Bridei I of the Picts

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William Hole's imaginative 19th century depiction of Columba's "conversion" of King Bridei

Bridei son of Maelchon,Other forms include Brude son of Melcho and, in Irish sources, Bruide son of Maelchú and Bruidhe son of Maelchon; for Bede his father is Meilochon. was king of the Picts until his death circa 584–586.

Bridei is first mentioned in Irish annals for 558–560, when the Annals of Ulster report "the migration before Máelchú's son i.e. king Bruide".An earlier entry, reporting the death of "Bruide son of Máelchú" in the Annals of Ulster for 505 maybe be presumed to be an error. The Ulster annalist does not say who fled, but the later Annals of Tigernach refer to "the flight of the Scots before Bruide son of Máelchú" in 558. This has provoked considerable speculation in some cases as, in one version, the Annals of Ulster may associate this with the death of Gabrán mac Domangairt.The entry in question is AU 558.2; compare AU560.1 and AU560.2 where these are not associated and also AT 559.2 and 559.3. For a creative interpretation, Morris, The Age of Arthur, p. 182 ff.

As a contemporary, and one of the chief kings in Scotland, Bridei appears in Adomnán's Life of Saint Columba.Life, I.1, I.10, II.33, II.35 and II.42. Adomnán's account of Bridei is problematic in that it fails to tells us whether Bridei was already a Christian, and if not, whether Columba converted him.Smyth, pp. 103–107 argues against conversion, Sharpe, pp. 30–33 is uncertain. Bede, III.4, writes that Columba did convert Bridei, which represents the belief a century after Columba's death rather than a contemporary view. The recent archaeological discoveries at Portmahomack, showing that there was a monastic community perhaps as early as the late 6th century, may provide some support for the idea that Bridei was either already a Christian, at least in name, or was converted by Columba.

It is a matter of record that Bridei was not the only king in Pictland. The death of Galam — called "Cennalath, king of the Picts" — is recorded in 580 by the Annals of Ulster, four years before Bridei's death.The Annals of Tigernach, AT 578.2 and 581.3, disagree on the dates, but confirm the sequence. In addition, Adomnán mentions the presence of the "under-king of Orkney" at Bridei's court.Adomnán, Life, II.42. The Annals of Ulster report two expeditions to Orkney during Bridei's reign, or, as seems equally probable, one expedition twice, in 580 and 581.As with the earlier report of the "migration" in 558 and 560, it is possible that the reports which provide the greater detail were glossed much later.

The chief place of Bridei's kingdom, which may have corresponded with later Fortriu, is not known. Adomnán tells that after leaving the royal court, by implication soon afterwards, Columba came to the River Ness, and that the court was atop a steep rock. Accordingly, it is generally supposed that Bridei's chief residence was at Craig Phadrig, to the west of modern Inverness overlooking the Beauly Firth.

The king lists of the Pictish Chronicle agree that Bridei was followed by one Gartnait son of Domelch.

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