The mormaers of Moray regarded themselves as having equal title to the kingship of Dal Riata which, by the turn of the millenium, was starting to emerge as the dominant power in northern Britan and was taking the shape of Alba or Scotland. Their power meant that the kings of Scotland sought whatever means they could to subjugate them and, during the rule of MALCOLM II, this included developing a stronger bond with the Norse earl of Oakney, SIGURD THE STOUT. The mormaer whose power concerned Malcolm was Findleach, who had already showed much strength of character by challenging Sigurd to battle about the year 995. Although Sigurd won, it was not a significant loss. Findleach was able to exercise considerable authority across northern Britan, disputing the borders of Orkney in the territory around Caithness and encroaching into Malcolm's territory around Ross and northern Atholl. Presumably as some form of peace arrangement, Findleach married Malcolm's daughter Donada, possibly as early as the year 1000 when Malcolm was sub-king of Strathclyde. By this marriage Findlaech became the father of MACBETH. However, soon after Macbeth's birth a strange situation developed. Findleach's and Malcolm's relationship must have grown more tense because Findleach seems to have rejected Donada. We do not know the circumstances but about the year 1006 Donada had been remarried to Sigurd of Orkney. Some records suggest that these were two different ladies of the same name and that Findleach's wife was the daughter of KENNETH II and thus the aunt of the later Donada. Another interpretation has been that Sigurd's wife was another daughter of Malcolm's not Donada. Either way, the improved relationship between Sigurd and Malcolm was a threat to Findleach. Findleach's power was further reduced when, during 1009 and 1010, viking raids under SWEIN FORKBEARD began to intensify along the eastern coastline of Scotland and Moray. Findleach found that he needed to call upon Malcolm's aid to rebuff the viking menace. In 1014 Sigurd was killed at the battle of Clontarf. This was an opportunity for Findleach to increase his power across northern Britan. Athough Malcolm was in his sixties he continued to scheme, and was looking after the fortunes of his grandson, the future THORFINN THE MIGHTY, whom he created earl of Caithness, territory which was only tenuously Malcolm's to bestow. The years after Clontarf left the Orkney earls in some disarray and if any moment was ripe to attack Malcolm's power base it was then. For some reason Findleach not do so, and his doubtlessly caused a rift within the Moray heirarchy. In 1020 Findleach was murdered by his nephews MALCOLM and GILLECOMGAIN.
Donald III Bane (The White)
Donald was the younger brother of MALCOLM III and for the most of his life probably had no designs for the Scottish throne. He was almost certainly made mormaer of Gowrie around the year 1060 but there is no record he played any part in Malcolm's affairs. It is possible that the two brothers were estranged and that Donald did not support Malcolm and Margaret's reforms. He lived in exile in Ireland and the Western Isles and therby endeared himself to the pro-Gaelic party in Scotland. After the death of Malcolm and his heir Edward, it was Donald who raised to the throne during the days of confusion over the sucession. Donald was sixty, and though his hair had probably turned white (hence his name) he was evidently strong and hale of body. Donald and his supporters promptly expelled the Norman and Saxon refugees from Scotland. As a consequence Malcolm's oldest son, DUNCAN, who had hitherto also shown no interest in the kingship, but who had lived as a hostage at the courts of WILLIAM I and II of England for many years, came into the picture. He was supported by William II and his army defeated Donald and drove him out of Scotland. Duncan held the throne for only seven months before being defeated by Donald at the battle of Monthecin in November 1094, after which Donald was restored to the throne. However, Donald now divided his kingdom between himself and his nephew EDMUND, with Donald's rule amongst the heart of his supporters in the Highlands north of Forth/Clyde valley. This arrangement survived for less then three years as another of Malcolm's sons, EDGAR, recieved greater support from William II and deposed Donald and Edmund in October 1097. Donald was blinded and imprisoned at Rescobie in Forfarshire, where he died some eighteen months later. He was buried at Dunkeld Abbey but later his remains were removed to Iona by his adherents. He was the last Scottish king to be buried there, and thus marks the end of the old tradition of Gaelic kings.
Macbeth
The Macbeth of history was rather different from the tragic character portrayed by Shakespeare. He was the son of Findleach, the mormaer of Moray of the line of Loarn, a collateral branch of the rulers of Dal Riata much of what was soon to become Scotland. His mother Donada, was the daughter of MALCOLM II of Scotland. Not much is known about his youth. His father was murdered when Macbeth was fifteen or so, and the mormaership was taken by Macbeth's cousins MALCOLM and subsequently GILLECOMGAIN. It was after the latter's murder in 1032 that Macbeth, now twenty-seven, inherited the title. Whilst his predecessors had been hostile to Malcolm II and actively sought to usurp the throne, Macbeth was a less belligerent. Malcolm's successor, DUNCAN, Mabeth's cousin, however, was a far less competent king. He bungled his first attempts at invading Northumbria to the south and Caithness to the north at the same time in 1040, so he concentrated all his forces on the north, against the earl of Orkney, THORFINN. Duncan's forces were outmanouvered at every turn. Thorfinn's forces were supplemented by those of Macbeth as Duncan retreated, so that it was Macbeth who encountered Duncan at Pitgaveny in August 1040, where Duncan was killed. Later accounts that Macbeth murdered Duncan are total fabrication. Duncan's oldest son, MALCOLM (III), was only nine and he and his brother were hurried away to the English court for safey. Macbeth was next in line to the throne and he was elected to the kingship apparently without contest or opposition. Macbeth ruled strongly and wisely for the next fourteen years without any major mishap. Because of his close relationship with is half-brother Thorfinn, there was no conflict with the Norse of Orkney. If anything, Thorfinn knew he could rely on Macbeth's support when Thorfinn went on a punitive raid as far south as Man and North Wales in 1042. The only challenge to his rule came from his uncle Crinan, the father of Duncan and the mormaer of Atholl. Crinan probably sought to place his second son, MALDRED, on the throne and in 1045 Crinan, then aged about seventy, staged a rebellion. The two factions met at Dunkeld where Crinan and Maldred were killed. For the next nine years there seems to be no instability in Macbeth's reign. He was apparently a genirous and pious ruler. He is described as a tall man with a ruddy complexion and fair hair. In 1050, he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome where it recorded that he scattered gifts and money
