The Picts, The Tribe Rome Couldn’t Conquer
Who are the Picts?
The Picts were first written onto the pages of history in 287 CE, but after 900 CE they disappeared from all records. Yet evidence of their existence is all over Scotland, carved into stones and echoing from the names of places.
Known as the fearsome warriors who gave Rome a run for their money, the Picts have dozens of incredible customs and traditions that make their existence that much more mysterious.
So who were the Picts? And what happened to them?
Where are they from?
The Picts lived in what we now call northern England and southern Scotland, with the bulk of their settlements being north of the Firth of Forth, in Scotland.
Historians call the territory “Pictland”, and though it started with only seven chiefdoms, it would later turn into one of Britain's most powerful kingdoms.
What did their name mean?
The name “Pict” isn’t what the tribe originally called themselves. They took it on after years of being called “Picti” by the Romans.
“Picti” means “the painted ones” and refers to their practice of painting their bodies for battle.
What were they known as before?
Before being known as Picts, they were called the Caledonians. The Caledonians were several different clans in northern Britain. They would band together to repel Roman attacks—and launch guerilla attacks of their own.
By the 3rd century CE, these tribes were a more unified political entity and the Romans called them “Picti”.
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So, what did they like to be called?
We still don’t know what exactly the Picts actually called themselves, but some place names in Scotland offer a piece of the puzzle.
Many places that were once the site of ancient Pictish settlements begin with the word “Pit”—Pittodrie, Pitlochry, and Pittenweem are some examples.
