Constantine III

King Constantine III in 995

Constantine III was a male human and the King of Scotland from 995 to 997.

History

Prince Constantine in 971

Lord Constantine in 995

Constantine was the son of King Culen of Scotland, born in 971, the same year that Kenneth II overthrew his father. Kenneth spared Constantine's life, and let him grow up at court, unaware of the young man's true nature. ("The Oath", "The Pledge")

Constantine hungered for the throne, and by 995, was already prepared to seize it. He had already gathered a body of supporters, and next plotted the murder of King Kenneth.

Constantine began courting the Lady Finella, whom Kenneth had fallen in love with, and duped her into believing that he really did love her. He persuaded Finella to tell the King quietly, in the drying-house, that she wished to marry Constantine instead of him, and then took Kenneth by surprise, murdered him, and seized the throne. To secure his claim all the better, he decided to force Princess Katharine to marry him, using the gargoyle eggs in her charge as hostages. The Magus, Finella, Tom (who along with Finella had witnessed King Kenneth's murder), and Mary helped the Princess and the eggs flee to Avalon, after which Mary and Finella, who was eager to foil Constantine's schemes after discovering how she had been used by him, took the Grimorum Arcanorum into their possession, to keep Constantine and the sorcerers in his employ from obtaining it and reaching Avalon. ("Avalon" Part One)

Upon discovering Katharine, her cohorts and the eggs had escaped him, he initiated a plan to eradicate all the gargoyles from Scotland. His father's defeat due to an alliance with the Wyvern Clan played a part in this decision.

Constantine admires his warpaint.

Meanwhile, Constantine's men pursued Mary and Finella while he enacted an alliance with the Irish to crush the armies of Kenneth III, Maol Chalvim, and Findlaech. He brought Maíl Brigti and Gillecomgain into his service, as well as allied with the sorcerer, Brother Valmont. ("The Gate")

As they prepared for war, Constantine shaved his head and, inspired by Gillecomgain's scars, he covered his head in black war paint and painted three scars across his face, and eyes on the back of his head, a look that would later inspire the Hunters. ("Tyrants")

During the Battle of Rathveramoen, Constantine dueled with Kenneth III while threatening death towards his son, Bodhe, and inspired Gillecomgain to "be a Hunter for your king." In the end, Constantine was slain, but not before, ironically, warning Kenneth III of Maol Chalvim's own ambitions to become king. ("Phoenix")

Characteristics

The Royal Family Tree

Fergus Mór                                   Monarch of: Dalriada Scotland England   Hunters with Black Background                                                                                                                                 Kenneth mac Alpin     Donald mac Alpin                                                                                 Aodh           Constantine I                             Constantine II           Donald II                             Indulf           Maol Chalvim I           Queen Katharine                   Richard of Normandy                                                                                                                                                                             Culen   Duff   Kenneth II   Prince Malcolm   Princess Elena   Mary   Aethelred the Unready   Emma of Normandy   Canute   Elfgiva                                                                                                                                                                         Constantine III   Kenneth III   Ruaidri   Maol Chalvim II   Princess Katharine   Tom (Guardian)   Edmund Ironside   Edward the Confessor   Hardicanute   Harold Harefoot                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Maíl Brigti   Bodhe   Findlaech     Doada   Olith           Bethoc                     William the Conqueror                                                                                                                               MacBodhe                                             Duncan                                                                                                                                         Gillecomgain         Gruoch   Macbeth   Thorfinn   Ingibjorg   Canmore   Donald Ban               Edward I                                                                                                                                           Luach                         Donald Canmore                                                                                                                                                                   Robert the Bruce                                                                                                                                                         Stuart Canmore, the Renaissance Hunter               James VI of Scotland, I of England                                                                                                     Angus Canmore                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Jackson Canmore       Fiona Canmore                                                                                       Aron Canmore                                                                                       Charles Canmore                                                                                                                 Jason Canmore   Robyn Canmore   John Castaway

Appearances

Constantine's standard.

• "Avalon" Part One (First Appearance)
• "Avalon" Part Two (Mentioned Only)
• "The Gate"
• "Tyrants"
• "Phoenix"
• "The Oath" (No Lines)
• "The Pledge" (No Lines)

Real World Background

Constantine III was a real Scottish king, although it is uncertain whether he actually did murder Kenneth II or merely took advantage of his death to become King of Scotland. His parentage and dates in Gargoyles are historically accurate. He is also known as "Constantine the Bald" – a trait that finally entered Gargoyles in "Tyrants" when he shaved his head.

Production Background

Voice Actor: Ian Buchanan

See Also

• Constantine III at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia