New
New
Year 2

Constantine II, the Vikings and St Columba's relics

I can describe how Constantine recaptured the bones of St Columba.

New
New
Year 2

Constantine II, the Vikings and St Columba's relics

I can describe how Constantine recaptured the bones of St Columba.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. After he defeated his father's enemy, Constantine became King of Alba, but he had no time to relax.
  2. His kingdom was under attack by the Vikings, who had taken control of an important place called Dunkeld.
  3. The bones of an important Scottish saint, Saint Columba, were held there, and the Vikings had taken them.
  4. Constantine led his army against the Vikings, driving them out and recapturing Dunkeld and the relics.

Keywords

  • Relics - relics are items of religious importance from the past, and are often the remains of saints

  • Monastery - a monastery is a place where monks live and worship

Common misconception

Pupils may think the relics of St Columba were valuable.

The relics of St Columba were an important symbol of the Christian faith throughout the kingdom of Alba.

Explore images of modern day Dunkeld.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Constantine was too to fight Giric and take back Alba.
Correct Answer: young
Q2.
Why did Constantine want revenge?
His money was stolen.
Correct answer: His father was killed.
His home was destroyed.
Q3.
Who ran away and hid at Dundurn?
Constantine
Donald
Correct answer: Giric
Q4.
Constantine defeated Giric.
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
Archaeological evidence suggests the battle was ...
Correct answer: violent
quiet
quick
Q6.
Which of these definitions matches the keyword revenge?
being banned from your own country
Correct answer: the act of getting back at someone for something they did to you
a defensive feature where a fort is built on top of a hill

6 Questions

Q1.
What year did Constantine defeat Giric?
600 CE
800 CE
Correct answer: 900 CE
Q2.
Match these keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:relics,items of religious importance from the past (often remains of saints)

items of religious importance from the past (often remains of saints)

Correct Answer:monastery,a place where monks live and worship

a place where monks live and worship

Q3.
What did the Viking Ivar take control of at Dunkeld?
Correct answer: the monastery
the shops
Correct answer: the farmlands
Q4.
Place these events in order starting with the earliest.
1 - The relics of St Columba were taken to Dunkeld monastery.
2 - Constantine’s father Aed was killed.
3 - Constantine defeated Giric and became king.
4 - Ivar took control of Dunkeld.
Q5.
Whose relics were taken by the Vikings?
St David
St Patrick
Correct answer: St Columba
Q6.
Constantine defeated the Vikings.
Correct answer: true
false

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.