Bodhe

Bodhe

Bodhe was Gruoch's father, and a friend and ally, of a sort, to Findlaech and Macbeth of Clan Moray.

History

Bodhe was born in 985 to King Kenneth III. Nothing is known of his wife, but he had at least two children: a son named MacBodhe and a daughter named Gruoch.

Bodhe was something of a coward throughout most of his life, always preferring to appease an enemy rather than to resist one; he stood idly by when Gillecomgain the Hunter came to Castle Moray in 1020 to assassinate Findlaech, not acting even when his own daughter Gruoch ran to Findlaech and Macbeth’s aid, was willing to give Gruoch up in a loveless marriage to Gillecomgain when Duncan ordered it, and when Duncan declared war on Clan Moray in 1040, urged Macbeth to give himself up to Duncan in the hopes that Duncan would be merciful to Gruoch and Luach. After Macbeth defeated Duncan in battle, Bodhe advised him to execute the young Canmore, which Macbeth refused to do, however.

In 1057, Bodhe’s cravenness helped bring about the tragic end to Macbeth and Demona’s alliance, when he urged Macbeth to forswear his pact with Demona and her clan in the hopes that Canmore’s English followers, who had (so Bodhe believed) invaded Scotland only to destroy the gargoyles there, would return home. This led to Demona’s betrayal of Macbeth and Canmore’s subsequent victory. After Macbeth’s "death," however, Bodhe gained some courage and true steadfastness at last, declared his grandson Luach King of Scotland, and stood by him thenceforth.

Presumably, he was slain alongside Luach fighting against Canmore the following year.

Real World Background

In real history, Bodhe was indeed Gruoch’s father, but we know little more of him beyond that.

Production Background

Voice Actor: Ed Gilbert