image Influential People



Key Facts
Other names Mac Bethad mac Findlaích
Position King of Moray (1032-







Source of Facts and Important Announcement



Mac Bethad mac Findlaích was born to King Findláech mac Ruadrí of Moray--of the legendary Kings of Dál Riata and later Alba (Scotland)-- the "Holly" (Cuilliaéan) druid priest kings originally from Ireland and Fergus Mor in the 8th Century.

In 997, Holly King Causantín mac Cuiléain of Alba (Scotland) was murdered by Cináed mac Ailpín (Kenneth MacAlpin) of the treacherous Uí Néill declaring himself the new King. Later, the origin of Kenneth MacAlpin was deliberately corrupted by "writer for hire" John of Fordun who in the 14th Century was paid handsomely by King Edward III to destroy the true history of Scotland and Ireland and write a wholly ficticious tale.

After the historic coup, the last remaining Holly bloodline and rightful heir to the throne of Scotland was the younger brother of Causantín, King Ruadrí of Moray. When "King" Kenneth was killed at the battle of Clontarf in 1005, his son Máel Coluim mac Cináeda (Malcolm the destroyer) took the throne. His first act as King was to invite King Ruadrí of Moray to discuss terms of a peace treaty, at which King Malcolm broke his solemn oath as a King and had King Ruadrí murdered. King Ruadrí was then succeeded by his son Findláech mac Ruadrí as King of Moray.

The continuing treachery of the Uí Néill usurpers to the throne of Scotland plunged the whole region into civil war for thirty years, during which Malcolm succeeded in destroying virtually every major landmark, building, church, school, monastery and asset of Scotland--hence his historic name. By 1032, he finally achieved his aim in killing King Findláech mac Ruadrí of Moray in 1032 -- the father of Macbeth.

In 1034, King Malcolm the destroyer finally died and was succeeded by his son Donnchad mac Crínáin also known as Duncan as King of Alba (Scotland). In 1039, Duncan planned one final push to invade the kingdom of Moray and eliminate Macbeth and the last of the Holly. However at the battle of Pitgaveny near Elgin, upon the orders by Duncan for his troops to attack Macbeth full-frontal, his troops rebelled and killed the King. Thus in 1039, Macbeth became the last Holly King of Scotland.

Unfortunately, the infant son of Duncan, whose name was Máel Coluim mac Donnchad (Malcolm the Traitor) escaped with his family to Northumbria and the court of Siward the Dane. Siward then raised him as his own son, even granting him the title of King of Strathclyde.

When Siward the Dane died in 1055, Malcolm, the son of Duncan and Earl of Northumbria took his army northward to confront Macbeth but was badly beaten. Upon his return to Northumbria, Malcolm was then humiliated in being stripped of his inheritance by King Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) who then appointed Tostig Godwinson as the new Earl.

Malcolm made a desperate appeal to Edward the Confessor for troops, including his oath and loyalty as a vassal of England--effectively selling Scotland to the House of Wessex to regain the crown. With that deal, Edward provided Malcolm with a large mercenary army which invaded Scotland in 1058.

Heavily outnumbered, Macbeth held Malcolm's forces at the north side of the Mounth, but was forced to retreat over the Cairnamounth Pass where at the battle of Lumphanan Macbeth was severley wounded. Malcolm mistakenly believed that Macbeth had been taken back to his family castle at Dunsinane Hill and ordered it destroyed, killing the entire Macbeth clan. Instead, Macbeth was taken to Scone, where he died in 1058 --the last Holly king of Scotland.