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Women in History of Scots Descent
Lady MacBeth was Upholding Her Rights


Kenneth MacAlpin, King of the Scots and Pics united the two races. According to MacAlpin's law of Tanistry, the Kings of Scotland were to marry the Pictish princesses whom held the lands of Scotland. The First Born daughter princess was intended to inherit her father's estate. This was not the case in Lady MacBeth's case (Lady Gruoch).

Lady Gruoch, step-mother of Lady Gruoch (Lady MacBeth) mustered her army to Kill King Gillacomgen of Moray after he had killed King Boede, the father of Lady MacBeth after Boede made his wife the heiress to his estate. Gruoch (LMB) was pregnant at the time of her husband's murder. She fled to the safety of her husband's cousin, MacBeth. MacBeth was a general.

MacBeth and Banquo were the favorites of the newly united Scotland. Many riots broke out when Duncan became king. The step-mother Lady Gruoch was an ally of Duncan. Duncan had supported the murder of the King of Moray. The daughter, Lady Gruoch married MacBeth therefore being known from then on as Lady MacBeth. She also despised Duncan for his support of her step-mother.

Lady MacBeth used her ambitions to make her husband a King. Malcolm II had stated before he died that his eldest daughter's bloodline would be the Kings of the West and South of Scotland while Jarl had the remainder of the Scottish Kingdom. MacBeth descended from the 2nd daughter of Malcolm II therefore not entitled to the thrown. Duncan was the only child from the eldest daughter Bethoc's line. Lady MacBeth put her intelligence to use.

All of this added to Lady MacBeth's obsession to win back what she felt was her birth right. The Law of Tanistry was supposed to be the law of the land. Lady MacBeth began to convince her husband that Duncan should die. She wanted Macbeth to inherit the joint kingdom with Jarl of Orkneys.

Lady soon found out that MacBeth would not take part in killing his cousin Duncan. He loved Duncan greatly and honored his thrown. MacBeth had invited Duncan for a holiday to his castle Glamis. While Duncan was sleeping, Lady MacBeth used a dagger and killed Duncan. Lady MacBeth realized the awful crime and sin she had committed while she was washing Duncan's blood from her hands.

This Pictish Princess had her rightful title and lands now. The cost of this was great. Lady MacBeth began to sleep walk. She was doing strange things like always washing her hands and body complaining she was not clean of the sin she had committed. This lasted for 4 years when finally she killed herself.

Lady MacBeth did have a conscience. She had committed a horrible crime and knew in her heart she was wrong. The only way for her to escape was to end her life. This was also her payment for taking another's life.

The Castle Glamis was once that of the MacBeth's.

Castle Glamis


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