Battle of Dunsinane

As the ruler of Moray, Macbeth came into conflict with Duncan I of Scotland. This resulted in Duncan's death on 14 August 1040 in the battle of Pitgaveny, near Elgin, after which Macbeth became King of Scotland. Following the death of Duncan, his son Malcolm Canmore became an exile living with the court of Edward the Confessor, King of England. In 1054 Malcolm was present when his uncle, Siward, Earl of Northumbria, invaded Scotland on his behalf. Some sources state this was on the orders of Edward the Confessor, in which case it is possible that Edward sought a puppet king in Scotland to strengthen his hand against Norman and Scandinavian factions who challenged his succession. An…

William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Macbeth is based on the life of Macbeth, King of Scots, with the historical details being drawn from Ralph Holinshed's Chronicles, published in 1577. In this version Malcolm has his forces cut branches from the trees of Birnam Wood which are then used to camouflage their approach to Dunsinane, fulfilling a prophecy made within the play that Macbeth would not be defeated until Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane. In Shakespeare's telling Macbeth is killed by Macduff during the battle of Dunsinane, running together several encounters in different places, including the battle of Lumphanan. Historic Environment Scotland have highlighted that the connection…