Macduff (1005-1093) was a Scottish nobleman and Thane of Fife loyal to King Duncan I of Scotland and his House of Dunkeld. He was a pivotal political force in the downfall of Macbeth of Scotland, assassination of Lulach of Scotland, and restoration of Malcolm III of Scotland. He personally slew Macbeth in the Battle of Lumphanan. He was a senior lawman during Malcolm's reign.
Biography[]
Early life & Career[]
Macduff was born in 1005, via caesarean section to King Cináed mac Duib and a Saxon mistress. Thus, he was of a Scoto-Pictish noble line, and cousin to Gruoch ingen Boite, who would become the wife of Macbeth, Mormaer of Moray and Thane of Glamis. He was named "MacDuib" as a sign of his descent from Dub and was given lands, title and a Castle in Fife in eastern Scotland; he was created Thane.
His father had been made co-regent styled "''King of Scots''" from 997 to 1005, sharing the throne with Macduff's grandfather, Kenneth III. His reign ended at the Battle of Monzievaird on 25 March 1005, where he and his father fought against Malcolm II of Scotland. Both were slain in the conflict and Macduff was raised with his kinsmen in Fife.
In 1020, squiring for Gille Coemgáin, he was present during Coemgáin's slaying and usurpation of his uncle Findláech, Mormaer of Moray. Coemgáin would later wed Macduff's cousin Gruoch.
As he came into his majority, he emerged as a prominent supporter of the Donnchad mac Crinain, of supposed Norman ancestry, and the House of Dunkeld over the reign Malcolm, Donnchad's grandfather and a member of the House of Alpin in opposition to the old king's conquest at Monzievaird. He would support Donnchad throughout prince's youthful Mormaerdom of Strathclyde. Macduff had proven himself Donnchad's man well before the latter became "Duncan I," King of Scots on the 25th November 1034.
Opposition to Macbeth[]
In 1035, King Svein Knutsson of Norway launched raids on Scottish territory, setting down at Macduff's fiefdom, Fife. Subsequently, Macduff took part in a royal campaign under Macbeth and Banquo, Thane of Lochaber. Macbeth and King Duncan had formed a coalition to oppose the pretender MacDonwald, Thane of Cawdor, with whom King Svein had allied. Their efforts culminated in the Battle of Ellon, where Macduff remained off the field with the King’s train.
Later that year, Duncan marched north on a military campaign into Macbeth’s domain of Moray, heightening tensions. Macduff joined this expedition, which ended in the Battle of Bothnagowan near Elgin. On 14 August 1040, Duncan was killed in battle, and Macbeth ascended the throne. Macduff refused to attend Macbeth’s coronation at Scone. Seeking safety and support, he subsequently traveled to England to meet Duncan’s son, Prince Malcolm Canmore. Here, Macduff and Canmore were exposed to, and persuaded by, English forces with plans to expand Anglo-Saxon culture to the entirety of the Island of Britain, to form a loose coalition to aid in Canmore's ascension.
With news of Macduff's insurrection reaching him, Macbeth was forced to act, sending royal forces to sack Macduff's Castle leading to the death's of Lady Macduff and Macduff the Younger.
Restoration of Malcolm III[]
Leading their English-backed army, Macduff and Canmore returned to Scotland and defeated Macbeth at the Battle of Dunsinane. Macbeth, however, continued to rule in the face of rebellion until his final confrontation at the Battle of Lumphanan. During the battle, Macbeth had relied on a prophecy that “no man born of woman” could kill him. Macduff revealed he had been delivered via caesarean section, circumventing the prophecy. Macduff subsequently killed Macbeth, beheading him and presenting the head to Malcolm.
Despite Macbeth’s death removing the principal obstacle to Canmore’s claim, his supporters briefly elevated Lulach, Macbeth's stepson, to the throne at Scone on 8 September 1057. Lulach’s reign lasted only a few months before Macduff orchestrated his assassination, allowing Malcolm III to ascend unchallenged.
Later life[]
Following Malcolm III’s restoration, Macduff remained a key advisor and ally. He assisted in the new king’s efforts to introduce Anglo-Saxon and Roman Catholic cultural and political reforms, gradually diminishing the influence of Gaelic culture at court and in southeastern Scotland.
In 1070, He would go on to suggest Margaret of Wessex as a wife for Malcolm following the death of his Norse wife Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, as a firm symbol of their continue political campaign. Despite his age, Macduff would continue to accompany Canmore on governance, even riding with the king to participate in the Battle of Alnwick in 1093, but his heart gave out before they reached the field.
The elderly Macduff had managed to fathered another son, Causantín mac meic Duib, who upon reaching his majority in 1095, was created the first Mormaer of Fife by Donald III of Scotland in honour of Macduff's service to the late king Canmore.
Gallery[]
| Thane of Fife | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Position Established |
1005–1093 | Succeeded by: Causantín of Fife as Mormaer |