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Province of Moray

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Moray(Middle Irish:Muréb;Medieval Latin:Moravia;Old Norse:Mýræfi) was aprovincewithin the area of modern-dayScotland,that may at times up to the 12th century have operated as an independentkingdomor as a power base for competing claimants to theKingdom of Alba.It covered a much larger territory than the moderncouncil areaofMoray,extending approximately from theRiver Speyin the east to theRiver Beaulyin the north, and encompassingBadenoch,LochaberandGlenelgin the south and west.

Moray emerged in the 10th century as a successor to the dominantPictishkingdom ofFortriu.The status ofits rulerswas ambiguous: being described in some sources asmormaers,in others as Kings of Moray, and in others asKings of Alba.The ruling kin-group of Moray, sometimes called theHouse of Moray,attained the throne of Alba between 1040 and 1058 in the person ofMac Bethad mac Findláich(Shakespeare'sMacbeth) and his stepsonLulach.After Lulach was killed and succeeded byMáel Coluim mac Donnchadaof theHouse of Dunkeld,Lulach's sonMáel Snechtaiand grandsonÓenguscontinued to rule Moray and challenge the kings to the south until Óengus' defeat and death at theBattle of Stracathroin 1130.

Over the following decadesDavid I of Scotlandand his successors established institutions to bring Moray more directly under Scottish control, suppressing the office ofmormaer,foundingmonasteries,burghsandsheriffdomswithin the province, and granting large areas of it asprovincial lordshipsto loyal followers. However Moray continued to be a base for rebellions by theMeic Uilleims,the descendants of the lastmormaerWilliam fitz Duncan,until the last of the line was killed in 1230.

Name[edit]

The placename "Moray" could have either aPictishor aGaelicorigin, but its earliest attested form asMorebmakes a Pictish origin more likely.[1]Morebiscognatewith theMiddle WelshmorebandCornishmorab,which survives asmurriphinCornish English,all of which mean "low lying land near to the sea".[2]William Watson's earlier derivation of Moray from the unattested Gaelic *mori-trebmeaning "sea-settlement" is now considered less likely.[1]

Historians have suggested that the topographical nature of the placenames of Moray andRoss,coupled with their origins as local divisions of the kingdom ofFortriu,may mean that they were originally qualified asMureb FortrennandRos Fortrenn,respectively the "Coastland of Fortriu" and "Headland of Fortriu".[3]While there is no direct evidence of the provinces having these names,[4]it is possible that the phrase "ros (headland) of Fortriu" may underlie the place-nameFortrose,referring to nearbyChanonry Point.[5]

Geography[edit]

In the century or two before 1130 the name Moray described apolityfar larger than the latercountyorcouncil areaof the same name.[6]

The boundaries of Moray were explicitly documented in the charter ofRobert the Brucethat granted the recreatedearldomtoThomas Randolphin 1312.[7]The western boundary of the province was described as following theRiver Speysouth from its mouth, though including all of the lands ofFochabers,Rathenach,RothesandBoharm,[8]and all of the lordships ofBadenoch,Kincardine,GlencarnieandLochaber,[9]all of which also included land on the east bank of the river.[8]North of Lochaber the province includedGlenelgon the west coast – an area described as "Argyll of Moray" – from where the northern boundary of the province followed theRiver Beaulyto theMoray Firth.[10]Unusually, this document does not name anyperambulators,so probably reflects an earlier perambulation of the borders, most likely dating from the period when Moray was taken into crown hands after 1130.[11]

Before the early 13th century Moray was not considered part of "Scotland"(Latin:Scotia,Old Irish:Alba) which was thought to extend only between theFirth of Forthand theRiver Spey.[12]As late as 1214 theGesta Annaliarecorded howWilliam the Lion"returned from Moray to Scotland, and progressed from Scotland into Lothian".[13]Placename evidence also suggests that the people of Moray did not consider themselves "Scots".[14]

History[edit]

Origins and early history[edit]

Moray and neighbouringRosswere the heartlands of the powerfulPictishkingdom ofFortriu,which was last recorded in entries in theAnnals of Ulsterin 904,[15]and in theFragmentary Annals of Irelandin 918,[16]and from which both Moray and Ross probably emerged as successor polities in the 10th century.[3]Moray is first recorded in a reference in theChronicle of the Kings of Albadescribing howMalcolm I of Scotland,who reigned from 943 to 954, "crossed into Moray and slew Cellach".[17]The identity of this Cellach is not known: while it is possible that he was a ruler of Moray, the name was a common one during this period.[18]The entry does however imply that Moray at this time did not lie within Malcolm I's home territory.[19]

There is no direct mention of Moray in any other contemporary record from the 10th century,[18]but circumstantial evidence suggests that Moray was probably the home territory for some of theKings of Albaduring the period.[20]From 889 until 997 the Kingship of Alba alternated between two distinct families descended from two sons ofKenneth MacAlpin:Clann Aeda,the descendants ofKing Áed,andClann Chausantin,the descendants ofConstantine I.[21]Surviving records show the kings of Clann Chausantin constantly in conflict with the men of Moray:[19]Donald IIis recorded in theChronicle of Melroseand thePictish King listsdying atForresin 900;[22]Malcolm I is recorded in the same sources being "killed by the Moravians by treachery" atBlervie,just south of Forres, in 954;[23]andKing Dubis recorded in theAnnals of Ulsterbeing killed in Forres "by the Scots themselves" in 967,[24]with his body being hidden under the bridge at nearbyKinloss.[25]Although some sources record other locations for the deaths of these kings, no kings from Clann Chausantin are recorded in any source as being killed south of theMounth.[26]In contrast no kings from Clann Aeda seem to have faced opposition in the north.[19]and the one recorded being killed north of the Mounth wasIldulb,who died atCullenat the hands of the Vikings.[26]It therefore seems likely that Moray was the power base for Clann Aeda, while Clann Chausantin were probably based south of theGrampian Mountains.[20]

Forresappears to have been the major political centre of Moray during this period,[24]a status it probably inherited after the destruction ofBurghead FortbyVikingsin the 9th century,[27]and which may be commemorated by the monumental carvedSueno's Stonethat survives on the outskirts of the modern town.[28]The rulers of Moray appear to have controlled the more easterly provinces ofBuchanandMaruntil the 12th century,[29]but the extent of their power to the north is unclear.[30]

Njal's Saga,aSaga of the Icelanders,mentions Mormaers and Kings in northern Scotland from the later 10th century, namelyJarl Melsnatr(Máel Snechtai) and KingMelkofr(Máel Coluim) of "Scotland". Both date from the period 976 to 995.[31]However no king named Máel Coluim reigned in Scotland in this period.Njal's Sagawas not written as a historical guide for details outsideIcelandorScandinaviaand the text is notoriously unreliable.

1014 to 1130: Dynasty of Findláich to Óengus[edit]

Moray was ruled by aGaelic-speaking dynasty, the most notable perhaps being KingMacbeth of Scotland,who ruled from 1040 to 1057. These rulers were sometimes styledRimeaningkingormormaermeaninggreat steward.[6]

Irish annals record the killing ofFindláech,son of Ruaidri, 'mormaer of Moray', in 1020 by the sons of his brother, Mael Brigte. Both Findlaech and Mael Coluim are styled 'king of Alba' rather than 'of Moray' in oneobituarybut this may be an error or exaggeration.[6]Mael Coluim's brother and successor, Gillie Coemgáin is recorded asMormaer of Moray.[32]The death of Mael Coluim, son of Mael Brigte, is recorded in 1029 and, in 1032 that of his brother Gilla Comgain, killed along with 50 of his men.[6]

Gilla Comgain's successor and probably also his killer, was his cousin Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findlaig). Macbeth married Gilla Comgain's widow Gruoch, a princess of the mac Alpin dynasty, and became king of Scots in 1040, after defeating and killingDuncan I of Scotland(Donnchad ua Mail Choluim) in battle. Later sources suggest that MacBeth had a claim to the Scottish throne through his mother, but his Gaelic pedigree, on record only two generations after his death, traces his descent through his father Findlaech, and grandfather Ruaidri, from the house of Loarn, Kings ofDál Riata.[6]

The pedigree of Macbeth from the Loarn kings of Dál Riata offers a clue to the origins of his dynasty in Moray. Moray may have been a separate kingdom for a time, independent of the dynasty of Kenneth mac Alpin. However it seems likely that rulers of Moray were subject loosely to theKings of Alba.Moray acted as a buffer against further Scandinavian penetration from the north, and its rulers were remembered with respect in Scandinavian sources such asOrkneyinga Saga.[6]

Macbeth himself was in turn killed and defeated in 1057. After which, his stepsonLulach,son of Gilla Comgain, and presumably also of Gruoch, claimed the Scottish throne briefly before being himself killed in 1058. Lulach's son,Mael Snechtai,died in 1085 as 'king of Moray'. Later, an earl named Aed or 'Heth' who witnesses royal charters early in the next century may also have been based in Moray. The last ruling member of the dynasty, styled 'king' or 'earl' of Moray, wasÓengus(Angus) son of the daughter of Lulach.Óengus(Angus) challengedDavid I of Scotlandin battle, but was defeated and killed atStracathroin Angus, in 1130 and thus the Kingdom of Moray was destroyed by David I of Scotland.[6]

Claims thatWilliam fitz Duncanbecame the last Mormaer of Moray cannot be substantiated and his claim for the Scottish throne proved unsuccessful.Malcolm MacHeth,who rebelled against David I, but was later madeEarl of Rossmay have been related to the old rulers of Moray, as may also have been the mysteriousWimund.Later MacHeth claimants to Moray were unsuccessful.[6]

After 1130: Suppression of Moray[edit]

David I of Scotland's suppression of the Kingdom of Moray in 1130 did not mark the end of the province's significance or of the problems its management caused to the kings ofScotland.Despite the expulsion of its line of rulers, Moray continued to be referred to in the early 13th century as a land separate to Scotia. Even when the realm of Scotland was recognised as stretching as far north asCaithness,Moray was still recognised as one of the chief northern provinces. The Gaelic notes in theBook of Deerdating from the mid 12th century offer a glimpse of the holding of land and the ordering of society in Moray.[6]

The actions of the crown's royal government during the century after 1130 seemed to create differences between the upland regions of the province and the coastal districts of the Laich of Moray, between theRiver SpeyandInverness.The crown's existing estates were concentrated in these coastal regions and between 1130 and 1230 the kings established sheriffdoms centred on Inverness,Nairn,ForresandElgin,providing a framework for royal authority in the province.[6]

The extension of royal government was accompanied by the settlement of immigrants in the Laich of Moray. Lands were given to the crown's supporters, the most important of whom wasFreskin,who was of Flemish – Norman descent. Freskin founded the 'de Moravia' or 'Moray family'. The senior line of de Moravias would later becomeEarls of Sutherland,chiefs ofClan Sutherlanduntil the line passed via the female line to the Gordon family. Another branch of the same family who took the name Murray were the Murrays of Bothwell, and yet another line who may be related to this branch, became chiefs ofClan Murrayand laterEarls of Atholl.[6]

The final area of change in the province of Moray after 1130 was religion. There was aBishop of Moraybefore 1130, however aDiocese of Moraywith an established centre at Elgin Cathedral with a parochial structure was achieved only during the 13th century. Reformed religious houses were founded atBeauly,PluscardenandKinloss.[6]

While the changes that took place in the centuries following the 1130 defeat of the kings of Moray secured the Laich of Moray under the authority of the crown, the interior of the province fromLochalshtoStrathbogieremained a source of difficulty and threat. Attempts to revive the old earldom of Moray and challenge the king of Scotland found support in these areas. Leaders such asWimund,the son of theEarl of Angusand the MacWilliam family were able to raise allies from the Gaelic uplands of Moray which led to warfare in the region from the 1140s to the 1220s. The kings normally left the defeat of these enemies to their aristocratic vassals. The interior of the province from theGreat Glento Strathbogie was divided between six or more families, the greatest of which, at this time was theClan Comynlords of Badenoch and Lochaber.[6]

1296 to 1346: Wars of Independence and creation of the earldom of Moray[edit]

Moray's importance as part of the kingdom of Scotland was demonstrated during the years of major warfare between 1296 and 1340. The province was relatively untouched by direct fighting and Royal-led English armies penetrated Moray on only three occasions in 1296, 1303 and 1335, and significant English occupation occurred only in 1296–97. This security meant that it was a vital refuge and recruitment ground for the Scottish guardians between 1297 and 1303, and providedRobert I of Scotlandwith a base and allies during his northern campaign against the Comyns and their allies in 1307–08. The province was forced to submit toEdward I of Englandin 1303 and Robert I of Scotland therefore clearly recognised the significance of Moray for the security of his realm. In 1312 Robert I re-established theearldom of Morayfor his nephew,Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray.The new earldom included all of the old province and the crown lands of the Laich.[6]

Thomas's son John Randolph was killed in 1346, leaving no heir and the other noble families including the Comyns, Strathbogies and Morays had all disappeared from or left the province by between 1300 and 1350. With the absence of noble leaders, power fell to lesser figures who functioned in kin-based groups such as theClan Donnachaidhof Atholl and theChattan Confederationwhich centred on Badenoch. This drew in lords and men from outside of the province, from further south such as theDunbarsand Stewarts who staked claims to rule the province of Moray. In 1372 theearldom of Moraywas divided between them with John Dunbar receiving the coastal districts and Alexander Stewart, favourite son ofRobert II of Scotlandbeing made lord of Badenoch in the uplands[6]

Comparative Moravian and Scottish genealogies[edit]

This table is a comparison of the genealogies apparently used by the Kings ofMuireband of (southern)Alba.Both trace their descent toErc of Dalriada.All three, incidentally, are calledKing of Albain themanuscript.

Comparative Genealogies from theGenelaig Albanensium,dating to the early 11th century
Genealogy of Máel Snechtai Genealogy of Macbethad Genealogy of Máel Colum II
  • Máel Snechtai
  • Lulach
  • Gille Comgáin
  • Máel Brigte
  • Ruadrí
  • Domnall
  • Morggán
  • Cathamal
  • Ruadrí
  • Ailgelach
  • Ferchar
  • Feradach
  • Fergus
  • Nechtan
  • Colmán
  • Báetán
  • Echdach
  • Muiredach
  • Loarn(henceCenél Loairn)
  • Ercc
  • Echdach Muinremuir
  • –
  • –
  • Macbethad
  • Findláech
  • Ruadrí
  • Domnall
  • Morggán
  • Cathamal
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –
  • –

[33]

List of Mormaers[edit]

The following names and dates are based on people named in sources. All are Moravians named in sources either as King of Scotland or just Mormaer. The beginning and end dates are virtually always based on known death date, and assuming the next named successor actually did succeed, and succeeded immediately:

Kings/Mormaers of Moray
Findláech mac Ruaidrí before1014–1020
Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti 1020–1029
Gille Coemgáin mac Máil Brigti 1029–1032
Mac Bethad mac Findláich(?) 1032–1057(?)
Lulach mac Gille Coemgáin(?) 1057–1058(?)
Máel Snechtai mac Lulaich ?1058-1078/1085
?
Óengus ?-1130
?William fitz Duncan 1130s–1147
Annexed toKingdom of Scotland.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abEvans 2019,p. 32.
  2. ^Woolf 2007,p. 178.
  3. ^abWoolf 2006,p. 201.
  4. ^Ross 2011,p. 100.
  5. ^McGuigan 2021,p. 59.
  6. ^abcdefghijklmnoOxford Companion to Scottish History. pp. 428–430. Edited by Michael Lynch. Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-923482-0.
  7. ^Ross 2011,p. 73.
  8. ^abRoss 2011,p. 75.
  9. ^Ross 2011,pp. 76–77.
  10. ^Ross 2011,p. 77.
  11. ^Ross 2011,p. 78.
  12. ^Broun 2007,p. 7.
  13. ^Broun 2007,p. 10.
  14. ^Broun 2007,p. 8.
  15. ^Woolf 2007,p. 130.
  16. ^Ross 2015,p. 51.
  17. ^Woolf 2007,pp. 177–178.
  18. ^abWoolf 2000,p. 151.
  19. ^abcWoolf 2000,p. 157.
  20. ^abWoolf 2007,p. 224.
  21. ^McGuigan 2021,p. 51.
  22. ^Anderson 1922,pp. 396–397.
  23. ^Anderson 1922,pp. 353–454.
  24. ^abMcGuigan 2021,p. 20.
  25. ^Woolf 2007,p. 203.
  26. ^abMcGuigan 2021,p. 52.
  27. ^Barrett 2019,p. 94.
  28. ^McGuigan 2021,p. 60.
  29. ^McGuigan 2021,pp. 19–20.
  30. ^McGuigan 2021,p. 58.
  31. ^Anderson,Early Sources,Vol. I, p. 452
  32. ^Death of Gille Coemgáin,Annals of Ulster,s.a.1032; Anderson,Early Sources,Vol. I, p. 571
  33. ^Genealogies from Rawlinson B 502

Bibliography[edit]

Primary sources[edit]

Secondary sources[edit]

  • Anderson, Marjorie O.,Kings and Kingship in Early Scotland,(Edinburgh, 1973)
  • Barrett, John R. (2019).The Civilisation of Moray: Burghs in the Landscape and the Landscape of Burghs, C.1150 - C.1250.Aberdeen: Aberdeen University.
  • Broun, Dauvit (2007).Scottish Independence and the Idea of Britain From the Picts to Alexander III.Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.ISBN9780748623617.
  • Evans, Nicholas (2019). "A historical introduction to the northern Picts". In Noble, Gordon; Evans, Nicholas (eds.).The King in the North: The Pictish realms of Fortriu and Ce. Collected essays written as part of the University of Aberdeen's Northern Picts project.Edinburgh: Birlinn. pp. 10–38.ISBN9781780275512.
  • Grant, Alexander, "The Province of Ross and the Kingdom of Alba" in E.J. Cowan and R.Andrew McDonald (eds.)Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Medieval Era,(Edinburgh, 2000)
  • Jackson, Kenneth (ed),The Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer(The Osborn Bergin * Memorial Lecture 1970), (Cambridge (1972)
  • Hudson, Benjamin T.,Kings of Celtic Scotland,(Westport, 1994)
  • McGuigan, Neil (2021).Máel Coluim III, 'Canmore': An Eleventh-Century King.Edinburgh: John Donald.ISBN9781910900192.
  • Roberts, John L.,Lost Kingdoms: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages,(Edinburgh, 1997)
  • Ross, Alasdair (2011).The Kings Of Alba: c.1000-c.1130.Edinburgh: John Donald.ISBN9781906566159.
  • Ross, Alasdair (2015).Land Assessment and Lordship in Medieval Northern Scotland.Turnhout: Brepols.ISBN9782503541334.
  • Sellar, W. D. H.; Brown, Michael (2001)."Moray".In Lynch, Michael (ed.).Oxford Companion to Scottish History.Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 428–430.ISBN0199234825.
  • Woolf, Alex (2000). "The 'Moray Question' and the Kingship of Alba in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries".Scottish Historical Review.79(2): 145–164.doi:10.3366/shr.2000.79.2.145.S2CID162334631.
  • Woolf, Alex (October 2006). "Dén Nechtain, Fortriu and the Geography of the Picts".Scottish Historical Review.85(2): 182–201.doi:10.3366/shr.2007.0029.ISSN0036-9241.S2CID161978981.
  • Woolf, Alex (2007).From Pictland to Alba 789–1070.Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.ISBN9780748612345.

External links[edit]

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