Battle of Pitgaveny
Battle of Pitgaveny | |||||||
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![]() Pitgaveny, site of battle | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Scottish Crown | Province of Moray | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Duncan I † | Macbeth | ||||||
Location of Pitgaveny within the modern boundaries of Moray. |
The Battle of Pitgaveny, also called the Battle of Bothnagowan, was fought between the forces of
Following the battle Duncan's sons fled Scotland, but both later returned.
Background
Duncan I became king of Scotland after the death of his grandfather, Malcolm II, in 1034,[1] and also held the title king of Strathclyde. Malcolm was the last descendant of the male lineage descended from Kenneth I to hold the kingship, and Duncan ascending to the throne on a claim descending from his mother was highly unusual for the period.[2]
Another challenger to the Scottish throne was Macbeth, who had ruled Moray since 1032.[1][3] Macbeth is described as holding the title of dux, which would later mean a Duke, but at the time was closer to the Roman meaning of a war leader. This would suggest Macbeth was seen as a powerful figure in Scotland,[4] and the isolation of Moray caused by the Mounth allowed Macbeth and his predecessors as rulers of Moray to exercise a degree of political independence.[5]
Attempts by Duncan to reclaim the northerly regions of
Battle
in 1040 Duncan led a campaign against Macbeth in Moray.[6] This campaign ended in defeat for Duncan at Bothnagowan, modern day Pitgaveny, near Elgin, where he faced Macbeth's forces on 14 August.[2][6] Duncan was either killed in action, or later died at Elgin Castle of wounds sustained in the battle.[6]
Aftermath
Following Duncan's death Macbeth became king of Scots, and in 1045 he defeated and killed Duncan's father
In 1054 Siward, Earl of Northumbria, led an army into Scotland in support of Malcolm and defeated Macbeth at the battle of Dunsinane. Malcolm would defeat and kill Macbeth at the battle of Lumphanan in 1057, taking the crown after killing Macbeth's stepson Lulach 18 weeks later.[7]
Upon Malcolm's death at the battle of Alnwick in 1093 Donald was chosen to be the king of Scots. Donald exiled Malcolm's sons, one of whom, Duncan II would briefly dethrone Donald in 1094 before another, Edgar, seized the throne in 1097 with the aid of William II of England.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d Cannon & Hargreaves 2009.
- ^ a b c Broun 2004a.
- ^ a b Broun 2004b.
- ^ Lewis 2022.
- ^ Adam 1957, p. 382.
- ^ a b c Archibald 2016, Pitgaveny.
- ^ a b Cannon & Crowcroft 2015.
- ^ a b Duncan 2004.
Sources
- Adam, R. J. (June 1957). "The Real Macbeth: KING OF SCOTS, 1040–1054". History Today. 7 (6): 381–387.
- Archibald, Malcolm (2016). Dance If Ye Can: A Dictionary of Scottish Battles. Creativia. ISBN 978-1536821796.
- Broun, Dauvit (2004a). "Duncan I [Donnchad ua Maíl Choluim]". doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8209. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Broun, Dauvit (2004b). "Macbeth [Mac Bethad mac Findlaích]". doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17356. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Cannon, John; Crowcroft, Robert (2015). "Malcolm III". A Dictionary of British History (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191758027.
- Cannon, John; Hargreaves, Anna (2009). "Duncan I". The Kings and Queens of Britain (2 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199559220.
- Duncan, A. A. M. (2004). "Donald III [Domnall Bán, Donalbane]". doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/37366. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Lewis, Matt (4 August 2022). "The Real Macbeth: Who Was King Duncan I of Scotland?". History Hit.