The origins of the Kingdom of Alba pertain to the origins of the Kingdom of Alba, or the Gaelic Kingdom of Scotland, either as a mythological event or a historical process, during the Early Middle Ages. Origin paradigms Medieval version The origins of the Scots have been the subject of numerous speculations over the centuries, including some extravagant ones, like the one made by Walter Bower, abbot of Inchcolm Abbey, in his Scotichronicon, in which he argued that the Scots were descended from an Egyptian pharaoh via the legendary princess Scota, who arrived in Scotland after traveling to Iberia and Ireland. The so-called traditional origin legends in Scotland were possibly influenced by the Historia Regum Britanniae, the Lebor Gabála Érenn and the Historia Brittonum. Ultimately, such conceptualizations can be derived from Virgil's Aeneid and the Bible, but were just as much an organic and original product of the medieval Scots themselves. In the Life of St Cathróe of Metz, the hagiographer recounts the mythological origin of the saint's people, the Gaels. The hagiographer recounts that they landed in the vicinity of Cruachan Feli - called the Mountain of Ireland. He recounts that the Gaels conquered Ireland after a series of battles with the Picts (here Pictanes). They followed up their conquest of Ireland by invading Britain, conquering Iona before conquering the cities of Rigmonath (=Cennrigmonaid; i.e. St Andrews) and Bellathor (=Cinnbelathoir; an unidentified Scoto-Pictish palace). Afterwards, their commander - a Spartan called Nel (=Niall) - named the land and people after his Egyptian wife Scota. The tale is astonishingly important, because it dates to about 980, an extremely early date, and has Scottish sources. Indeed, the saint himself is Scottish, born into the nobility. According to the Life, he was educated in Armagh, before returning to Scotland and entering the service of King Constantine II (Causantín mac Áeda). Constantine gave Cathróe conduct to the court of King Dyfnwal of Strathclyde, and from there made his way to Viking England, and finally, the continent. Medieval Scottish genealogies trace the origin of the Scots to Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the possible founder of Dál Riata. The Senchus fer n-Alban also contains the story of Fergus. This is an older document, perhaps dating to the seventh century, that has been heavily interpolated with later material, probably including the possibly mythalogical parts. Appended to the Míniugud Senchasa Fher nAlba in many manuscripts is the