Who was Saint Columba? How did this Irish aristocrat become the most important figure in early Scottish Christianity? In seeking answers to these questions this book examines the different roles played by the saint in life and death, tracing his career in Ireland and Scotland before looking at the development of his cult in later times. Here we encounter not only Columba the abbot and missionary but also Columba the politician and peacemaker.

Author Biography

Tim Clarkson gained a PhD in medieval history (2003) from the University of Manchester. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a member of the editorial board of the Heroic Age online journal. He is the author many books on medieval history including Scotland's Merlin, The Picts: A History, The Makers of Scotland and Aethelflaed: Lady of the Mercians.