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FREEDOM! or getting in touch with your inner Scottish Warlord

Turns out I have a Scottish Warlord in my family tree. Niall of the Nine Hostages is a distant ancestor of mine.

King Niall of the Nine Hostages, Niall (pronounced Nall) reigned as Ireland’s high king from A.D. 379 to 405. Whether or not you are a King or Warlord depends on what side of the stonewall you hail from.

Back in those days, you showed your power and kept the loyality of the your clans by inviting the other subjected clans to send a “hostage” to live with you. The size of your kingdom or power could be measured by how many these guests you had living at your court.

Niall had nine, hence the name.

Further investigation reveals it is no big deal, a large number of Scots are related to old Niall, seems a rather new theory of “evolution” is emerging. Specifically: The children of the rich/royalty survive, actually a lot more than the peasants.

The royalty or overlords, or what ever you want to call them, lived easier, safer, less hungry, healthier lives and therefore lived longer and had more children that lived.

From an evolutionary point of view I am not sure what benefit this had to the gene pool.

Passing on the aloof ruler gene?

The agressive gene?

The really really good at hacking with a sword gene?

While it will be neat to one day walk the ruins of his stronghold, apparently they are not waiting for my return. But if asked to serve I will accept.

Just like most of the Mongol men can claim old Gengas Khan as a father, a lot of Scots can claim old Niall.But still it does renew the spirit to go out in the rain and turn one’s face to the sky and yell, “FREEDOM”.

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