King Duncan I of Scotland

Donnchad mac Crinain, known as Duncan I and nicknamed An t-Ilgarach, ‘the Diseased’ or ‘the Sick’, was the king of Scotland from 1034 to 1040. He was the son of Crínán, hereditary lay abbot of Dunkeld, and Bethóc, daughter of King Malcolm II. His reign began following the death of his grandfather Malcolm without opposition, suggesting he may have been the acknowledged successor. Historians have debated his ancestry and familial connections, with varying accounts of his parents and spouses provided over time.

Duncan’s early reign was uneventful, which could be attributed to his youth. He had at least two sons, Malcolm III and Donald III, who both later became kings. Duncan’s military leadership included a failed siege of Durham in 1039 and a campaign in Moray against Macbeth in 1040, which led to his death in battle. His portrayal in fiction varies from Shakespeare’s elderly king to depictions of a weak and conniving ruler in other works.