An enquiry by a Queensland member regarding the name "Alba" sent me scurrying to the Internet to find articles as to the reason Alba is the ancient name for Scotland. . Ptolemy around AD127 said the early Basque seafarers from the North of Spain, as well as Greek shipmasters, navigated around the British Isles and referred to them as Alba or Albion (meaning white)

This then led to almost non-existent history of the Picts and the ancient legendary division of Alba into seven kingdoms. There is today much doubt as to the genuine accuracy of the details of the account dated 1202-1214 entitled "De situ Albanie" compiled from several early sources, but such is the stuff of legends.

Legend says in early times King Cruithne, son of Cinge, father of the Picts, reigned for 100 years. He had seven sons, whose names were Fib, Fidach, Fotlaig, Fortrenn, Cait, Ce and Circinn. These seven sons divided the land into seven parts.

Cait ruled for 12 years over the area now known as Caithness, Sutherland, West Highlands and Northern and Western Isles. The name means 'cat people' and many of the clans from this area have a cat as their emblem. Fidach ruled for 40 years over the area now
known as Moray, Nairn and Ross. The name means Woodsman.

Ce ruled for 15 years over the areas now known as Banff, Buchan and parts of Aberdeenshire. The name Ce may survive in the town of Keith.

Fotlaig ruled for 30 years over the area now known as Athol and Gowrie. Fotla was a goddess of Ireland.

Circinn (or Cirech) ruled for 60 years over the area now known as Angus and the Mearns. The name means 'crest headed'. Skene highlights a Crus (son of Cirech) who was a warrior of the Picts. A battle was fought on the plain of Circinn against the Scots.

Fortrenn (or Fortrui) ruled for 70 years over the area now known as Strathearn and Menteith. The name may mean 'people of the slow winding river.'

Fib ruled for 24 years over the area now known as Fife and Kinross. In the book of Deer the people of fife are called the 'cu-sidhe', fairy hounds.

In the third century AD Eumenius, a Roman writer, refers to the inhabitants of Alba as Picts, "painted people" and in other early writings they are also referred to as Cruithni" meaning the tribe of designs.

The Picts were an ancient and artistic people who defied the might of Rome which conquered the rest of Britain. They were a sophisticated, hardworking, clever people, skilled in farming and fishing.

Although the Romans reached Scotland and often defeated them in battle, they never conquered the Picts or Pictland.

(Information from www.holyrood.org.uk)