70. Eochaidh MacEchdach III King of Scots, 40G Grandfather, M. Eochaidh MacEchdach III King of died in 0733.
Ruled Dal Riata, 726-733
Eochaid was the son of Eochaid II, who was murdered in 697. At that time the younger Eochaid was probably still an infant but by 726, after the retirement of Selbach and the succession of Dungal, Eochaid must have been nearly thirty. He successfully deposed Dungal and restored the kingship of Dal Riata to the original Cenel Gabhran ruling family. Selbach sought to recover the ingship in the following year, but was defeated. Eochaid's hold was, however, tenuous. During this same period there was another inter-dynastic civil war for the throne of the Picts which Dungal became involved. This brought the wrath of Angus against the Cenel Loarn which was further aggravated when, in 728, Alpin, another of the Pictish Claimants, sought refuge amongst the Dal Riata. It has been conjectured that subsequently shared the kingdom with Eochaid is not clear, but certainly upon Eochaid's death in 733 (and since he was only in his late thirties his death may be suspicious) he claimed the throne. It would be nearly twenty years before Eochaid's son Aed Find reclaimed the throne of Dal Riata and succeeded in restoring the kingship to something of its old glory.
