Macbeth King Of Scotland

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Macbeth King Of Scotland
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Notes

Macbeth siezed the throne of Scotland in 1040 after defeating and killing Duncan I. He based his claim to the crown on his wife's royal descent. Malcolm III, son of Duncan I, and Earl Siward of Northumberland defeated Macbeth at Dunsinane in 1054, but they did not dethrone him. Three years later, Malcolm III killed Macbeth at Lumphanan. Macbeth's stepson Lulach reigned for a few months, and then Malcolm III succeeded him as king.

William Shakespeare based his play, Macbeth, one of his greatest tragedies, upon a distorted version of these events which he found in Raphael Holinshed's 'Chronicle of Scottish History.' The only kernel of historical truth in the play is Duncan's death at the hand of Macbeth. From this fact, Shakespeare drew his portrait of ambition leading to a violent and tragic end.

Source: 'The World Book Encyclopedia', 1968, p M4.

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