[MR] Wikipedia: Duncan and Macbeth

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble friends, especially fellow Scots:

On this date in 1040 the real Duncan, King of Alba (Scotland) and the
client kingdom of Strathclyde, was killed at the Battle of Pitgaveny while
fighting against his cousin Macbeth. This is contrary to Shakespeare's
popular fiction that Duncan was offed in his sleep by Macbeth and the very
pushy Lady Macbeth (her real name was Gruoch).

Duncan ruled Alba from 1034 to 1040 with Macbeth as one of his chief
supporters (*dux*, or war leader in the old Roman usage). In 1039 Duncan
was defeated while laying siege to Durham, causing him to lose support
among the Scottish lords, including Macbeth. In 1040 Duncan led an army
into Moray, Macbeth's domain. This also failed, with Duncan being killed on
the battlefield, or dying of his wounds soon after. Thus Macbeth can be
seen as the aggrieved party in the bloody succession, though there may be
much more to this story that is lost in the murky history of Scotland.

Duncan had at least two sons, Malcolm and Donald Ban, both of whom decamped
after their father's death (probably a wise move). Macbeth then claimed the
kingship, ruling quite successfully from 1040 until 1057. That year Malcolm
came roaring back from exile in England at the head of an army. Macbeth was
defeated and killed by Malcolm at the Battle of Lumphanan. After tidying up
things by eliminating Macbeth's step-son Lulach a few months later, Malcolm
seized the crown and ruled until his own death in 1093.

Medieval Scottish politics were seldom pretty.

Duncan's short reign is explored at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_I_of_Scotland .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.