[MR] Wikipedia: Death of King Duncan I

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots,

On this date in 1040, King of the Scots Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crinain) was
killed in battle at Pitgraveny, Scotland, by forces led by his cousin
Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_I_of_Scotland .

Macbeth claimed the throne for himself after the battle. Contrary to what
Shakespeare tells us in "The Scottish Play", Macbeth and his wife did not
murder Duncan. It didn't matter to Duncan, as he was just as dead either
way.

Macbeth went on to a rather successful reign lasting 17 years. The country
was prosperous, and more peaceful than one would expect of the Scots.
Macbeth was a pious king who is believed to have made a pilgrimage to Rome
where he distributed alms generously:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth,_King_of_Scotland .

Well, nothing lasts forever, including Macbeth or his reputation. In 1057
he was killed by the future King Malcolm III at the battle of Lumphanan. He
is thought by some to have been buried on Iona, though many scholars
dispute this. Macbeth's step-son Lulach was crowned king, but he didn't
last long. Malcolm grabbed the crown and all the goodies in 1058.

As for Shakespeare, he based his play on Raphael Holinshed's account, which
had already smeared Macbeth's reputation, recasting him as a murderous
tyrant. Shakespeare, never one to pass a good plot provided by somebody
else, completed the character assassination. Thus today Macbeth is
undeservedly the great Scottish boogie man.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆