General Notes

REFN: 1392AN
Alias:<ALIA> The /Gracious/
REFN: P1392
Murdered by MacBeth.
Duncan I (d. 10 40) was a son of Crinan or Cronan, lay abbot of Dunkeld, a
nd became king of t he Scots in succession to his maternal grandfather, Ma
lcolm II, in 1034, havi ng previously as rex Cumbrorum ruled in Strathclyd
e. His accession was "the f irst example of inheritance of the Scottish th
rone in the direct line."
Duncan is chiefly known through his connexion with Macbeth, which has be
en immort alized by Shakespeare. The feud between these two princes origin
ated probably in a dispute over the succession to the throne; its detail
s, however, are ob scure, and the only fact which can be ascertained wi
th any certainty is that Duncan was slain by Macbeth in 1040. Two of Dunca
n's sons, Malcolm III Canmore and Donald Bane, were afterwards kings of t
he Scots.
King Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crínáin) (August 15, 1001 – August 15, 1040) w
as King of Scots, a son of Crinan the Thane De Mormaer, lay abbot of Dunke
ld, and Princess Bethoc of Scotland. He became king of Scotland in success
ion to his maternal grandfather Malcolm II in 1034, having previously rul
ed as rex Cumbrorum in the Kingdom of Strathclyde. His accession is sa
id to be "the first example of inheritance of the Scottish throne in the d
irect line", as opposed to the previous tanistry system.
Duncan was known as Duncan The Gracious, a title that was not entirely com
plimentary. His uncaring approach to matters of state made him unpopular b
oth with his subjects and the nobility. Not a strong ruler, he is chief
ly known today through his connection with King Macbeth, which has been im
mortalized by William Shakespeare. The feud between these two when princ
es originated probably in a dispute over the succession to the throne; i
ts details, however, are obscure, and the only fact which can be stated wi
th any certainty is that Duncan was slain in battle by Macbeth, near Elgi
n, Moray, on August 15, 1040.
In 1039, Duncan marched south to besiege Durham, Northumbria, England, b
ut was defeated with heavy losses. He also attempted to seize control of M
oray, but was twice defeated by the Earl of Orkney's son, Thorfinn, befo
re being killed in battle. He was killed at Bothnguane and buried at Iona.
Details of Duncan's marital life are a matter of debate among historian
s. The Scottish Regnal List I calls his wife Suthen, and John of Fordun ca
lls her a kinswoman of Siward Biornsson, Earl of Northumbria. The United K
ingdom's official history of the monarchy states that she was Siward's cou
sin.
Two of Duncan's sons, Malcolm III Canmore and Donald Bane, were afterwar
ds kings of the Scots. Another son, Maelmuire, was the father of Maddad, M
ormaer of Atholl, whose own son Harald Maddadson ruled in Orkney.
Born: 15-Aug-1001
Died: 1-Aug-1040
Location of death: Elgin, Moray, Scotland
Cause of death: unspecified
Gender: Male
Religion: Roman Catholic
Ethnicity: White
Nationality: Scotland
King of Scotland, 1034-40
Duncan I, a son of Crinan or Cronan, lay abbot of Dunkeld, and became ki
ng of the Scots in succession to his maternal grandfather, Malcolm I
I, in 1034, having previously as rex Cumbrorum ruled in Strathclyde. His a
ccession was the first example of inheritance of the Scottish throne in t
he direct line. Duncan is chiefly known through his connection with Macbet
h, which has been immortalized by William Shakespeare. The feud between th
ese two princes originated probably in a dispute over the succession to t
he throne; its details, however, are obscure, and the only fact which c
an be ascertained with any certainty is that Duncan was slain by Macbe
th in 1040. Two of Duncan's sons, Malcolm III Canmore and Donald V Bane, w
ere afterwards kings of the Scots.
Father: Crinan
Son: Malcolm III Canmore (King of Scotland)
Son: Donald V Bane (King of Scotland)
Duncan I (a.k.a. Donnchad mac Crínáin) lived from 15 August 1001 to 15