Findláech mac Ruaidrí (died 1020) was the minor "king", locally called "Mormaer", of Moray, in the north of modern-day Scotland, from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020. Findláech's son Macbethad mac Findláech (Mac Bethad), was made famous as the protagonist of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth.
14th century Scottish chronicler and poet Andrew of Wyntoun claims that Findlaech fathered Mac Bethad with Malcolm II of Scotland's second daughter Donalda, as one of several dynastic marriages Malcolm II used to consolidate his own kingship, but there is no other confirmation of this.
Modern historians speculate that Findláech was ruling before 1014 because the Orkneyinga saga describes Jarl Siguðr of Orkney fighting a battle with Scots, led by a Jarl Finnlekr, (Norse for Findláech). Irish princess Eithne had made a banner with a raven on it for Siguðr, and the saga records that Siguðr "later" brought the banner to the Battle of Clontarf, in 1014, where he was killed, placing Findláech as ruler of Moray before 1014.[1]
The Annals of Ulster describe Findláech's death as s.a. 1020 Finnloech m. Ruaidhri, ri Alban, a suis occisus est. "Ri Alban" translates as King of Alba, however, the smaller geographical areas within what is now Scotland each had their own local "kings". The 12th century Scottish King Lists only record Malcolm II of Scotland, (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda), as King of Alba at the time, having directly succeeded his father, Kenneth II of Scotland, (Cináed mac Duib). The same Irish annals describe Malcolm as "ard ri Alban", meaning High King of Alba. The Annals of Tigernach describe Findláech as Mormaer of Moray, mormaer being the local word for king. [2]
The Annals of Ulster also state that Findláech was killed by his own people. Succession by family violence, including patricide, was common in Scotland at the time. The Annals of Tigernach tell us that the "sons of Máel Brigte" were responsible. Although the actual killer is not known, two of Brigte's sons, Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti and Gille Coemgáin, both benefited from the killing by succeeding to the throne.
Findlaech's son Macbeth succeeded to the throne of Moray, likely by killing Gille Coemgain, and eventually to the throne of Alba, when his soldiers killed Duncan I of Scotland, a verified grandson of Malcom II, but by his eldest daughter Bethóc.
findláech, moray, findláech, ruaidrí, died, 1020, minor, king, locally, called, mormaer, moray, north, modern, scotland, from, some, point, before, 1014, until, death, 1020, findláech, macbethad, findláech, bethad, made, famous, protagonist, william, shakespea. Findlaech mac Ruaidri died 1020 was the minor king locally called Mormaer of Moray in the north of modern day Scotland from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020 Findlaech s son Macbethad mac Findlaech Mac Bethad was made famous as the protagonist of William Shakespeare s play Macbeth 14th century Scottish chronicler and poet Andrew of Wyntoun claims that Findlaech fathered Mac Bethad with Malcolm II of Scotland s second daughter Donalda as one of several dynastic marriages Malcolm II used to consolidate his own kingship but there is no other confirmation of this Contents 1 Life and Death 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksLife and Death editModern historians speculate that Findlaech was ruling before 1014 because the Orkneyinga saga describes Jarl Sigudr of Orkney fighting a battle with Scots led by a Jarl Finnlekr Norse for Findlaech Irish princess Eithne had made a banner with a raven on it for Sigudr and the saga records that Sigudr later brought the banner to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 where he was killed placing Findlaech as ruler of Moray before 1014 1 The Annals of Ulster describe Findlaech s death as s a 1020 Finnloech m Ruaidhri ri Alban a suis occisus est Ri Alban translates as King of Alba however the smaller geographical areas within what is now Scotland each had their own local kings The 12th century Scottish King Lists only record Malcolm II of Scotland Mael Coluim mac Cinaeda as King of Alba at the time having directly succeeded his father Kenneth II of Scotland Cinaed mac Duib The same Irish annals describe Malcolm as ard ri Alban meaning High King of Alba The Annals of Tigernach describe Findlaech as Mormaer of Moray mormaer being the local word for king 2 The Annals of Ulster also state that Findlaech was killed by his own people Succession by family violence including patricide was common in Scotland at the time The Annals of Tigernach tell us that the sons of Mael Brigte were responsible Although the actual killer is not known two of Brigte s sons Mael Coluim mac Mail Brigti and Gille Coemgain both benefited from the killing by succeeding to the throne Findlaech s son Macbeth succeeded to the throne of Moray likely by killing Gille Coemgain and eventually to the throne of Alba when his soldiers killed Duncan I of Scotland a verified grandson of Malcom II but by his eldest daughter Bethoc References edit Hudson 1994 p 134 Woolf 2007 pp 228 230 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 1186758967, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
