The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

52 THE HIGHLANDERS [part i
of this period, as will appear in the sequel, to ascertain exactl\-
the nature of that title, and of the territorial divisions of Scot-
fortunately these ancient authorities
land at the time ; and
have left us sufficient materials for that purpose. A comparison
of the different facts recorded regarding that office, will lead
to the following" results.
First.—-The office of Maormor appears to have been next
in dignity and power to that of the king ; thus, the Annals
of Ulster, in describing
took place between the Scots •
one of the numerous battles which
and the Danes in the tenth
centur}-, add " that many of the Scots were killed, but that
neither king nor Maormor of them were lost in the ^
conflict."
Besides this, the Pictish Chronicle frequently records the death
of some of the Maormors as well as that of the king.
Second.—-We always find the title of Maormor associated
and connected with one or other of the great districts into which
Scotland was at that time divided ; thus, the Annals of Ulster
mention the Maormor of Moray,—the Pictish Chronicle, the
Maormors of Angus, Atholl, &c.— the Annals of Innisfallen,
and that connexion was apparently so
the Maormor of Mar ;
close and intimate, as to enable them at times to 'wage inde-
pendent war with the Third.—
Every
king of Scotland himself
notice regarding the succession of the
Maormors which has reached us, proves that they observed
a rule of succession strictly hereditary. Of this many examples
might be given, but perhaps the strongest will be found in
the succession of the Maormors of Moray.
In 1032, the Annals of Ulster mention the death of Gil-
comgain Mac Maolbride, Maormor of Mureve. Afterwards
in 1058, they have the death of Lulac Mac Gilcovigan^ king
of Scotland ; and in 1085, the death of Maolsnechtan Mac
Lulach, king or Maormor of Mureve. Here we see that although
one of the Maormors of Moray had obtained possession of
the throne of Scotland, yet on his being driven from that
prominent station, his son appears as Maormor of Moray. The
history of the same family also shews very clearly that the
succession to the dignity of Maormor was strictly a male
1 An. Ult. ad an. 917.