King of Scotland Donnchad mac Crinain

Other Events:

• Name: Duncan I
• Name: The Gracious
• Reference Number: 8961

Notes:

Killed by his cousin, Macbeth

Donnchad mac Crínáin (Modern Gaelic: Donnchadh mac Crìonain; anglicised as Duncan I, and nicknamed An t-Ilgarach, "the Diseased" or "the Sick"; ca. 1001 - 14 August 1040) was king of Scotland (Alba) from 1034 to 1040. He was son of Crínán, hereditary lay abbot of Dunkeld, and Bethóc, daughter of king Malcolm II of Scotland (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda).

Unlike the "King Duncan" of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the historical Duncan appears to have been a young man. He followed his grandfather Malcolm as king after the latter's death on 25 November 1034, without apparent opposition. He may have been Malcolm's acknowledged successor or tánaise as the succession appears to have been uneventful. Earlier histories, following John of Fordun, supposed that Duncan had been king of Strathclyde in his grandfather's lifetime, between 1018 and 1034, ruling the former Kingdom of Strathclyde as an appanage. Modern historians discount this idea.

An earlier source, a variant of the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba (CK-I), gives Duncan's wife the Gaelic name Suthen.[6] Whatever his wife's name may have been, Duncan had at least two sons. The eldest, Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) was king from 1057 to 1093, the second Donald III (Domnall Bán, or "Donalbane") was king afterwards. Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl is a possible third son of Duncan, although this is uncertain.

The early period of Duncan's reign was apparently uneventful, perhaps a consequence of his youth. Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) is recorded as his dux, literally duke, but in the context - "dukes of Francia" had half a century before replaced the Carolingian kings of the Franks and in England the over-mighty Godwin of Wessex was called a dux - this suggests that Macbeth was the power behind the throne.

In 1039, Duncan led a large Scots army south to besiege Durham, but the expedition ended in disaster. Duncan survived, but the following year he led an army north into Moray, traditionally seen as Macbeth's domain. There he was killed in action, at Bothganowan, now Pitgaveny, near Elgin, by his own men led by Macbeth, probably on 14 August 1040. He is thought to have been buried at Elgin before later relocated to the Isle of Iona.

Donnchad — Suthen. [Group Sheet]

1. Máel Coluim mac Donnchada was born 26 Mar 1031, Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland; died 13 Nov 1093, Alnwick, Northumberland, England; was buried Holy Trinity Church, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotl.
2. III Donald was born Bef 1040; died 1099, Rescobie, Angus, Forfarshire, Scotland; was buried , Dunfermline, Perthshire, Scotland.

Other Events:

• Name: The Thane
• Reference Number: 10631

Notes:

Murdered by Vikings

Crínán married Bethóc Ingen Maíl Coluim Meic Cináeda 1000, Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland. Bethóc (daughter of Máel Coluim mac Cináeda and Agatha (Unknown)) was born 984, Perthshire, Scotland; died 1049. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 10622

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 8962

Other Events:

• Name: Malcolm II
• Reference Number: 10641

Máel married Agatha (Unknown) 983. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 17

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 8963

Other Events:

• Name: Kenneth II
• Reference Number: 10638
• Death: 995; Glamis Castle, Scotland

Cináed — Frigida of Mumhan. Frigida was born 911; died 970. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 10606

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2710