Scottish Kings Duncan and Macbeth 15 August

August 15 should probably be entitled 'Scottish King Day' because on 15 August 1040 Mac Bethad mac Findláech, better known as Macbeth (Gaelic for "Son of Life") became the king of Scotland, by defeating Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crínáin) or 'Duncan the Gracious' as he was known to his chums.

Gracious Duncan was born on August 15 1001 and died on August 15 1040 after Macbeth gave him a jolly good biffing at a Battle near Elgin in Moray. Macbeth remained king of the Scots until August 15, 1057.

Gracious Duncan was a son of Crinan the Thane de Mormaer, who was a lay abbot of Dunkeld, and Princess Bethoc of Scotland. Duncan became King in succession to his maternal grandfather Malcolm II in 1034 and his accession is said to be the first example of inheritance of the Scottish throne in the direct line. "Duncan The Gracious", was a less than complimenary - if not downright ironic title as he was a not particularly strong or popular ruler. Not much is known about him apart from the fact that he marched south to besiege Durham In 1039, but was badly trounced and that he later attempted to seize control of Moray, but was bashed twice by the Earl of Orkney's son, Thorfinn, who was a chum of MacBeth, before being killed in battle. He was killed at Bothnguane and later buried at Iona.

Macbeth on the other hand was a strong king and ruled over a kingdom stable enough for him to be able to leave for several months on a pilgrimage to Rome. He instituted a new form of law and order in Scotland and his reign was noted as a time of prosperity. He almost certainly had absolutely nothing to do with witches. What's more, Mackers (as actors call him) probably had no relationship to the Kings of Scotland either and only the late 13th century Chronicle of Huntingdon calls him nepos (nephew or grandson) of King Malcolm (probably Malcolm III). He did however marry Gruoch; better known to history as Lady Macbeth (or Lady Mackers), a granddaughter of Kenneth III of Scotland, and daughter of the prince Bodhe. In 1031, according to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle, Macbeth was one of three Scottish kings who submitted to Canute the Great. Macbeth formed an alliance with Thorfinn, Earl of Orkney, son of Malcolm II's youngest daughter, and took up arms against Gracious Duncan. Duncan died on August 15, after fighting them in battle near Elgin on August 14, 1040.

Macbeth was killed by Malcolm's forces at a battle near Lumphanan and the throne passed to Macbeth's stepson, Lulach, on August 15, 1057. Macbeth's life story was almost nothing at all like Shakespeare's version but it would be nice to think Mackers' last words might have been: "I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet, And to be baited with the rabble's curse. Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou opposed, being of no woman born, Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!", although he probably just grunted.