House of Moray
Encyclopedia
The so-called House of Moray is a historiographical and genealogical construct to illustrate the succession of rulers whose base was at the region of Moray
and who ruled sometimes a larger kingdom. It is much the same as Cenél Loairn (although not necessarily exactly), an originally Celtic concept to express one of the two rivalling leader clans of early medieval Scotland.
The so-called house of Loairn or of Moray was distantly related to the Scottish
House of Alpin
, its rival, and claiming descent from the eponym
ous founder Loarn mac Eirc
. Some of its members became the last kings of the Picts
while three centuries later, two members succeeded to the Scottish throne ruling Scotland from 1040 until 1058.
At the times when the rival held the throne, the Loairn leaders however usually had their effectively independent state of Moray, where a succession of kings (kinglets) or mormaers ruled.
The Loairn succession followed quite loyally the rules of tanistry
, resulting in practice to outcomes where branches of the leaders' extended family rotated on the rulership, possibly keeping a balance between important branches (this is quite typical for tribal societies, where primogeniture is much less usual than agnatic seniority
or turns on the throne). For example, MacBeth descended from one branch and his stepson Lulach from another.
Not much nor convincing evidence survives that the House of Loairn followed in any way the postulated Pictish tradition of matrilineal succession. Rather, their succession seems to follow quite fully the Irish-Celtic tradition of agnatic clan.
Cenél Loairn kings, in particular the descendants of Ferchar Fota
, competed successfully for control of Dál Riata in the early 8th century, prior to the Pictish conquest of the kingdom by Óengus mac Fergusa
.
in 1040, two members of the kindred ruled as Kings of Scots.
Additionally, Giric mac Dúngail
(878–889) may have been a member of this kindred.
Already MacBeth's father and cousin (Lulach's uncle) had been "kings of Alba":
Lulach's son and grandson were, however, titled kings of Moray, not of Alba:
(died 1130), who has no attestation of descending in male line from Cenel Loairn clan (he was son of daughter of Lulach), is the last known member of the kindred to have ruled Moray, after which it (supposedly) passed to William fitz Duncan
of the Cenél nGabráin descended royal family. While the Meic Uilleim
and MacHeths
are sometimes associated with Moray, it is no longer widely supposed that they were claiming the Mormaerdom or that they belonged to this kindred, except possibly through female descent. However, Michael Mackay, author and researcher of the Clan Aedh or Mackay claims that King Lulach's daughter married her cousin, Aedh, Mormaor of Ross, who was a great-grandson of Domnall mac Ruaridh, King MacBeth's uncle. Michael Mackay further claims that Angus, king of Moray who was killed in battle in 1130 was their son. His brother Mael-Coluim MacAedh, Mormaor of Moray and Ross, who was imprisoned and released my King Mael-Coluim IV, and who died in 1168, continued the line. Several generations claimed the Scottish Throne until Mael-Coluim IV drove most of the Moraymen out of Moray. Mael-colum MacAedh's family fled over the mountains and settled in Strathnaver. This family is represented in the male line today by Lord Mackay of Reay, 14th Lord, who is Chief of Clan Aedh. Lord Mackay's DNA has not yet been tested, but Y-chromosome DNA taken from Mackays in America show the DNA signature of the Dal-Riada royal clan, of which the Cinel Loairn was the senior division
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
and who ruled sometimes a larger kingdom. It is much the same as Cenél Loairn (although not necessarily exactly), an originally Celtic concept to express one of the two rivalling leader clans of early medieval Scotland.
The so-called house of Loairn or of Moray was distantly related to the Scottish
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
House of Alpin
House of Alpin
The House of Alpin is the name given to the kin-group which ruled in Pictland and then the kingdom of Alba from the advent of Cináed mac Ailpín in the 840s until the death of Máel Coluim mac Cináeda in 1034....
, its rival, and claiming descent from the eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous founder Loarn mac Eirc
Loarn mac Eirc
Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata who may have lived in the 5th century.The Duan Albanach and the Senchus Fer n-Alban and other genealogies name Loarn's father as Erc son of Eochaid Muinremuir...
. Some of its members became the last kings of the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
while three centuries later, two members succeeded to the Scottish throne ruling Scotland from 1040 until 1058.
At the times when the rival held the throne, the Loairn leaders however usually had their effectively independent state of Moray, where a succession of kings (kinglets) or mormaers ruled.
The Loairn succession followed quite loyally the rules of tanistry
Tanistry
Tanistry was a Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist was the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Man, to succeed to the chieftainship or to the kingship.-Origins:The Tanist was chosen from...
, resulting in practice to outcomes where branches of the leaders' extended family rotated on the rulership, possibly keeping a balance between important branches (this is quite typical for tribal societies, where primogeniture is much less usual than agnatic seniority
Agnatic seniority
Agnatic seniority is a patrilineal principle of inheritance where the order of succession to the throne prefers the monarch's younger brother over the monarch's own sons. A monarch's children succeed only after the males of the elder generation have all been exhausted...
or turns on the throne). For example, MacBeth descended from one branch and his stepson Lulach from another.
Not much nor convincing evidence survives that the House of Loairn followed in any way the postulated Pictish tradition of matrilineal succession. Rather, their succession seems to follow quite fully the Irish-Celtic tradition of agnatic clan.
Kings of Dal Riata from among the Cenél Loairn
Following kings of Dál Riata are recorded to have been members of the Cenél Loairn:- Ferchar FotaFerchar FotaFerchar Fota was probably king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata. His father is named as Feredach mac Fergusa and he was said to be a descendant in the 6th generation of Loarn mac Eirc....
- Ainbcellach mac FerchairAinbcellach mac FerchairAinbcellach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland....
- Selbach mac FerchairSelbach mac FerchairSelbach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn and of Dál Riata. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals.-Life:Selbach mac Ferchair was a son of Ferchar Fota...
- Dúngal mac SelbaigDúngal mac SelbaigDúngal mac Selbaig was king of Dál Riata. His reign can best be placed in the years 723 to 726, beginning with the abdication of his father, Selbach mac Ferchair, who entered a monastery, and ending with rise of Eochaid mac Echdach of the Cenél nGabráin...
- Muiredach mac AinbcellaigMuiredach mac AinbcellaigMuiredach mac Ainbcellaig was king of the Cenél Loairn, and of Dál Riata , from about 733 until 736.He was the son of Ainbcellach mac Ferchair. His coming to power is reported in 733, and is not obviously associated with the death of Eochaid mac Echdach, king of Dál Riata, in the Irish annals...
Cenél Loairn kings, in particular the descendants of Ferchar Fota
Ferchar Fota
Ferchar Fota was probably king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata. His father is named as Feredach mac Fergusa and he was said to be a descendant in the 6th generation of Loarn mac Eirc....
, competed successfully for control of Dál Riata in the early 8th century, prior to the Pictish conquest of the kingdom by Óengus mac Fergusa
Óengus I of the Picts
Óengus son of Fergus , was king of the Picts from 732 until his death in 761. His reign can be reconstructed in some detail from a variety of sources.Óengus became the chief king in Pictland following a period of civil war in the late 720s...
.
Kings of Scots
Following the death of Donnchad mac CrínáinDuncan I of Scotland
Donnchad mac Crínáin was king of Scotland from 1034 to 1040...
in 1040, two members of the kindred ruled as Kings of Scots.
- Mac Bethad mac FindláichMacbeth of ScotlandMac Bethad mac Findlaích was King of the Scots from 1040 until his death...
(1040–1057), ardri Alban - Lulach mac Gillai ComgainLulach of ScotlandLulach mac Gille Coemgáin was King of Scots between 15 August 1057 and 17 March 1058.He appears to have been a weak king, as his nicknames suggest...
(1057–1058), ri Alban
Additionally, Giric mac Dúngail
Giric of Scotland
Giric mac Dúngail was a king of the Picts or the king of Alba. The Irish annals record nothing of Giric's reign, nor do Anglo-Saxon writings add anything, and the meagre information which survives is contradictory...
(878–889) may have been a member of this kindred.
Already MacBeth's father and cousin (Lulach's uncle) had been "kings of Alba":
- Findlaich mac RuaidhriFindláech of MorayFindláech of Moray was the King or Mormaer of Moray, ruling from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020....
, ri Alban, killed 1020 - Mael Coluim mac Mael Brighdi mac RuaidríMáel Coluim of MorayMáel Coluim of Moray was King or Mormaer of Moray , and, as his name suggests, the son of a Máel Brigte...
, rí Alban (1020-1029)
Lulach's son and grandson were, however, titled kings of Moray, not of Alba:
- Mael Snechtai mac LulaichMáel Snechtai of MorayMáel Snechtai of Moray was the ruler of Moray, and, as his name suggests, the son of Lulach, King of Scotland.He is called on his death notice in the Annals of Ulster, "Máel Snechtai m...
, ri Muireb - Oengus mac inghine LulaichÓengus of MorayÓengus of Moray was the last King of Moray of the native line, ruling Moray in what is now northeastern Scotland from some unknown date until his death in 1130....
, ri Moréb (killed 1130)
Mormaers of Moray
Óengus of MorayÓengus of Moray
Óengus of Moray was the last King of Moray of the native line, ruling Moray in what is now northeastern Scotland from some unknown date until his death in 1130....
(died 1130), who has no attestation of descending in male line from Cenel Loairn clan (he was son of daughter of Lulach), is the last known member of the kindred to have ruled Moray, after which it (supposedly) passed to William fitz Duncan
William fitz Duncan
William fitz Duncan was a Scottish prince, a territorial magnate in northern Scotland and northern England, a general and the legitimate son of king Donnchad II of Scotland by Athelreda of Dunbar.In 1094, his father Donnchad II was killed by Mormaer Máel Petair of...
of the Cenél nGabráin descended royal family. While the Meic Uilleim
Meic Uilleim
The Meic Uilleim were the Gaelic descendants of William fitz Duncan, grandson of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, king of Scots. They were excluded from the succession by the descendants of Máel Coluim's son David I during the 12th century and raised a number of rebellions to vindicate their claims to...
and MacHeths
MacHeths
The MacHeths were a Gaelic kindred who raised several rebellions against the Scotto-Norman kings of Scotland in the 12th and 13th centuries. Their origins have long been debated.-Origins:...
are sometimes associated with Moray, it is no longer widely supposed that they were claiming the Mormaerdom or that they belonged to this kindred, except possibly through female descent. However, Michael Mackay, author and researcher of the Clan Aedh or Mackay claims that King Lulach's daughter married her cousin, Aedh, Mormaor of Ross, who was a great-grandson of Domnall mac Ruaridh, King MacBeth's uncle. Michael Mackay further claims that Angus, king of Moray who was killed in battle in 1130 was their son. His brother Mael-Coluim MacAedh, Mormaor of Moray and Ross, who was imprisoned and released my King Mael-Coluim IV, and who died in 1168, continued the line. Several generations claimed the Scottish Throne until Mael-Coluim IV drove most of the Moraymen out of Moray. Mael-colum MacAedh's family fled over the mountains and settled in Strathnaver. This family is represented in the male line today by Lord Mackay of Reay, 14th Lord, who is Chief of Clan Aedh. Lord Mackay's DNA has not yet been tested, but Y-chromosome DNA taken from Mackays in America show the DNA signature of the Dal-Riada royal clan, of which the Cinel Loairn was the senior division
See also
- Scotland in the Early Middle AgesScotland in the Early Middle AgesScotland in the early Middle Ages, between the end of Roman authority in southern and central Britain from around 400 and the rise of the kingdom of Alba in 900, was divided into a series of petty kingdoms. Of these the four most important to emerge were the Picts, the Scots of Dál Riata, the...
- Scotland in the High Middle AgesScotland in the High Middle AgesThe High Middle Ages of Scotland encompass Scotland in the era between the death of Domnall II in 900 AD and the death of king Alexander III in 1286...
- Scottish monarchs family tree
- Style of the monarchs of ScotlandStyle of the monarchs of ScotlandStyle of the monarchs of Scotland is about the styles and forms of address used by Scottish royalty, specifically the monarchs of Scotland from the earliest times until the present, including monarchs from the Pictish period to the British period....