The Pictish nation, forged in the shadow of the Roman empire, was the dominant power in northern Britain for more than 500 years. Dr Cummins places the story of the Picts in its historical context, and makes comparisons with contemporary events in Wales and England.

The Pictish nation, forged in the shadow of the Roman empire, was the dominant power in northern Britain for more than 500 years. Dr Cummins places the story of the Picts in its historical context and reassesses such topics as the legend of Drust son of Erp and St Columba's mission to the Picts. There are comparisons with contemporary events in Wales and England as well as interpretations of Sueno's Stone and Pictish symbols and an explanation is offered of what happened in 843 when the Scots took over Pictland.

The professor and the Pictophile
the land of the Picts
Pictish chronology
dates from Ireland
the United Kingdom of the Picts
the female royal line
what were the Picts?
who were the Scots?
out of the mist - the 5th century
into history - the 6th century
Northumbrian neighbours - the 7th century
the struggle for power - the 8th century
Kenneth mac Alpin, King of the Picts - the 9th century
out of history into mystery
medieval historians and the problem of the Picts
Pictish symbols - hieroglyphics or heraldry
Sueno's stone - into the 10th century. Appendices: the "Pictish Chronicle" - Group A and Group B compared
the "Pictish Chronicle" - calibration
"The Mystery of the 30 Brudes" - a pre-Pictish memory.