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The House Of Dunkeld |
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Duncan I
1001-1040
King Duncan I of Scotland or Ddonnchad mac Crinian was born on 5th August, 1001, the son of Bethoc, the daughter of Malcolm II MacAlpin and Crinan, lay Abbot of Dunkeld. He allied himself in marriage to Aelflaed of Northumbria, cousin of Siward Digera, Earl of Northumbria. There were many rival claimants to contest his claim to the Scottish throne, one of which one was murdered and the other died shortly after, a third, Lulach, being only an infant at the time , was not considered to be an immediate threat to the new regime.
The reign of Duncan 'the Gracious' was destined to be a troubled and tumultuous one. The Earl of Bernica invaded Cumbria in 1038. Duncan proceeded south with a large army and laid siege to Durham, but met with disastrous defeat.
A further threat to his rule was posed by Macbeth, Mormaer (Earl) of Moray, Malcolm's grandson by his other daughter, Donada. Shakespeare was later to immortalize both him and Duncan in his play of the same name. He was married to Gruoch, the widowed mother of Lulach.
Macbeth did not, as reported by Shakespeare, murder the innocent Duncan in his sleep, but during or after a battle in contest for the throne at Bothganowan, near Elgin, on 15th August, 1040. Duncan was buried at Iona Abbey, the traditional burila place of the Gaelic Kings of Scotland.