This book is the first volume to scrutinise in detail the history of the Highlands and Islands incorporating the most up-to-date research. It examines the evolution of the idea of 'Celtic Scotland', tracing the historiography of the Gaidhealtachd through the Caledonians, the Picts and the first medieval writings in the area.

It investigates such areas as Galloway as well as surveying politics, culture and the church in the context of the great medieval lordships such as those of the Isles, Argyll, Moray and Ross and demonstrates how the histories of such provinces were integrated into that of Scotland at large.

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Maps, Tables and Illustration
• Contributors
• Abbreviations
• Preface
• 1 The Invention of Celtic Scotland
• 2 The Seven Kingdoms in De situ Albanie: A Record of Pictish political Geography or imaginary Map of ancient Alba?
• 3 What happened to the Caledonians?
• 4 The Battle of Dunnichen and the Aberlemno Battle-Scene
• 5 The Province of Ross and the Kingdom of Alba
• 6 Reform Monasticism and Celtic Scotland: Galloway, c.1140–c.1240
• 7 Rebels without a Cause? The Relations of Fergus of Galloway and Somerled of Argyll with the Scottish Kings, 1153–1164
• 8 Hebridean Sea Kings: The Successors of Somerled, 1164–1316
• 9 The Tale of Leper John and the Campbell Acquisition of Lorn
• 10 Achilles’ Heel? The Earldom of Ross, the Lordship of the Isles, and the Stewart Kings, 1449–1507
• Index