Ormond Castle (2)
This view looks east along the inner Moray Firth, towards the headlands that extend from the either coast and almost separate it from the outer firth.  The narrows between Chanonry Point beside the village of Fortrose on this side, and the headland on which Fort George stands on the far side, have always been a control point for shipping approaching Inverness, which may have played a part in the siting of this castle.

This might seem a somewhat out-of-the-way place for a royal castle, but in the late 12th century, this was the 'front line' up here!  King William the Lion, having made a numpty of himself fighting (and losing to) the English in the south, decided to deal with his other great problem, the north, where he was confronted by the Norse Earl of Orkney, who was intent on expanding his territory south from Caithness, but more importantly, his own revolting natives.  

The revolting natives were a particularly serious threat, because their leader was 'Domnall mac Uilleim' (Donald MacWilliam), who it would appear, by the rules of primogeniture at any rate) had a better claim to the throne of Scotland than William the Lion.  It's an interesting story so I shall tell it.

The problem started with Malcolm III, King of Scots, known to history as Malcolm 'Canmore'.  (He too made a numpty of himself fighting the English!)  By his 1st wife, Ingibiorg, he was father of Duncan II, King of Scots.  Duncan II had just one son, William FitzDuncan, Earl of Moray.  His descendants were known as the 'MacWilliams'.  That's important, remember that!!

By 1068/9, Ingiaborg was no longer around.  She had either died or Malcolm Canmore had discarded her in favour of a much higher status new wife.  Margaret Atheling was the daughter of Edward the Exile and sister of Edgar Ætheling, the last male member of the House of Wessex and rightful heir to the English throne, recently usurped by William the Conqueror.  No doubt Malcolm dreamed of driving the Normans out of England and he or his descendants inheriting the English crown.  Malcolm's sons by Margaret, were known as the &quot;Margaretsons&quot;.  That's important to remember too! 

This tale goes on for a while, so I will tell it over the next few photos!
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