Macbeth, King of Scots, was killed at Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire on 15 August 1057. His opponent was Malcolm, the son of Duncan I and the man who would become Malcolm III.

Macbeth had ruled Scotland for about 17 years. He became king in 1040 after Duncan was killed in battle against him, rather than murdered while staying as a guest in Macbeth’s castle. The familiar version of the story belongs largely to later chronicles and Shakespeare’s play.

The surviving evidence for Macbeth’s reign is limited, but it does not suggest the short, murderous rule presented on stage. In 1050 he was secure enough to leave Scotland and make a pilgrimage to Rome. A contemporary chronicler recorded that he distributed money to the poor while there.

His position came under serious pressure in 1054 when Siward, Earl of Northumbria, led an army into Scotland. Macbeth’s forces were defeated, but he survived the campaign and remained king.

Malcolm challenged him again in 1057. Macbeth was killed at Lumphanan on 15 August, ending a reign that had begun almost exactly 17 years earlier.

Malcolm did not immediately take the throne. Macbeth was succeeded by his stepson Lulach, who remained king until Malcolm defeated and killed him in 1058.

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth more than five centuries later, drawing on chronicles that had already presented the king unfavourably. The historical Macbeth left few records of his own reign. The character created from him became much better known.