| Duncan is a king who's reputation improved due to his portrayal
by Shakespeare in Macbeth. In Macbeth he was a gentle, wise old
man, in reality he was young and as war-inclined as other kings
of the period, although not considered to be a particularly able
ruler. He was the grandson and tanaise of Malcolm
II and son of Crinan, lay Abbot of Dunkeld, and Bethoc as well
as being the ruler of Cumbria (Strathclyde), in fact he was the
last to be so called. Duncan's brother, Maldred, married into the
Earl of Northumbria's house by wedding the sister of Earl Eadulf,
she was also the daughter of Earl Uhtred of Cumberland. Duncan himself
married a cousin of the Earl of Northumbria and they had two sons,
Malcolm and Donald,
both of whom became king of Scotland. These English connections
were to cause problems in the future, especially for Duncan's successor
Macbeth.
Little is known historically concerning Duncan's
reign. It is known that he fought against his cousin, Thorfinn,
Earl of Orkney, twice and was defeated on both occasions, as he
was when he pursued a siege against Durham in 1039, this time with
heavy casualties. He was king for only six years and in that time
he sallied into northern England on several occasions. He died in
battle against Macbeth and this may have
occured near Birnam Woods as he is said to have held court on Birnam
Hill, near Dunkeld.
|
History Books on this time period:
| Author |
Title |
Published |
Price |
Order
Now From: |
| Duncan, A. A. M. |
Scotland: the Making of the Kingdom |
1975 |
£16.99 |
Amazon.co.uk |
| Scotland: the Making of the Kingdom is the first "straight"
history of Scotland from pre-history to 1286 to be published
since 1862. It starts with the evidence on pre-historic
and Roman Scotland and covers in some detail the incursions
and amalgamations of races who made up the Celtic Kingdom,
the impact of the Vikings and the forging of a single
kingdom. Professor Duncan looks at the Anglo-Norman influence
on Scotland and gives a full account of Anglo-Scottish
relations up to 1214. The growth of towns is discussed
together with the expansion of trade and the place of
Scottish evidence in the evolution of rural and urban
society in north-west Europe. The closing chapters narrate
the progress which made possible the establishment of
an efficient and unoppressive administrative system. |
 |
|
| Barrow, G. W. S. |
Kingship & Unity: Scotland 1000-1306 |
1989 |
£9.95
or
$20.00 |
Amazon.co.uk
or
Amazon.com |
Professor Barrow takes up the history of a Scotland
which in the eleventh century already has the beginnings
of a clear sense of identity, and a successful expansion
policy.
Emphasising in particular the kingdom's political growth
and the evolution of a distinct Scottish nation, Professor
Barrow narrates the story of Scotland's remarkable Medieval
kings and their development of a kingship and the institutions
of government which provided the unity and administration
to fend off Edward I's onslaughts in the thirteenth century.
This is a thoroughly readable and comprehensive account
of the building of medieval Scotland, and a welcome reissue
from the New History of Scotland series (formerly published
by Edward Arnold). |
 |
|
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