Mael Snechta

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Mael Snechta (d. 1085), king of Moray (c.1058–c.1078). A son of Lulach, it is likely that he succeeded his father as king of Moray after his death at the hands of Malcolm III. Mael Snechta himself suffered a serious defeat by Malcolm III which may have broken his power. He died peacefully in 1085; there is a suspicion that he may have retired to a monastery. He is credited in a near-contemporary Irish source as being king of Scotland. Although his name does not appear in medieval Scottish king-lists, it is possible that his reign has been suppressed or, what is more likely, that he was initially recognized as Malcolm III's successor.

Dauvit Broun