Maybe the following will help.
"In North Britain, from time immemorial, the rule of tanistry (or
thanistry, as in thane) had long
determined the descent of authority within a clan, It held that
"succession to an estate or dignity
was conferred by election upon the 'eldest and worthiest' among the
surviving kinsmen."87
Candidates for this honor were males within the circle of kin called the
derbfine all the relatives
within the span of four generations. By the rule of tanistry, one man
among that group was
chosen to head the family: he who was strongest, toughest and most
cunning. This principle
became an invitation to violent conflict, and the question was often
settled by a trial of strength
and cunning. The winner became the elder of his family or clan, and was
honored with deference
and deep respect. The losers were degraded and despised if they were
lucky. In ancient days they
were sometimes murdered, blinded or maimed.
This rule of tanistry had long existed throughout parts of Ireland and
Scotland. For many
centuries, it had been formally invoked to decide the descent of the
Scottish crown.88 Tanistry
caused much violence in the history of North Britain. It was also a
product of that violence, for it
was a way of promoting elders who had the strength and cunning to defend
their families, and
command respect. But those elders who were unable to do so became a
danger to their people.
They were degraded and even destroyed. Here was yet another custom by
which the culture of
North Britain adapted itself to conditions of chronic disorder. By the
rule of tanistry, families,
clans and even kingdoms gained strong leaders who were able to protect
them...."
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Ellie
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