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The Real Macbeth

Say "Macbeth" and the first thing that comes to mind is probably the play by the
famous playwright, William Shakespeare. This classic story has become a mainstay of
high school English literature classes around the world. However, few people realize
that there was a real king Macbeth who lived long before the Shakespearean character
evolved. In fact, the only verity of historical truth in the play is King Duncan's death at
the hand of Macbeth. The "real" Macbeth was not exactly as weak and unsuccessful
as Shakespeare portrayed him. The "real" Macbeth had reasons for murdering
Duncan, had a successful sovereignty, and had a very different defeat.
The real Macbeth was born a grandson of King Kenneth II who ruled from
971-995. His father was Finlay McRory who was a Mormaer (lord) of Moray. His
mother's name was Donada but it is unknown whether she was the daughter of King
Kenneth II, Kenneth III, or Malcolm II. He married Grauch ("Lady Macbeth"), a
descendant of King Kenneth III, who ruled from 997-1005. Lady Macbeth already had
a son, Lulach, by a first marriage to another Mormaer of Moray.
Becoming king in eleventh century Scotland was not strictly hereditary. There
was a practice called thanistry. This meant that nobleman chose kings from a large
selection of possible kings called thanes. In theory, thanistry should have worked. But
in practice, what often happened was that the strongest and most cunning of the
thanists would rise to power. As a result, the best person did not necessarily become
king because thanistry encourage open conflict as well as the assassination or reigning
kings and other thanes (Scotland 4). But, the "real" Macbeth's murder of King
Duncan I in 1040 in a battle, was seen more as a good move than as a catastrophe.
Duncan's rule in Scotland was not the golden age as described in Shakespeare's
Macbeth. In truth, Duncan was described by Arthur M. Gunn as an "impetuous and
spoiled young man...