish Church.

In 1985, for 1300. Anniversary of the Battle of Dunnichen Mere a festival organized, which met with great enthusiasm of the population and developed into an annual event. The location of the festival with up to 2,500 visitors was the summit of Dunnichen Hill. Soon there for weeks ongoing New Age festivals were held. Because of the harassment by the crowd of spectators, the nighttime noise and killing of livestock by stray dogs the guests there were police operations and prohibitions that were even treated in 1994 and 1996 in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Blar - Dhun - Neachdain Memorial