General Notes

REFN: 7412AN
Macbeth (c. 1005-August 15, 1057) was the king of Scotland from 1040-1057.
He was the son of Malcolm II's eldest daughter and in some eyes,
including his o wn, had a better claim to the throne than Malcolm II's
chosen successor Dunca n I, who was the son of Malcolm II's second
daughter.
Macbeth formed an alli ance with Thorfinn, Earl of Orkney, son of Malcolm
II's youngest daughter, an d took up arms against Duncan. Duncan died
fighting them in battle near Elgin on August 14, 1040.
Macbeth was a strong king and ruled over a kingdom stable enough for him
to be able to leave for several months on a pilgrimage to Rom e. He
instituted a new form of law and order in Scotland. His reign was noted
as a time of prosperity. However, in 1054, Malcolm Canmore, Duncan's son,
began his campaign for the throne with the assistance of Siward, Earl of
Nort humbria, by capturing the south of Scotland. Macbeth was killed by
Malcolm at a battle near Lumphanan and the throne passed to Macbeth's
stepson, Lulach, in August, 1057.
Macbeth was buried on Iona, the traditional burial place of S cottish
Royalty at that time. His wife was Gruoch--better known to history as
Lady Macbeth.
Mac Bethad was the son of Findláech mac Ruaidrí, mormaer of Moray. His mot
her is sometimes supposed to have been a daughter of Máel Coluim mac Cináe
da. This may be derived from Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Cronykil of Sco
tland which makes Mac Bethad's mother a grand-daughter, rather than a daug
hter, of Máel Coluim. [1]
Mac Bethad's paternal ancestry can be traced in the Irish genealogies cont
ained in the Rawlinson B.502 manuscript:
Mac Bethad son of Findláech son of Ruadrí son of Domnall son of Morggán s
on of Cathamal son of Ruadrí son of Ailgelach son of Ferchar son of Ferg
us son of Nechtan son of Colmán son of Báetán son of Eochaid son of Muired
ach son of Loarn son of Ercc son of Eochaid Muinremuir.[2]
This should be compared with the ancestry claimed for Máel Coluim mac Ciná
eda which traces back to Loarn's brother Fergus Mór.[3] Several of Mac Bet
had's ancestors can tentatively be identified: Ailgelach son of Ferch
ar as Ainbcellach mac Ferchair and Ferchar son of Fergus (correctly, s
on of Feredach son of Fergus) as Ferchar Fota, while Muiredach son of Loar
n, his son Eochaid and Eochaid's son Báetán are given in the Senchus fer n
-Alban. So, while the descendants of Cináed mac Ailpín saw themselves as c
oming off the Cenél nGabráin of Dál Riata, the northern kings of Moray tra
ced their origins back to the rival Cenél Loairn.[4]
Mac Bethad's father Findláech was killed c. 1020 - one obit calls him ki
ng of Alba - most probably by his successor, his brother Máel Brigte's s
on Máel Coluim.[5] Máel Coluim died in 1029, the circumstances are unknow
n, but violence is not suggested; he is called king of Alba by the Anna
ls of Tigernach.[6] However, it should be noted that king of Al
ba is by no means the most impressive title used by the Irish annals. Ma
ny deaths reported in Irish annals in the 11th century are of rulers call
ed Ard Rí Alban - High-King of Scotland. It is not entirely certain wheth
er Máel Coluim was followed by his brother Gilla Coemgáin or by Macbeth.
Gilla Coemgáin's death in 1032 was not reported by Tigernach, but the Anna
ls of Ulster record:
Gilla Coemgáin son of Máel Brigte, mormaer of Moray, was burned together w
ith fifty people.[7]
Some have supposed that Mac Bethad was the perpetrator.[8] Others have not
ed the lack of information in the Annals, and the subsequent killings at t
he behest of Máel Coluim mac Cináeda to suggest other answers.[9] Gilla Co
emgáin had been married to Gruoch, daughter of Boite mac Cináeda, with wh
om he had a son, the future king Lulach.
It is not clear whether Gruoch's father was a son of Cináed mac Duib (d. 1
005) or of Cináed mac Maíl Coluim (d. 997), either is possible chronologic
ally.[10] After Gilla Coemgáin's death, Mac Bethad