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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.
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