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Macbeth, King of Scotland

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Macbeth or MacBeth
King of Scotland
ReignAugust 14th 1040 - August 17th 1057
PredecessorDuncan I
SuccessorLulach
Bornc. 1005
Moray, Scotland
Died17 August 1057
Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire
Burial
Iona, Scotland
SpouseGruoch
IssueLulach (stepson)
HouseAlpin
FatherFinlay MacRoray
MotherDonalda, daughter of Malcolm II

Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findlaích in Gaelic) was King of Scotland from 1040-1057.[1] William Shakespeare wrote a famous play about him called Macbeth. In the play, Macbeth is an evil king who murders his cousin so he can become king.[2] Macbeth was born around 1005 in Moray, Scotland.[1] His name in Gaelic was MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh, meaning "son of life",[3] his father was Findláech mac Ruaidrí, Mormaer of Moray and his mother Donada 2nd daughter of Malcolm II.[1] In 1032, before he became king, Macbeth married Gruoch of Scotland called "Lady Macbeth"[4] they remained married until his death in 1057. She died 3 years later, in 1060.[4] Macbeth may have had one child with Gruoch, but this is not certain. This child was Ferchar Og, Prince of Scots. Macbeth did have a stepson, Lulach, who succeeded him as king but died in 1058.[5]

On 14 August 1040, Macbeth murdered his cousin King Duncan I in battle and was crowned King of Scotland.[6] Macbeth was defeated by Duncan's son Malcolm (Canmore) and his ally Siward of Northumbria at Dunsinane Hill in 1054. Specifics of Macbeth's death are uncertain, being mortally wounded in skirmishing about the Cairn o'Mounth Pass into the Dee Valley, or at the Battle of Lumphanan on 15th August 1057. Macbeth was succeeded by his stepson Lulach.

In 1058, Lulach was killed in Battle of Essie by his cousin Malcolm III, who then became king, Macbeth's burial most likely took place soon after his death, he was buried in Iona, Scotland, Macbeth is seen in a famous play by William Shakespeare, where he Kills his cousin. In real life, Macbeth was more peaceful than this, though he did kill King Duncan I of Scotland.[6]

References

[change | change source]
  1. 1 2 3 "Macbeth (c. 1005 – 1057)". History: Historic Figures. BBC.
  2. ↑ Shakespeare, William (July 1, 2003). Macbeth. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0743477103.
  3. ↑ "Macbeth of Scotland". New World Encyclopedia. August 25, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Gruoch (fl. 1020 – 1054)". Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Gale Research, Inc. 2002. ISBN 978-0787637361.
  5. ↑ "The House of Moray: Lulach 'The Simple,' 1057–1058". Scottish Monarchs. 2004.
  6. 1 2 Johnson, Ben. "Duncan and MacBeth". Historic UK: The History and Heritage Accommodation Guide. Historic UK 2017.
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