The Scottish King (Macbeth) MHDaon Taken from: in People in History; Issue 32, page 64 in Scotland Magazine Copyright © 1999 - 2013

Who is Macbeth? Macbeth is one of the greatest and most mysterious characters in Scottish history; his reign shrouded in myth, folklore and misinformation.

An 11th century Scottish king His reign was relatively long at 17 years, but his achievements and deeds have been tarnished by the pen of the greatest of all English playwrights, William Shakespeare, in his ‘Scottish Play’. .

Shakespeare wrote his play in the period 1604-06, just after the Stuart King James VI of Scotland had become James I of England Macbeth was first presented to King James I at the palace theater, thus Shakespeare included elements of special interest to the king. (one of these was the three witches since the king had authored a book on demonology since he was interested in sorcery.

A soiled reputation Admirers of Richard III (1483-85) of England know only too well what impact the pen of Shakespeare had on transforming historical fact. Yet it is with Macbeth, and all the theatrical superstitions that now accompany the play, that the Scottish king’s reputation has been rewritten, despite the efforts of historians to convince people otherwise.

So who was “the real” Macbeth? When did he reign? Was he the tyrant that theatrical history has created?

His full name was Mac Bethad mac Findlaich He was born in what is now Dingwall in 1005. His father was Finlay, the Mormaer – High Steward and Earl – of Moray. His mother is believed to have been Donada, who was the second daughter of Malcolm II, who was King of Scots between 1005 and 1034.

Competition to the throne of Scotland Malcolm strengthened his claim to the throne of Scotland when he married Kenneth III’s (997-1005) grand-daughter Gruoch, the widow of Gille Coemgain. In a further battle in 1045, he defeated and killed Duncan I’s father at Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay near Perth.

Macbeth the distortion of the Truth The real story of Macbeth becomes clouded in the interpretation of some medieval chronicles which most likely provided William Shakespeare with the basis for his play.

Finlay died in 1020 But it was not until 1032 that Macbeth became the ruler of Moray after his cousin Gille Coemgain and about 50 followers were burned to death having been trapped in their stronghold. Macbeth’s father: Finlay died in 1020. These were violent times.

Macbeth truly comes to the attention of the pages of history in August 1040. It was at that point that Macbeth became King of the Scots.

Was he a murderer? While we know that Duncan died in battle, there is no historical indication that he was actually killed by Macbeth, as Shakespeare’s text suggests. King, Duncan I (1034-1040), was killed in a battle at Pitgaveny, near Elgin in Morayshire.

Shakespeare distorts the truth Despite Shakespeare’s portrayal of Macbeth as a murderer and tyrant, history tends to reflect a more just rule during what was the latter period of the Dark Ages in Scotland.

A true leader He imposed law and order and encouraged the development of Christianity. In 1050, he made a six-month pilgrimage to Rome for a Papal Jubilee during the reign of Pope Leo IX.

Macbeth had earned the respect of his subjects Historians have read much into this journey. Any king able to leave his kingdom for such a period of time and distribute money in Rome was a monarch who reigned over a land that was politically and economically stable for the time, that there was no serious challenge to the throne,

Image as evil Murderer Macbeth’s name has become synonymous with bad luck and superstition and in 2005 politicians in the Scottish Parliament signed a motion calling for Macbeth’s achievements to be recognized.

The Hoax Dr James Fraser from Edinburgh University’s history department said: “He was certainly not the murderer that Shakespeare portrays, nor the tyrant. The play drew from a long-standing conviction among medieval Scottish historians that Macbeth was not entitled to claim the Scottish throne, and so, in claiming it, he had committed a terrible crime.”

Tarnished Name Macbeth was no more or less brutal or murderous than any other ruler of this time. Yet it remains William Shakespeare’s theatrical portrayal of him that has seen his character forever tarnished.