Duncan I

died 1040, king of Scotland 1030-40: murdered by Macbeth.

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died Aug. 1, 1040, near Elgin, Moray, Scot.

King of the Scots (1034–40).

The grandson of King Malcolm II, his accession to the throne violated the system in which kingship alternated between two branches of the royal family. He was challenged by Macbeth, mormaer (subking) of Moray, who was the inspiration for the play by William Shakespeare and who may have had a stronger claim to the throne. Macbeth murdered Duncan in 1040, and Duncan's elder son later killed Macbeth and ruled as Malcolm III Canmore.

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▪ king of the Scots

died Aug. 1, 1040, near Elgin, Moray, Scot.

 king of the Scots from 1034 to 1040.

      Duncan was the grandson of King Malcolm II (ruled 1005–34), who irregularly made him ruler of Strathclyde when that region was absorbed into the Scottish kingdom (probably shortly before 1034). Malcolm violated the established system of succession whereby the kingship alternated between two branches of the royal family. Upon Malcolm's death, Duncan succeeded peacefully, but he soon faced the rivalry of Macbeth, Mormaor (subking) of Moray, who probably had a better claim to the throne. Duncan besieged Durham unsuccessfully in 1039 and in the following year was murdered by Macbeth. Duncan's elder son later killed Macbeth and ruled as King Malcolm III Canmore (1058–93).

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