Remarks:
King of Scots, 1034-1040. He succeeded his maternal grandfather Malcolm II as king in 1034, and was made famous in literature as the victim of Shakespeare's Macbeth, based on the historical king Mac Bethad mac Findl‡ech, who killed Duncan in battle in 1040. During his reign, the north and west of Scotland were conquered by the Norsemen, under Thorfinn, jarl of the Orkneys. He was murdered by his cousin, MacBeth, lord of Moray, who had joined forces with those of the invader, and who succeeded him. MacBeth in turn was slain by DuncanÕs son, Malcolm Ceannmor, at Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, on August 15, 1057. Duncan, who had gained the throne by primogeniture, married a cousin of Siward, earl of Northumbria, about 1030. In 1040, after incurring heavy losses in an unsuccessful siege of Durham, he was twice defeated by his cousin, Thorfinn, earl of Orkney and then was killed by Macbeth at Pitgaveny, near Elgin, on August 14,1040. Macbeth was challenged by Crinan and fell in fight. In 1054 Malcolm, the eldest son of Duncan, came up with earl Siward of Northumbria and possibly
gained the Lothians. He and his wife gave endowments to the Church and in 1050 he went on pilgrimage to Rome. Macbeth was defeated and killed by Malcolm, son of Duncan at Lumphana in Mar on August 15, 1057. Macbeth had no children. His stepson, Lulach (the Simple), inherited Queen Gruoch's claim to the throne. He was installed at Scone and held it until he was
overthrown and killed by Malcolm at Essie in Strathbogie.