The Real MacBeth Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1040

Macbeth means 'Son of Life' in Gaelic.

Answer: Malcolm II

At the time the Scottish throne passed to the most able candidate on the death of the previous king provided that candidate had a father, grandfather or great-grandfather who had previously been king. This often made for a very bloody succession process. MacBeth's wife, Gruoch, was the grand-daughter of Kenneth III.

This in itself was not enough to secure MacBeth the throne but it did bolster his own claim.

Answer: Gruoch

Gruoch (or Grauch) is one of the first women recorded in Scottish history. Bethoc was the daughter of Malcolm II and the mother of Duncan I, Donada was her sister. Some sources site her as MacBeth's mother, some claim his mother was another, unnamed, sister. Donada does seem to have been the mother of the Norwegian Thorfinn Ravenfeeder, Earl of Orkney, which would make him either the cousin or the half-brother of MacBeth.

Answer: Moray

It was in Moray that MacBeth killed King Duncan in battle. MacBeth's father, Findlaech, had been Mormaer of Moray until he was violently overthrown by Gillacomgain, Gruoch's first husband. Gruoch married MacBeth after he overthrew Gillacomgain to seize Moray for himself. The mormaers were the lesser kings (ri) who elected the high king (ard righ).

Answer: Duncan I

The real Duncan was also very unlike the Shakespearean portayal. He was a young, impetuous king and not the wise old man of the play. He was not killed in bed but in battle against MacBeth's men of Moray.

Answer: Rome

MacBeth clearly felt at this time that his kingdom was secure enough for him to make a pilgrammage to the Eternal City.

Answer: Malcolm mac Duncan

Malcolm was the eldest son of Duncan I. Often known as Malcolm Canmore (from the Gaelic 'Ceann Mor' meaning literally 'big head' but possibly meaning 'great chief'), he fought MacBeth for the throne with the aid of Earl Siward, defeating him at Lumphanan and finally winning control of the throne the following year, 1058.

Answer: Lumphanan

MacBeth did not die at Dunsinane as in Shakespeare's play but at Lumphanan in the north-east of Scotland in 1057.

Answer: 17 years

MacBeth is considered to have been the second last of the kings of the House of Alpin (Malcolm III is considered the first of the House of Canmore). MacBeth's reign was one of the longest of any of the early Scottish kings.

Answer: False

MacBeth's stepson, Lulach (known as Lulach the Simple), succeeded him in 1057. In 1058 Lulach was killed in an ambush and Malcolm Canmore became Malcolm III. MacBeth is not known to have had any children of his own.