Drest I

Drest or Drust, son of Erp, is a legendary king of the Picts from 412 to 452.

Drest I
King of the Picts
Reign	412–452
Predecessor	Talorc mac Achiuir
Successor	Talorc I
Father	Erp

Background

The Pictish Chronicle tells that Drest reigned for 100 years and triumphed in 100 battles.^[1] In the face of encroachment from Angles, Britons and Scots, he established control over much of Northern Britain after the disruption following the withdrawal of the Romans.^[2] It also states that Saint Patrick went to Ireland in the nineteenth year of his reign, which would place it in the middle of the 5th century. The Chronicle claims that he exiled his brother Nechtan to Ireland. John of Fordun claims that Drest reigned for 45 years in the time of Palladius rather than Patrick, and conflates him with his brother Nechtan.^[3]

The king lists record that he was followed by one Talorc son of Aniel.