Lulach mac Gille Coemgáin (Modern Gaelic: Lughlagh mac Gille Chomghain,^[1] known in English simply as Lulach, and nicknamed Tairbith, "the Unfortunate"^[2] and Fatuus, "the Simple-minded" or "the Foolish"^[3] (died 17 March 1058), was King of Scots between 15 August, 1057 and 17 March 1058.

He appears to have been a weak king, as his nicknames suggest. He does, however, have the distinction of being the first king of Scotland of whom there are coronation details available. He was crowned in August 1057 at Scone.

Lulach was the son of Gruoch of Scotland, from her first marriage to Gille Coemgáin, Mormaer of Moray, and thus the stepson of Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findlaích). Following the death in battle of Macbeth in 1057, the king's followers placed Lulach in the throne. Lulach ruled only for a few months before being assassinated and succeeded by Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada).

Lulach's son Máel Snechtai was Mormaer of Moray, while Óengus of Moray was the son of Lulach's daughter.

He is believed to be buried on Saint Columba's Holy Island of Iona in or around the monastery. The exact position of his grave is unknown.

A fictional version of Lulach appeared in the animated television series Gargoyles under the name Luach [sic].

References

1. ↑ Lulach mac Gille Coemgáin is the Mediaeval Gaelic form.
2. ↑ Skene, Chronicles, p. 102.
3. ↑ Anderson, Early Sources, vol. i, p. 603.