Individual Details
Duncan I mac Crinain "the Gracious"
(Ca 1001 - 14 Aug 1040)
thePeerage.com
Duncan I 'the Gracious', King of Alba1
M, #102879, b. circa 1001, d. 14 August 1040
Last Edited=22 Jul 2012
Duncan I 'the Gracious', King of Alba was born circa 1001.2 He was the son of Crínáin of Dunkeld, Mormaer of Atholl and Bethoc of Alba.3 He married Sybilla (?), daughter of Siward Digera, Earl of Northumberland and Elfleda (?), circa 1030.4 He died on 14 August 1040 at Pitgaveny, Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, killed by a blow from Macbeth.5 He was buried at Isle of Iona, Argyllshire, Scotland.5
He was also known as Donnchad mac Crínáin.1 He gained the title of King Duncan of Strathclyde in 1018.4,6 He succeeded to the title of King Duncan I of Alba on 25 November 1034.4
Children of Duncan I 'the Gracious', King of Alba and Sybilla (?)
Malcolm III 'Caennmor', King of Scotland+ b. 26 Mar 1031, d. 13 Nov 1093
Donald III 'Donald bane', King of Scotland+ b. c 1033, d. 1099
Maelmare mac Dhonnachadh+ b. c 1035
Citations
[S130] Wikipedia, online http;//www.wikipedia.org. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 179. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Families.
[S125] Richard Glanville-Brown, online, Richard Glanville-Brown (RR 2, Milton, Ontario, Canada), downloaded 17 August 2005.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 180.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 181.
[S8] BP1999 volume 1, page 13. See link for full details for this source. Hereinafter cited as. [S8]
***************
From Wikipedia
Duncan I of Scotland
Reign 1034–1040
Predecessor Malcolm II
Successor Macbeth
Died 14 August 1040[1]
Pitgaveny, near Elgin
Burial Iona ?
Spouse Suthen
Issue Malcolm III, King of Alba
Donald III, King of Alba
Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl
House Dunkeld
Father Crinan of Dunkeld
Mother Bethoc
Donnchad mac Crinain (Modern Gaelic: Donnchadh mac Crìonain;[2] anglicised as Duncan I, and nicknamed An t-Ilgarach, "the Diseased" or "the Sick";[3] ca. 1001 – 14 August 1040)[1] was king of Scotland (Alba) from 1034 to 1040. He is the historical basis of the "King Duncan" in Shakespeare's play Macbeth.
Contents
1 Life
2 Depictions in fiction
3 Ancestry
4 Notes
5 References
Life
He was son of Crínán, hereditary lay abbot of Dunkeld, and Bethóc, daughter of king Máel Coluim mac Cináeda (Malcolm II).
Unlike the "King Duncan" of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the historical Duncan appears to have been a young man. He followed his grandfather Malcolm as king after the latter's death on 25 November 1034, without apparent opposition. He may have been Malcolm's acknowledged successor or Tànaiste as the succession appears to have been uneventful.[4] Earlier histories, following John of Fordun, supposed that Duncan had been king of Strathclyde in his grandfather's lifetime, between 1018 and 1034, ruling the former Kingdom of Strathclyde as an appanage. Modern historians discount this idea.[5]
An earlier source, a variant of the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba (CK-I), gives Duncan's wife the Gaelic name Suthen.[6] Whatever his wife's name may have been, Duncan had at least two sons. The eldest, Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) was king from 1058 to 1093, the second Donald III (Domnall Bán, or "Donalbane") was king afterwards. Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl is a possible third son of Duncan, although this is uncertain.[7]
The early period of Duncan's reign was apparently uneventful, perhaps a consequence of his youth. Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) is recorded as having been his dux, today rendered as "duke" and meaning nothing more than the rank between prince and marquess, but then still having the Roman meaning of "war leader". In context — "dukes of Francia" had half a century before replaced the Carolingian kings of the Franks and in England the over-mighty Godwin of Wessex was called a dux — this suggests that Macbeth may have been the power behind the throne.[8]
In 1039, Duncan led a large Scots army south to besiege Durham, but the expedition ended in disaster. Duncan survived, but the following year he led an army north into Moray, Macbeth's domain, apparently on a punitive expedition against Moray.[9] There he was killed in action, at Bothnagowan, now Pitgaveny, near Elgin, by the men of Moray led by Macbeth, probably on 14 August 1040.[10] He is thought to have been buried at Elgin[11] before later relocation to the Isle of Iona.
Depictions in fiction
Duncan is depicted as an elderly King in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. He is killed in his sleep by the protagonist, Macbeth.
In the historical novel Macbeth the King by Nigel Tranter, Duncan is portrayed as a schemer who is fearful of Macbeth as a possible rival for the throne. He tries to assassinate Macbeth by poisoning and then when this fails, attacks his home with an army. In self-defence Macbeth meets him in battle and kills him in personal combat.
In the animated television series Gargoyles he is depicted as a weak and conniving king who assassinates those who he believes threaten his rule. He even tries to assassinate Macbeth. However like in actual history he is killed in battle.
Notes
Broun, "Duncan I (d. 1040)".
Donnchad mac Crínáin is the Mediaeval Gaelic form.
Skene, Chronicles, p. 101.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, p. 33.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, p. 40.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, p. 37.
Oram, David I, p. 233, n. 26: the identification is from the Orkneyinga saga but Máel Muire's grandson Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl is known to have married Donald III's granddaughter Hextilda.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, pp. 33–34.
G. W. S. Barrow, Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000–1306, Edinburgh University Press, 1981, p.26.
Broun, "Duncan I (d. 1040)"; the date is from Marianus Scotus and the killing is recorded by the Annals of Tigernach.
"I Never Knew That About Scotland", Christopher Winn, p. 165.
References
Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History AD 500 to 1286, volume one. Republished with corrections, Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN 1-871615-03-8
Broun, Dauvit, "Duncan I (d. 1040)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 15 May 2007
Duncan, A. A. M., The Kingship of the Scots 842–1292: Succession and Independence. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2002. ISBN 0-7486-1626-8
Oram, Richard, David I: The King Who Made Scotland. Tempus, Stroud, 2004. ISBN 0-7524-2825-X
Duncan I 'the Gracious', King of Alba1
M, #102879, b. circa 1001, d. 14 August 1040
Last Edited=22 Jul 2012
Duncan I 'the Gracious', King of Alba was born circa 1001.2 He was the son of Crínáin of Dunkeld, Mormaer of Atholl and Bethoc of Alba.3 He married Sybilla (?), daughter of Siward Digera, Earl of Northumberland and Elfleda (?), circa 1030.4 He died on 14 August 1040 at Pitgaveny, Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, killed by a blow from Macbeth.5 He was buried at Isle of Iona, Argyllshire, Scotland.5
He was also known as Donnchad mac Crínáin.1 He gained the title of King Duncan of Strathclyde in 1018.4,6 He succeeded to the title of King Duncan I of Alba on 25 November 1034.4
Children of Duncan I 'the Gracious', King of Alba and Sybilla (?)
Malcolm III 'Caennmor', King of Scotland+ b. 26 Mar 1031, d. 13 Nov 1093
Donald III 'Donald bane', King of Scotland+ b. c 1033, d. 1099
Maelmare mac Dhonnachadh+ b. c 1035
Citations
[S130] Wikipedia, online http;//www.wikipedia.org. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 179. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Families.
[S125] Richard Glanville-Brown, online
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 180.
[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families, page 181.
[S8] BP1999 volume 1, page 13. See link for full details for this source. Hereinafter cited as. [S8]
***************
From Wikipedia
Duncan I of Scotland
Reign 1034–1040
Predecessor Malcolm II
Successor Macbeth
Died 14 August 1040[1]
Pitgaveny, near Elgin
Burial Iona ?
Spouse Suthen
Issue Malcolm III, King of Alba
Donald III, King of Alba
Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl
House Dunkeld
Father Crinan of Dunkeld
Mother Bethoc
Donnchad mac Crinain (Modern Gaelic: Donnchadh mac Crìonain;[2] anglicised as Duncan I, and nicknamed An t-Ilgarach, "the Diseased" or "the Sick";[3] ca. 1001 – 14 August 1040)[1] was king of Scotland (Alba) from 1034 to 1040. He is the historical basis of the "King Duncan" in Shakespeare's play Macbeth.
Contents
1 Life
2 Depictions in fiction
3 Ancestry
4 Notes
5 References
Life
He was son of Crínán, hereditary lay abbot of Dunkeld, and Bethóc, daughter of king Máel Coluim mac Cináeda (Malcolm II).
Unlike the "King Duncan" of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the historical Duncan appears to have been a young man. He followed his grandfather Malcolm as king after the latter's death on 25 November 1034, without apparent opposition. He may have been Malcolm's acknowledged successor or Tànaiste as the succession appears to have been uneventful.[4] Earlier histories, following John of Fordun, supposed that Duncan had been king of Strathclyde in his grandfather's lifetime, between 1018 and 1034, ruling the former Kingdom of Strathclyde as an appanage. Modern historians discount this idea.[5]
An earlier source, a variant of the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba (CK-I), gives Duncan's wife the Gaelic name Suthen.[6] Whatever his wife's name may have been, Duncan had at least two sons. The eldest, Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) was king from 1058 to 1093, the second Donald III (Domnall Bán, or "Donalbane") was king afterwards. Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl is a possible third son of Duncan, although this is uncertain.[7]
The early period of Duncan's reign was apparently uneventful, perhaps a consequence of his youth. Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) is recorded as having been his dux, today rendered as "duke" and meaning nothing more than the rank between prince and marquess, but then still having the Roman meaning of "war leader". In context — "dukes of Francia" had half a century before replaced the Carolingian kings of the Franks and in England the over-mighty Godwin of Wessex was called a dux — this suggests that Macbeth may have been the power behind the throne.[8]
In 1039, Duncan led a large Scots army south to besiege Durham, but the expedition ended in disaster. Duncan survived, but the following year he led an army north into Moray, Macbeth's domain, apparently on a punitive expedition against Moray.[9] There he was killed in action, at Bothnagowan, now Pitgaveny, near Elgin, by the men of Moray led by Macbeth, probably on 14 August 1040.[10] He is thought to have been buried at Elgin[11] before later relocation to the Isle of Iona.
Depictions in fiction
Duncan is depicted as an elderly King in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. He is killed in his sleep by the protagonist, Macbeth.
In the historical novel Macbeth the King by Nigel Tranter, Duncan is portrayed as a schemer who is fearful of Macbeth as a possible rival for the throne. He tries to assassinate Macbeth by poisoning and then when this fails, attacks his home with an army. In self-defence Macbeth meets him in battle and kills him in personal combat.
In the animated television series Gargoyles he is depicted as a weak and conniving king who assassinates those who he believes threaten his rule. He even tries to assassinate Macbeth. However like in actual history he is killed in battle.
Notes
Broun, "Duncan I (d. 1040)".
Donnchad mac Crínáin is the Mediaeval Gaelic form.
Skene, Chronicles, p. 101.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, p. 33.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, p. 40.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, p. 37.
Oram, David I, p. 233, n. 26: the identification is from the Orkneyinga saga but Máel Muire's grandson Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl is known to have married Donald III's granddaughter Hextilda.
Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, pp. 33–34.
G. W. S. Barrow, Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000–1306, Edinburgh University Press, 1981, p.26.
Broun, "Duncan I (d. 1040)"; the date is from Marianus Scotus and the killing is recorded by the Annals of Tigernach.
"I Never Knew That About Scotland", Christopher Winn, p. 165.
References
Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History AD 500 to 1286, volume one. Republished with corrections, Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN 1-871615-03-8
Broun, Dauvit, "Duncan I (d. 1040)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 15 May 2007
Duncan, A. A. M., The Kingship of the Scots 842–1292: Succession and Independence. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2002. ISBN 0-7486-1626-8
Oram, Richard, David I: The King Who Made Scotland. Tempus, Stroud, 2004. ISBN 0-7524-2825-X
Events
| Birth | Ca 1001 | ||||
| Title (Nobility) | 1018 | King of Strathclyde | |||
| Title (Nobility) | 1034 - 1040 | King of Scotland (Alba); Macbeth's predecessor | |||
| Death | 14 Aug 1040 | Killed on expedition into Macbeth's Moray | |||
| Alt name | Donnchad mac Crínáin |
Families
| Spouse | Sybilla (?) ( - ) |
| Child | Malcolm III 'Caennmor' (1031 - 1093) |
| Father | Crínán of Dunkeld ( - 1045) |
| Mother | Bethoc of Alba (984 - ) |