Weird Witches

The many levels of ‘Macbeth’

Who were they really? (Photo by Ashley Ibarra on Unsplash)

This is in part a response to Linda Carolls’ recent article here and in part another example of my continuing interest in The Bard. Having dealt with The Great Dane, I will now turn to The Scottish Play.

The Story Behind the Play

Mac Bethad mac Findlaích (MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh in Modern Gaelic) or Macbeth MacFinlay, was born in about 1005 CE in Moray, a semi-autonomous province of the Kingdom of Alba (Scotland). Alba proper ran from the Firth of Forth to the Spey, while Moray covered much of the territory between the Spey and the Moray Firth. Not a great deal is known about him until 1032 CE, when he became Mormaer (Earl) of Moray. Rumour has it that Macbeth accomplished this by murdering the previous mormaer Gille Coemgáin, who died along with 50 of his men in a fire. What is known is that Macbeth married Gilles’ widow, Gruoch and adopted her son, Lulach, as his heir.

In 1031, the King of England, Cnut the Great (King Canute) travelled north to accept the submission of the King of Alba, Malcolm II. As one of Malcolms’ Earls, Macbeth was present at the ceremony. In 1034 Malcolm died and was succeeded as king by his grandson Donnchad mac Crínáin, known as Duncan I. At first, Duncans’ reign was quiet, but in 1039 the Earl of Northumbria attacked Strathclyde. Duncans’…