Nobleman
Pictish mormaer whose buck-tooth killed an earl after his own death.
Máel Brigte, also known as Máel Brigte the Bucktoothed or Máel Brigte Tusk, was a 9th-century Pictish nobleman, most probably a mormaer of Moray. He is known for a bizarre posthumous incident that caused the death of Earl Sigurd the Mighty of Orkney. Little is known of his life, but the story of his death is recorded in the Orkneyinga Saga.
Lore & Background
According to the Orkneyinga Saga, Máel Brigte was challenged by Sigurd to a 40-man-a-side battle to 'settle their differences'. Treacherously, Sigurd brought 80 men to the fight, and Máel Brigte knew he had been betrayed when he saw that each of Sigurd's horses had two men's legs on its flanks. Máel Brigte exhorted his men to 'kill at least one man before we die ourselves' and although a fierce fight ensued, Máel Brigte was defeated and killed. Sigurd had his enemies' heads strapped to his victorious men's saddles as trophies, but as Sigurd rode home, Máel Brigte's buck-tooth scratched his leg. The leg became inflamed and infected, and as a result Sigurd died.
Reader's Guide
There is no other record of Máel Brigte's life, although another of this name is described in the mid 11th century as being the father of the Mormaer Máel Coluim of Moray.
Did You Know?
- He killed Earl Sigurd the Mighty of Orkney after his own death, when his buck-tooth scratched Sigurd's leg and caused a fatal infection.
- A 13th-century farm called Cyderhall was recorded as 'Syvardhoch', meaning 'Sigurd's mound'.
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