Pictish Reaction, 685. — But for one small kingdom to hold down a number of others, economical resources were needed such as were not possessed by any Of the states Of the so-called Heptarchy; hence a single battle was Often enough to end for a time the English supre macy over the Kelts. The turn of the Picts came in 685, when a second attempt which they made to throw Off the sovereignty of nrith was completely success ful, nrith being defeated and slain at Dunnichen, in Forfar. In consequence of this fatal battle, not only did the Picts recover their independence, but Beda tells us that the Scots and some part of the Britons (probably the Britons of Strathclyde) regained their liberty. The Angles, however, did not lose their authority over Galloway, still less over English Cum berland, which continued under the rule of N orthumbria till it was conquered by the N orthmen.