Macbeth (Scotland) King of Scots
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Mac Bethadh MacFinnlaech (Scotland) King of Scots (abt. 1005 - 1057)

Mac Bethadh MacFinnlaech (Macbeth) King of Scots formerly Scotland
Born about in Province of Moray, Scotlandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1032 [location unknown]
Died at about age 52 in Lumphanan, Scotlandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 7 May 2011
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Scottish Nobility
Macbeth (Scotland) King of Scots was a member of Scottish Nobility.
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Preceded by
Gilleomgain MacMaelbrighte		 Mormaer of Moray
1032-15 Aug 1057		 Succeeded by
Lulach I
Preceded by
Duncan I		 King of Scots
14 Aug 1040-15 Aug 1057		 Succeeded by
Lulach I

Contents

Biography

”Rí Alban," "Mac Bethad mac Findlaích,” “Machabeus,” “MacBeathadh, Son of Life,” “Macbrethack,” “Macheth filius Findleg,” “Macfinlaeg,” “Mælbeth,” “Macbeda,” “Beth,” “Bed,” “Beda,” “Rí Deircc,” “The Red King,” “The Furious Red One,” “The Red, Tall, Golden-haired One,” “Rex Scottiæ,” “King of Scots,” “King of Scotia,” “King of Alban,” “King of Fortriu,” “Mormaer of Moray”
House of Moray

Birth and Parents

Macbeth MacFinnlaech was born about 1005, the son of Finnlaech "Mormaer of Moray" MacRuaidrí, and uncertain, but likely, his 2nd wife, Donada MacAlpin, the 2nd daughter of Mael Coluim “Malcolm II, King of Scots“ MacAlpin.[1][2][3][4]

His Name Appears in the Ancient Annals

Although the early life of Macbeth MacFinnlaech is unknown, he is likely the “Mælbeth,” who along with Malcolm II “King of Scots” MacAlpin and a king, called Jehmar, Meargach (Echmarcach) "Ineargach" mac Ragnaill, submitted to Knut (Cnut) "the Great, King of Denmark, King of Norway, King of England" Sveynsson when he invaded Scotland in 1031.[5][6][2][7][8][9]

He further emerged from obscurity as he avenged his father’s death in 1032 to become Macbeth “Mormaer of Moray” MacFinnlaech.[5][10] His father, Finnlaech, had been killed in 1020 by Gilleomgain “Mormaer of Moray” and his brother, Malcolm, [11] who had died in 1029.[12] MacBeth and the “Men of Atholl” burned to death his 1st cousin, Gilleomgain, and 50 of his followers. [13][14][15] It had been intended that Gruoch, the wife of Gilleomgain, and their infant son, Lulach, were also to be burned, but “she was visiting relatives elsewhere at the time and survived.’’ [16]

Marriage and Step-child

Later, Macbeth sought to marry Gruoch, the same woman he previously planned to murder. Incredible by present day standards, but politically strategic in Medieval times, this marriage was expected to “recruit Gillacomgain’s following and staunch the feud…”[17] Sometime after 1032, he did marry Gruoch, widow of Gilleomgain “Mormaer of Moray,” daughter of Boete (Bodhe) McAlpin, granddaughter of Kenneth III "King of Scots" MacAlpin.[5][18][2][19] Although he acknowledged Lulach, the son of Gruoch, as a step-child, there were no children of this marriage. [20][21]

Macbeth, King of Scots

He acceded in 1040 as Macbeth MacFinnlaech, King of Scots and reigned 17 years [1] after he defeated and killed his 1st cousin, Duncan I, “King of Scots" MacCrínáin, in the Battle of Pitgaveny (Bothnagowan) near Elgin.[5][22][2][23][24][25][26] [27] Macbeth and Thorfinn Sigurdsson, Earl of Orkney cooperated in the defeat of Duncan I, each taking portions of his kingdom. This probably marked the beginning of the long-term friendship between these 1st cousins.[28]

During his reign, Scotland enjoyed a period of abundant wealth. [29] The Prophecy of Berchán, [30] really a history, memorialized the well-being of his subjects:

After the red king will take sovereignty, the kingship of noble Scotland of hilly aspect; after slaughter of the Gaels, after slaughter of Vikings, the generous king of Fortriu will take sovereignty.
The red, tall, golden-haired one will be pleasant to me among them; Scotland will be brimful west and east during the reign of the furious red one. - Prophecy of Berchán

Between 1037 and 1054, Macbeth and Gruoch displayed their marital tranquility and mutual piety by granting lands to the monks of the Priory of Lochleven including the village of Bogie.[31][5][32][33] However, their peaceful reign was disrupted in 1045 by Crínán "Abbot of Dunkeld", who gathered “men of Scotland” to avenge the murder of his son, Duncan I. This threat was quickly settled by Macbeth in a fight “on one road wherein Crinan, abbot of Dunkeld, was killed, and a multitude along with him, to wit, nine score laymen.” [34][5][35][36] Crínán was the third family member killed at the hand of Macbeth, and, in 1050, he made a pilgrimage to Rome with cousin, Thorfinn Sigurdsson, Earl of Orkney, “probably to obtain absolution for the murder of Duncan I.” [37][5][38][39] Historians noted his ostentatious display as he publicly broadcast silver coins to the poor people of Rome.[40][2][41]

Death

In 1052, he broke tradition and made enemies as he sheltered Norman fugitives from England. [20][42] This act likely entangled him in the power struggles raging between Edward, the Confessor, King of England and Godwin of Wessex [43]and set the stage for his downfall and death. In 1054, Edward, the Confessor directed Siward Bjornsson, Earl of Northumbria to lead an army against Macbeth to install a successor, Malcolm Dunkeld, the son of Duncan I. Macbeth was defeated at Scone on 27 Jul 1054 but escaped after a battle with many deaths on both sides. [20][44][45][46][47][48][49][2][50] Later, however, Malcolm “King of the Cumbrians”, returned without Siward, who had died. On 15 Aug 1057, Macbeth was killed In the Battle of Lumphanan [51][52][20][53][2][54][55][56][57][58] and buried in the Isle of Iona. [59][20][2]

He was succeeded by his wife’s son, Lulach[60][55][59] who reigned about 7 months until he was also killed, then succeeded by Malcolm III, King of Scots.[61][62][2][63][64]

Research Notes

  1. Macbeth’s Name and his Claim to the Throne of Scotland. According to D. F. Dale, “MacBeth claimed the throne through his mother's right, that is why his name is MacBeth, his mother was Bethoc.” [65] Or, according to Nicholas Boyter Aitchison, “MacBeth survives as various Scottish surnames, not only MacBeth…Although MacBeth conforms to the structure of a Gaelic patronymic, the name carries no notation of filiation but expresses a more obscure concept: MacBeth means ‘son of life, a righteous man’…’MacBeth’ denotes one who is saved spiritually, Christian.”[66] MacBeth‘s royal claim may have come from his father, Finnlaech "Mormaer of Moray" MacRuaidrí, who was called “overking of Scotland” in the “Annals of Tigernach.” [57][67][68]
  2. “Macbeth and Lulach revisited, Lulach actually preceded Macbeth in death?” (G2G), 30 Oct 2022. According to A. A. M. Duncan, “The events of 1057–58 seem straightforward. Accepting Fordun’s dates, Macbeth reigned for seventeen years, that is 1040–5 December 1057, and was killed at Lumphanan by Maelcoluim (III). Lulach succeeded on 8 December and four and a half months later, on 23 April 1058, was killed at Essie in Strathbogie…” [55][69][56][2]
  3. “Proof of MacBeth’s child?” (G2G), 17 Jun 2018. Dunbar and Weir both assert that MacBeth sired no children [20][21] There is no discoverable record of any children of MacBeth. Specifically, there is no credible record of MacBeth having a son Macbeatha McFinley. Lulach (MacRory) King of Scotland, son of Gruoch by her first marriage, appears as a stepson. [21] Shakespeare inspired the myth of Macbeth’s child. [70] Despite the lack of evidence, various groups claim descendance from MacBeth[71]
  4. “Use of Scotland as a LNAB” (G2G), Jun 17, 2018, “The LNAB will be the surname the individual had at birth. NOTE: Peers (and other nobles) are known by and addressed using their most senior title not the family surname,” Scotland - Name Field Guidelines, Space:Scotland_-_Name_Field_Guidelines. Also, see Icelandic names and patronymic. Further, see Help:Name Fields for European Aristocrats, Help:Name_Fields_for_European_Aristocrats, citing, “PATRONYMICS: Patronymics are middle names (unless nothing else is available).” LNAB remains an open item to be determined by Scotland Project leadership. Scotland is incorrect; it will likely be changed to the dynastic house, “Moray,” or the patronymic, “MacFinnlaech.”

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dunbar, Archibald Hamilton, Sir. Scottish kings; a revised chronology of Scottish history, 1005-1625. Edinburgh: David Douglas (1899), p. 17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Cawley, Charles Medieval Lands: a Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families. Hereford, UK: Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (2006), chap. 6.A.1.a) MACBETH.
  3. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlaích] (d. 1057), king of Scots, was the son of Findlaech mac Ruaidrí (d. 1020), king of Moray, and (probably) nepos (nephew or grandson) of Malcolm II (d. 1034). ” ODNB
  4. ↑ Unknown. GENELACH CLAINDE LULAIG. Book of Leinster (c. 1160), Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition, section 69.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Dunbar, Archibald Hamilton, Sir. Scottish kings; a revised chronology of Scottish history, 1005-1625. Edinburgh: David Douglas (1899), p. 18.
  6. ↑ Giles, John Allen. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. London: G. Bell and sons, Ltd. (1914), p. 110.
  7. ↑ Duncan, A A M. Kingship of the Scots, A.D.842-1292: Succession and Independence. (Edinburgh Classic Editions). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2002) (Kindle), https://a.co/doCYIya.
  8. ↑ Clarkson, Tim. Strathclyde and the Anglo-Saxons in the Viking Age. First published in Great Britain in 2014 by John Donald, Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. (Kindle) (2014), https://a.co/cFhMKBx
  9. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4826, https://a.co/10Zzxgg
  10. ↑ Moffat, Alistair. The Faded Map: Lost Kingdoms of Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited (2010). P. 18, https://a.co/0joOwXT
  11. ↑ Duncan, A A M. Kingship of the Scots, A.D.842-1292: Succession and Independence. (Edinburgh Classic Editions). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2002) (Kindle), p. 60, https://a.co/iffWOP0.
  12. ↑ Stokes, Whitley; Tigernach, Abbot of Clonmacnoise. The Annals of Tigernach… Paris: Librairie Emile Bouillon (1895-97), p. 369.
  13. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “Macbeth became king of Moray in 1032 when his cousin Gille Comgáin mac Maíl Brigte was burnt with fifty of his followers, possibly at Macbeth's instigation. Gille Comgáin and his brother Mael Coluim (d. 1029) had killed Macbeth's father, Findlaech, in 1020.” ODNB
  14. ↑ Cannon, John; Hargreaves, Anne The Kings and Queens of Britain (Oxford Quick Reference). New York: Oxford University Press Inc. (2001, 2004, 2009) p. 121, https://a.co/gRDTKOo
  15. ↑ Robertson, Eben William. Scotland under her early kings: a history of the kingdom to the close of the thirteenth century. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Thomas (1862), pps. 120, 121.
  16. ↑ Robertson, Bill. Articles about Clan Donnachaidh, King Duncan I. Muskegon, MI: Electric Scotland USA LLC (1898), citing, “Malcolm who in 1032 raised the men of Atholl to attack Gillecomgain in his fortress. He and fifty of his men were burnt to death. It was intended that [his wife] Gruoch and [their] infant son Lulach were to be dispatched also, but she was visiting relatives elsewhere at the time and survived.”Clan Donnachaidh
  17. ↑ Duncan, A A M. Kingship of the Scots, A.D.842-1292: Succession and Independence. (Edinburgh Classic Editions). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2002) (Kindle), https://a.co/6axBtGd
  18. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “Macbeth married Gille Comgáin's widow, Gruoch, the daughter of Boite mac Cinaeda, who was probably a son of Kenneth II (d. 995).” ODNB
  19. ↑ Marshall, Rosalind K. Scottish Queens, 1034–1714: The Queens and Consorts Who Shaped a Nation. Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. (2003), p. 3, https://a.co/gZ66zsj
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 Dunbar, Archibald Hamilton, Sir. Scottish kings; a revised chronology of Scottish history, 1005-1625. Edinburgh: David Douglas (1899), p. 18.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Weir, Alison. Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy. London: Vintage (1989), https://a.co/hyzxHKu
  22. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4897, https://a.co/9cuTGKn
  23. ↑ Duncan, A A M. Kingship of the Scots, A.D.842-1292: Succession and Independence. (Edinburgh Classic Editions). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2002) (Kindle), https://a.co/3UqIt3Q.
  24. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “Macbeth had better fortune against Duncan I, king of Scots, whose campaign against Moray in 1040 culminated in Duncan's death in battle against Macbeth, probably at Pitgaveny near Elgin on 14 August.” ODNB
  25. ↑ Bower, Walter. A History Book for Scots: Selections from the Scotichronicon. Edinburgh, Birlinn, Ltd, (1998, 2012), https://a.co/bMWEhjq
  26. ↑ Foster, Sally Picts, Gaels and Scots: Early Historic Scotland. Edinburgh, Birlinn Limited (2014), https://a.co/7Sh2Uen
  27. ↑ Rampini, Charles, A history of Moray and Nairn, (Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood, (1797), 34..
  28. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4911, https://a.co/3YRJPYc
  29. ↑ Andrew of Wyntoun. The Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland. Edinburgh: William Paterson (1879). p. 252, 254, 261.
  30. ↑ Hudson, Benjamin T. Prophecy of Berchán: Irish and Scottish High-kings of the Early Middle Ages. United Kingdom: Greenwood Press (1996), p. 91.
  31. ↑ Andrew of Wyntoun. The Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland. Edinburgh: William Paterson (1879), p. xvi.
  32. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4931, https://a.co/9NpV9tn
  33. ↑ Liddell, W. J. N. The Place Names of Fife and Kinross. Edinburgh: William Green & Sons (1896), p. 10.
  34. ↑ Stokes, Whitley; Tigernach, Abbot of Clonmacnoise. The Annals of Tigernach… Paris: Librairie Emile Bouillon (1895-97), p. 385.
  35. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4934, https://a.co/43uQMSd
  36. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “Macbeth's kingship did not go uncontested, however. In 1045 he defeated and killed Duncan I's father, Crinán, abbot of Dunkeld.” ODNB.
  37. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4939, https://a.co/baXvOky
  38. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “But by 1050 Macbeth's position was sufficiently stable to allow him to make a pilgrimage to Rome—the only reigning king of Scotland to do so—where he 'scattered money like seed to the poor' (Anderson, Early Sources, 1.588).” ODNB.
  39. ↑ The Orkneyinga Saga, Anonymous; Hjaltalin, Jon A., trans.; Goudie, Gilbert, ed.; Anderson, Joseph, notes & intro., Library of Alexandria, Kindle edition, (Edinburgh: Edmondston and Douglas, bef. 1225), 430. [Kindle], citing, “As Macbeth, the only Scottish sovereign who ever visited the city of Rome, made his pilgrimage thither in the year 1050, and Thorfinn and he were close friends and allies, it is probable that they went together.”
  40. ↑ Florence, of Worcester. The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester… London: H. G. Bohn (1854), p. 150.
  41. ↑ Andrew of Wyntoun. The Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland. Edinburgh: William Paterson (1879). p. 235.
  42. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “He was alive to developments in the wider world, and in 1052 took two Norman knights into his service—the first Scottish king to take such recruits.” ODNB.
  43. ↑ Campbell, Miles W. Earl Godwin of Wessex and Edward Confessor’s Promise of Throne to William of Normandy. Traditio 28 (1972): 141–58, citing, “Although defeated in 1051 by the Confessor…the following summer, Godwin and his son Harold launched a joint invasion of England…,”http://www.jstor.org/stable/27830940.
  44. ↑ Stevenson, J. The historical works of Simeon of Durham… United Kingdom: n.p. (1855), citing, “A. D. 1054. Siward, the valiant duke of the Northumbrians, by king Edward's order, went to Scotland with an army of cavalry and a powerful fleet, and fougt a battle with Macbeoth, king of Scots; and having slain many Scottish soldiers and all the Normans whom we mentioned above, he routed Macbeoth, and, as the king directed, appointed Malcolm, son of the king of the Cumbrians, king. Yet in that battle his own son, and many of the Angles and Danes, fell.” p. 538.
  45. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4947, https://a.co/4qVsnSe
  46. ↑ Florence, of Worcester. The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester… London: H. G. Bohn (1854), p. 156.
  47. ↑ Giles, John Allen. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. London: G. Bell and sons, Ltd. (1914), p. 130.
  48. ↑ Carruthers, Bob. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Illustrated and Annotated (Military History from Primary Sources). Pen & Sword Military (Kindle) (2013), https://a.co/9BeWTBz
  49. ↑ Barrow, G. W. S. Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000-1306. (Edinburgh Classic Editions) Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (1981, 2003, 2015), https://a.co/39V13Jk
  50. ↑ John, of Worcester The chronicle of John of Worcester. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. (1995). p. 575.
  51. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4981, https://a.co/hcA1x9j
  52. ↑ Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), vol. 4, p. 576.
  53. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “In 1054 he faced a strong challenge from Duncan I's now adult son, Malcolm Canmore [see Malcolm III], who was backed by a powerful Northumbrian army. A bloody battle took place on 27 July, probably at Dunsinane (in what is now Perthshire), after which Macbeth was forced to give Malcolm some lands and position. This set up Malcolm to challenge Macbeth, and he killed him on 15 August 1057 at Lumphanan in Mar. The chief beneficiary, however, was Macbeth's stepson, Lulach [see below], who became king. His father, Gille Comgáin, had been killed by Macbeth. It may be that when Macbeth was finally overcome it was by the combined might of the sons of the kings he had killed in the advancement of his own career. A late (and debatable) source alleges that he was buried on Iona.” ODNB.
  54. ↑ MacFirbis, Duald; Hennessy, William Maunsell. Chronicum Scotorum…. London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer (1866), citing, “Mac-Bethadh, son of Finnlach, chief King of Alba, was slain by Maelcoluim, son of Donnchada.”p. 285.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 Duncan, A A M. Kingship of the Scots, A.D.842-1292: Succession and Independence. (Edinburgh Classic Editions). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2002) (Kindle), https://a.co/gWboDE4.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Fordun, John. John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish nation. Skene, William F. (ed). Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas (1872), vol. IV, p. 423, citing, “ Cap. VII. and VIII. The expedition under Siward seems to have taken place in the year 1054, when, according to Tighernac, a battle took place between the Albanach, or Scotch, and the Saxons, in which many were slain — according to the Annals of Ulster, 3000 of the Scotch, and 1500 of the Saxons ; and in the same year, according to the Saxon Chronicle, " Earl Siward went with a large army to Scotland, both with a naval force and a land force, and fought against the Scots, and put to flight King Macbeth, and slew all that was best then in the land." But the final defeat of Macbeth by Malcolm at Lumphanan, in Aberdeenshire, did not take place, according to the Irish Annalists, till 1057, and this is confirmed by Marianus Scotus, a contemporary writer, who states that Macfinlaeg, i.e. Macbeth, was slain in August of that year, and his successor Lulach in the following March, when Malcolm succeeded.— (Chron. Ficts and Scots, p. 65.) .” p. 423
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Stokes, Whitley; Tigernach, Abbot of Clonmacnoise. The Annals of Tigernach… Paris: Librairie Emile Bouillon (1895-97), p. 199.
  58. ↑ Malmesbury, William; Sharpe, John Rev. The History of the Kings of England and the Modern History of William of Malmesbury. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown (1815), p. 246.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Fordun, John. John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish nation. Skene, William F. (ed). Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas (1872), vol. IV., citing, “…both these kings, Machabeus and Lulath, were buried in the Island of Iona.” p. 194
  60. ↑ Hudson, Benjamin T. Prophecy of Berchán: Irish and Scottish High-kings of the Early Middle Ages. United Kingdom: Greenwood Press (1996), p. 226.
  61. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. Edinburgh: David Douglas (2014), History and Ethnology, loc. 4985, https://a.co/bZN1GhW.
  62. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing, “Lulach [Lulach mac Gille Comgáin] (d. 1058), king of Scots, was the son of Gille Comgáin mac Maíl Brigte (d. 1032), king of Moray from 1029, and Gruoch, who was the daughter of Boite mac Cinaeda and who subsequently married Macbeth. King-lists of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries describe him as (fatuus'stupid') or (infelix'unlucky'). He became king on Macbeth's death on 15 August 1057. It is usually argued that, despite defeat against Malcolm Canmore, son of Duncan I, Macbeth's followers were still able to seize the kingship for Lulach ahead of Malcolm. Lulach was soon defeated and killed 'by treachery' by Malcolm on 17 March 1058, at Essie, near Rhynie, in Strathbogie (in what is now Aberdeenshire).” ODNB.
  63. ↑ Skene, William Forbes. Celtic Scotland: a history of ancient Alban. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1876), vol. III, chap. VIII, citing, “The first of these great Celtic tribes to break up was that which formed the great earldom, or rather petty kingdom, of Moray. Here we find a family making their appearance in the eleventh century in the Irish Annals as Mormaers of Moray, and occasionally bearing the title of Ri or king. This line of Celtic kings or Mormaers terminated with Maelsnechtan, son of that Lulach mac Gillcomgan who succeeded Macbeth as king of Scotland for three months.” p. 287.
  64. ↑ Moffat, Alistair. The Faded Map: Lost Kingdoms of Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn, Ltd. (2010), https://a.co/1ifjh7E
  65. ↑ Dale, D. F. The History of the Scots, Picts and Britons: A study of the origins of the Scots, Picts, Britons (and Anglo-Saxons) in Dark Age Britain based on their own legends, tales and testimonies. Edinburgh, Luath Press (Kindle) (2020), https://a.co/dgqZvAO
  66. ↑ Aitchison, Nicholas Boyter. Macbeth: man and myth. Sparkford, UK: J. H. Haynes & Co. (2000), p. 38.
  67. ↑ Broun, Dauvit Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlèch]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), citing “Whatever dynastic claim Macbeth may have had, it is notable that both his father, Findlaech, and his cousin Mael Coluim were described as 'king of Scotland' in their obits, even though their power base seems to have been Moray. Perhaps Macbeth's accession was simply the culmination of Moray's increasing dominance over the more prestigious kingship of 'Scotland'. Macbeth also had land and influence beyond Moray (perhaps through his wife, Gruoch, who belonged to the once dominant lineage of descendants of Kenneth I), and is recorded as a benefactor of the Céli Dé of Loch Leven, to whom he and his wife granted estates in Fothriff (west Fife).”.ODNB.
  68. ↑ Skene, William Forbes, ed. Chronicles of the Picts, chronicles of the Scots, and other early memorials of Scottish history. Edinburgh: H. M. General House (1867), citing, “the ‘Irish Annals’ record a Boede, son of Kenneth, whose grandson was slain in the year 1033 ; and it appears from the chartulary of St. Andrews that Gruoch filia Boede was wife of Macbeth, son of Finnloech, and reigned along with him, while Lulach, his successor, is termed in one of the Latin lists, ‘nepos filii Boede’ ; and thus the rights of that family may have passed to her husband and to Lulach, and given rise to their claims upon the throne. p. cxlvii.
  69. ↑ Maguire, Cathay Mac Magnusa. Annals of Ulster… Dublin: A. Thomas & co. (limited) (1887), p. 565.
  70. ↑ Rosenberg, Marvin. Lady Macbeth’s Indispensable Child. Educational Theatre Journal 26, no. 1 (1974): 14–19, citing, “Of course Lady Macbeth has at least one child; she reminds her husband that she has ‘given suck’…History may insist the child was not sired by Macbeth…” https://doi.org/10.2307/3206576.
  71. ↑ Strunk, John T.; Weavers, James Pringle. Clan MacBeth. The Scottish Nation. Muskegon, MI: Electric Scotland USA LLC (2022), Clan MacBeth.

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posted by Clyde Perkins
Sheppard-2686 Pip Sheppard
Clyde, you have outdone yourself and I am proud of the work you have accomplished on this profile. It is absolutely amazing the work that you put into this, a very worthy WikiTree profile now.

Thanks!!!

Pip

posted by Pip Sheppard
Olar-3 Jared Olar
“MacBeth claimed the throne through his mother's right, that is why his name is MacBeth, his mother was Bethoc.” [13]

That's an interesting bit of speculation on Dale's part, but there's no evidence that Mac Bethad's name is a matronym rather than simply being his given name, which is how all primary sources that give the name "Mac Bethad" treat it. We know that Donnchadh mac Crinan's mother was Bethoc, daughter of Mael coluim II, but there's no evidence that he and Mac Bethad were uterine half-brothers.

It's not even clear that Mac Bethad claimed the throne through his mother, though later legend says he did. The Gaelic pedigrees indicate that he claimed the throne through his father's traditional or alleged patrilineal descent from Loarn mac Erc, King of Dal Riata. And that would be in keeping with the Gaelic "derbfine" (immediate family) right of succession, which was patrilineal (later, and more commonly known as "tanistry"). It may well be that, while Mac Bethad and Donnchadh may have had their claims strengthened through their maternal or marital connections, their actual right was patrilineal, through a real or alleged direct male descent from the earlier kings of Dal Riata or Alba.

posted by Jared Olar
edited by Jared Olar
Perkins-11750 Clyde Perkins
Deleted portrait image with no included or discoverable copyright permissions.
posted by Clyde Perkins
edited by Clyde Perkins
Perkins-11750 Clyde Perkins
I will be updating this profile on behalf of the Scotland Project using Scotland - Profile Standards, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Scotland_-_Profile_Standards.

Please be patient while this is being done, and if anyone has new sources they would like to share please message me or post here.

Thank you,

Clyde, for the Scotland Project

posted by Clyde Perkins
Sheppard-2686 Pip Sheppard
“Stolen” would be a strong word to use retroactively to a time when these kinds of things happened all the time. Duncan apparently was not a popular king late is his reign, so Macbeth might have had backing to take the throne. See Peter Beresford Ellis’ bio of Macbeth for a discussions this issue.
posted by Pip Sheppard
Lauder-Frost-1 Gregory Lauder-Frost
Quite a very large amount of fantasy and faction here. For instance, "Siward, the Earl of Northumberland, at the behest of Edward the Confessor" invaded Scotland. No, at the behest of Malcolm Canmore to recover his throne, stolen by MacBeth. Also Siward's army was a mixture including Norman mercenaries.

Moray was not an independent kingdom. And Mormaers and Thanes were the equivalent of Earls.

posted by Gregory Lauder-Frost
McBeth-165 Emma (McBeth) MacBeath M.Ed MSM
I am wondering why MacBeth's last name is listed as Scotland? He is the son of Findlèch which would make his name some spelling version of Mac Bethad mac Findlaích just as his son is similar named.
posted by Emma (McBeth) MacBeath M.Ed MSM
Olar-3 Jared Olar
"Scotland" is used to designate that he was a King of Scotland. Hereditary surnames did not exist at this period of Scottish history, so "mac Findlaich" is not a surname but literally his patronym.
posted by Jared Olar
Maxwell-1489 Maria Maxwell
McFinley-5 and Scotland-163 do not represent the same person because: McFinley-5 seems to be the son of Scotland-163
posted by Maria Maxwell
Arbuthnot-53 William (Arbuthnot) Arbuthnot of Kittybrewster 2nd Bt
It would be great if somebody were to do a succession box for these cousins as the throne passed between them
posted by William (Arbuthnot) Arbuthnot of Kittybrewster 2nd Bt

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