The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society
The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society
So T in=: HIGHLANDERS [part i to rule over them," are the emphatic words of the Orkneyinga Saga ; and there can be no question that that Saga alludes to the earldoms which Thorfinn had conquered in Scotland. This, therefore, is a passage of great importance for the histor\- of the Highlands, for it proves clearly that when Thorfinn's death caused the dismemberment of his kingdom, the great districts of Scotland reverted to the descendants of the Gaelic chiefs who had formerly possessed them, and had a hereditary right to their acquisition, and, consequently, that the Norwegian conquest produced no permanent effect whatever upon the race originally in possession of these territories, or upon the chiefs of the Gaelic tribes in the north of Scotland. Yet although the Norwegian kingdom did not produce any effect upon the succession of the native chiefs, it is nevertheless possible that a very great change may have taken place on the population of the different districts over which the native and chiefs were again enabled to resume their wonted sway ; in estimating the probable extent of such a change, it will be necessar}' to keep in view that the effects of a Norwegian conquest were frequently very different, according to the nature of the conquered country. In some districts the ancient inhabitants were almost entirely driven out, the country became graduall}- colonized by Norwegians, and a Norwegian larl generally placed over it ; while in others, where such a proceeding was more difficult, owing to the impervious nature of the country, the Norwegians usually contented themselves with plundering the district and exacting a tribute from its lord, leaving the ancient inhabitants otherwise in full possession of their territor}-. It is plain that in the eastern and more level districts of Scotland, a Norwegian conquest of not less than thirty years' duration could produce no other effect than that of an extensive, and probably a permanent change in the population ; and there can be little doubt that when, upon the death of Thorfinn, the districts occupied by him reverted to the descendants of the ancient possessors, the population must have been principally Norwegian, and that the Norse language had spread over that part of the country. In the more mountainous and Highland
CHAP. VI] OF SCOTLAND 8i districts, however, we are warranted in concluding that the effect must have been very different, and that the possession of the country by the Norwegians for thirty years could have exercised as little permanent influence on the population itself, as we are assured by the Saga it did upon chiefs. the race of their Previously to this conquest the northern Gaelic race possessed the whole of the north of Scotland, from the western to the eastern sea, and the general change produced by the con- quest must have been, that the Gael were for the first time confined within those limits which they have never since exceeded, and that the eastern districts became inhabited by that Gothic race, who have also ever since possessed them. The population of the south of Scotland remained in the meantime partly Anglic and partly Gaelic, the former people possessing the whole of the country south of the Firth of Forth, while the latter occupied the remaining districts. Upon the death of Thorfinn the northern districts of the country fell once more under the rule of the native chiefs, and they appear to have refused to acknowledge Malcolm Kenmore's right, and to have chosen for themselves a king of their own, Donald M'Malcolm, who in all probability was a son or descendant of Malcolm M'Maolbride, the Maormor of Moray, who had formerly been king of Scotland. During a period of twentyone years, Malcolm appears to have been engaged in constant attempts to reduce the northern districts under his dominion, and to have gradually extended his kingdom, until he at length succeeded in suppressing all opposition to his government. In lO/O we find him founding the Culdee establishment of Mortlach, in consequence of a victory obtained over his opponents. In 1077 the Saxon Chronicle informs us that Maolsnechtan, the Maormor of Moray, and son of that Lulach whom the northern faction had placed on the throne after the death of Macbeth, sustained a complete overthrow from Malcolm, and escaped with difficulty with the loss of his army and treasures ; and finally, in 1085, we find recorded the violent deaths of Donald M'Malcolm, king of Alban, and Maolsnechtan M'Lulach, Maormor- of Moray. After this date we do not trace the appearance of any further opposition to his power, and he F
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CHAP. VI] OF SCOTLAND 8i<br />
districts, however, we are warranted in concluding that the<br />
effect must have been very different, and that the possession<br />
<strong>of</strong> the country by the Norwegians for thirty years could have<br />
exercised as little permanent influence on the population itself,<br />
as we are assured by the Saga it did upon<br />
chiefs.<br />
the race <strong>of</strong> their<br />
Previously to this conquest the northern Gaelic race possessed<br />
the whole <strong>of</strong> the north <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>, from the western to<br />
the eastern sea, and the general change produced by the con-<br />
quest must have been, that the Gael were for the first time<br />
confined within those limits which they have never since<br />
exceeded, and that the eastern districts became inhabited by<br />
that Gothic race, who have also ever since possessed them.<br />
<strong>The</strong> population <strong>of</strong> the south <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong> remained in the<br />
meantime partly Anglic and partly Gaelic, the former people<br />
possessing the whole <strong>of</strong> the country south <strong>of</strong> the Firth <strong>of</strong> Forth,<br />
while the latter occupied the remaining districts. Upon the<br />
death <strong>of</strong> Thorfinn the northern districts <strong>of</strong> the country fell once<br />
more under the rule <strong>of</strong> the native chiefs, and they appear to<br />
have refused to acknowledge Malcolm Kenmore's right, and to<br />
have chosen for themselves a king <strong>of</strong> their own, Donald<br />
M'Malcolm, who in all probability was a son or descendant<br />
<strong>of</strong> Malcolm M'Maolbride, the Maormor <strong>of</strong> Moray, who had<br />
formerly been king <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>. During a period <strong>of</strong> twentyone<br />
years, Malcolm appears to have been engaged in constant<br />
attempts to reduce the northern districts under his dominion,<br />
and to have gradually extended his kingdom, until he at length<br />
succeeded in suppressing all opposition to his government. In<br />
lO/O we find him founding the Culdee establishment <strong>of</strong> Mortlach,<br />
in consequence <strong>of</strong> a victory obtained over his opponents. In<br />
1077 the Saxon Chronicle informs us that Maolsnechtan, the<br />
Maormor <strong>of</strong> Moray, and son <strong>of</strong> that Lulach whom the northern<br />
faction had placed on the throne after the death <strong>of</strong> Macbeth,<br />
sustained a complete overthrow from Malcolm, and escaped<br />
with difficulty with the loss <strong>of</strong> his army and treasures ; and<br />
finally, in 1085, we find recorded the violent deaths <strong>of</strong> Donald<br />
M'Malcolm, king <strong>of</strong> Alban, and Maolsnechtan M'Lulach,<br />
Maormor- <strong>of</strong> Moray. After this date we do not trace the<br />
appearance <strong>of</strong> any further opposition to his power, and he<br />
F