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MacBeth
- King of Scotland (1040 – 57)
MacBeth
whose name means “Son of Life” was a very competent king who claimed
the throne on his behalf and that of his wife Grauch (widow of
Gillacomgain who was burnt to death with his followers in 1032). The
couple lived in a fortified castle at Dunsinane north of Perth and had no
children.
MacBeth
was respected for his strong leadership qualities and wisdom and ruled
Scotland for 17 years. In 1040 he killed Duncan I at Pitgaveny near Elgin
so this secured him the throne of Scotland but the peace was not to last.
Duncan’s son Malcolm had fled to Northumbria after the defeat of his
father but had never given up his claim to the Scottish throne. In 1054
with the support of Earl Siward, he led an army against MacBeth defeating
him at the battle of Dunsinnan near Scone. MacBeth was still king but he
was forced to give up the land at the southern part of his kingdom to
Malcolm, after all, those were Malcolm’s lands. In 1057 at the battle of
Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire MacBeth was defeated and killed.
By Mónica Loreto
See
Scottish Kings and Queens
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