He was killed shortly after taking the throne by Giric, also known as Gregory the Great, who had conspired with Aed's nephew, Eochaid.
Not much is known of Aedh, or even if he was actually the one named by Constantine to hold the throne. Both Giric and Eochaid ruled jointly following Aedh's death.
Aedh did marry at some point in his life, but the details, including the date and place of the marriage, and the name of his wife are not known. One son, Constantine, ruled later (900–942/43), while another son, Donald, became King of Strathclyde in 908.
Aedh died violently in 878 at Strathallan. He may have been buried at Maiden Stone in Aberdeenshire. He was succeeded under the Scottish tanistry system by his nephew, Eochaid.
Thereupon Malcolm Canmore ascended the throne as Malcolm III of Scotland.
His son, Aedh, (Ethelred, Earl of Fife) married Margaret of Moray, the granddaughter of Owen Gruoch, and became both the Earl of Fife and the Abbott of Abernethy.
Aedh died in 1128, and the men of Moray made a few unsuccessful attempts to claim the throne whilst Clan Duff gave its support to Queen Margaret.