Findláech mac Ruaidrí (died 1020) was the ruler of Moray, in the north of modern-day Scotland, from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020.
Historians are fairly certain that Findláech was ruling before 1014 because the Orkneyinga saga reads that before the Battle of Clontarf, Jarl Siguðr of Orkney fought a battle with the Scots, who were led by a Jarl Finnlekr (i.e. Findláech the Mormaer). An Irish princess called Eithne made a banner for Siguðr, which had on it a raven. The saga records that Siguðr later brought the banner to Clontarf, where he was killed. If we believe this, then Findláech would be ruler quite a bit before 1014.[1]
At his death in 1020 Findláech is described in the Annals of Tigernach as Mormaer of Moray, but in the Annals of Ulster as King of Alba.[2] The 12th century Scottish King-lists only record the Alpinid king Máel Coluim mac Cináeda reigning as King of Alba at the time, having succeeded Cináed mac Duib directly.[3] This suggests that Findláech, as ruler of Moray, had challenged Máel Coluim for the throne of Alba, and as neither had been able to prevail over the other the kingdom had effectively been divided.[4]
His death date, as mentioned above, derives from the Annals of Ulster, which notes s.a. 1020 Finnloech m. Ruaidhri, ri Alban, a suis occisus est, that is, that Findláech was killed by his own people. No reason for this is given, but the logical thing is to conclude that his successor, his nephew Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti, had something to do with it. Indeed, the Annals of Tigernach tell us that the sons of Máel Brigte were responsible; the only sons we know of are Máel Coluim and Gille Coemgáin, both of whom evidently benefited from the killing, as both succeeded to the throne.
findláech, moray, findláech, ruaidrí, died, 1020, ruler, moray, north, modern, scotland, from, some, point, before, 1014, until, death, 1020, historians, fairly, certain, that, findláech, ruling, before, 1014, because, orkneyinga, saga, reads, that, before, ba. Findlaech mac Ruaidri died 1020 was the ruler of Moray in the north of modern day Scotland from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020 Historians are fairly certain that Findlaech was ruling before 1014 because the Orkneyinga saga reads that before the Battle of Clontarf Jarl Sigudr of Orkney fought a battle with the Scots who were led by a Jarl Finnlekr i e Findlaech the Mormaer An Irish princess called Eithne made a banner for Sigudr which had on it a raven The saga records that Sigudr later brought the banner to Clontarf where he was killed If we believe this then Findlaech would be ruler quite a bit before 1014 1 However Findlaech s main claim to fame these days is as the father of Mac Bethad made famous by William Shakespeare s play Macbeth Indeed the Irish historian known in Latin as Marianus Scotus calls Macbethad simply MacFindlaeg At his death in 1020 Findlaech is described in the Annals of Tigernach as Mormaer of Moray but in the Annals of Ulster as King of Alba 2 The 12th century Scottish King lists only record the Alpinid king Mael Coluim mac Cinaeda reigning as King of Alba at the time having succeeded Cinaed mac Duib directly 3 This suggests that Findlaech as ruler of Moray had challenged Mael Coluim for the throne of Alba and as neither had been able to prevail over the other the kingdom had effectively been divided 4 His death date as mentioned above derives from the Annals of Ulster which notes s a 1020 Finnloech m Ruaidhri ri Alban a suis occisus est that is that Findlaech was killed by his own people No reason for this is given but the logical thing is to conclude that his successor his nephew Mael Coluim mac Mail Brigti had something to do with it Indeed the Annals of Tigernach tell us that the sons of Mael Brigte were responsible the only sons we know of are Mael Coluim and Gille Coemgain both of whom evidently benefited from the killing as both succeeded to the throne References edit Hudson 1994 p 134 Woolf 2007 p 228 Woolf 2007 pp 229 230 Woolf 2007 p 230 Bibliography editAnderson Alan Orr Early Sources of Scottish History AD 500 1286 2 vols Edinburgh 1922 Hudson Benjamin T 1994 Kings of Celtic Scotland Westport Greenwood Press ISBN 9780313290879 Woolf Alex 2007 From Pictland to Alba 789 1070 Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press ISBN 9780748612345 Preceded byRuadri mac Domnall Mormaer of Moraybefore 1014 1020 Succeeded byMael Coluim mac Mail BrigtiExternal links editAnnals of Ulster Annals of Tigernach Book of Deer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Findlaech of Moray amp oldid 1145505943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
