Lady Finella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Finella
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| Born | c. 950 |
| Died | 995 |
| Cause of death | Leapt to her death over a waterfall |
| Known for | Assassinating Kenneth II of Scotland |
Lady Finella was a Scottish noblewoman who lived around 950 to 995. She is famous for killing King Kenneth II of Scotland. Stories from the 14th century say she did this to get revenge. Some old writings even suggest she killed King Kenneth III, but most agree it was Kenneth II.
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Who Was Lady Finella?
Lady Finella was the daughter of Cuncar, who was a powerful leader called a Mormaer of Angus. Her family was thought to be related to ancient Pictish royalty. Her name is spelled in many different ways in old texts. You might see it as Fenella, Finuela, Finnguala, Fimberhele, or Sibill. Sometimes, places like Strath Finella and Strathfinella Hill are named after her.
Her Story in History
Most of what we know about Lady Finella comes from the writings of John of Fordun. He was a historian who wrote in the late 1300s. His stories were probably based on local legends and old tales about family feuds. John of Fordun wrote that King Kenneth II had killed Lady Finella's son. This happened in a battle near a place called Dunsinnan. Lady Finella wanted revenge for her son's death. She might have even had help from people who didn't like the king's new rules about how land was passed down.
The King's Assassination
To get her revenge, Lady Finella planned a clever trap. She got help from some of the king's own men or his enemies. The story says she set up a special cottage in Fettercairn. King Kenneth II was visiting the area and Lady Finella managed to get him to come inside.
The Deadly Trap
Inside the cottage, there was a statue of a boy in the middle of the room. Lady Finella told the king that if he touched the boy's head, it would lead to "amazing sport." When King Kenneth II pulled the statue's head, it set off a hidden trap. Many crossbows hidden around the room fired arrows. A hail of arrows hit the king, killing him instantly.
Whether this exact story is true or not, it is a fact that King Kenneth II was killed in Fettercairn in the year 995.
Lady Finella's Escape and End
After killing the king, Lady Finella quickly fled the scene. She headed towards the coast, but the king's soldiers chased after her. They cornered her at the top of a tall waterfall near St Cyrus. To avoid being captured by the soldiers, Lady Finella chose to jump. She threw herself over the waterfall, which was about 150 feet high, and died. The valley where this dramatic event supposedly happened is now known as Den Finella.
