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____ Donald III "Bane"
Birth: 1039 of Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Death: 1099 Rescobie, Angus, Scotland
Burial: Iona, Argyll, Scotland
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_III_of_Scotland
Donald III (Medieval Gaelic: Domnall mac Donnchada; Modern Gaelic: Dòmhnall mac
Dhonnchaidh),[1] and nicknamed "Donald the Fair" or "Donald the White" (Medieval
Gaelic:"Domnall Bán", anglicised as Donald Bane/Bain or Donalbane/Donalbain),
(1039–1099) was King of Scots from 1093–1094 and 1094–1097.[2]
Life[edit]
Donald was born in 1033, during the reign of his great-grandfather King Malcolm II. He
was the second known son of the King's grandson, Duncan. Malcolm died when
Donald was a baby, at age 80, and Donald's father became king. King Duncan I
however, perished in 1040 when Donald was still a boy, killed by Thane Macbeth, yet
another grandson of King Malcolm II, who usurped his place as king.
Following his father's death, Donald went into hiding in Ireland for 17 years, for fear
that he would be killed by Macbeth. His elder brother, Malcolm, went to England. It
was during this time that Malcolm's grandfather, Crinan of Dunkeld, who was married
to Malcolm II's daughter, was killed fighting Macbeth. When Malcolm grew to
manhood, he overthrew Macbeth and became the new king. Donald was 24 years old
at that time.
Donald's activities during the reign of his elder brother Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac
Donnchada) are not recorded. It appears that he was not his brother's chosen heir,
contrary to earlier custom, but that Malcolm had designated Edward, his eldest son by
Margaret of Wessex, as the king to come.[3] If this was Malcolm's intent, his death
and that of Edward on campaign in Northumbria in November 1093 (see Battle of
Alnwick (1093)) confounded his plans. These deaths were followed very soon
afterwards by that of Queen Margaret.
John of Fordun reports that Donald invaded the kingdom after Margaret's death "at
the head of a numerous band", and laid siege to Edinburgh with Malcolm's sons by
Margaret inside. Fordun has Edgar Ætheling, concerned for his nephews' well-being,
take the sons of Malcolm and Margaret to England.[4] Andrew of Wyntoun's much
simpler account has Donald become king and banish his nephews. The Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle records only that Donald was chosen as king and expelled the English from
the court.[5]
In May 1094, Donald's nephew Duncan (Donnchad mac Maíl Coluim), son of Malcolm
and his first wife Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, invaded at the head of an army of Anglo-
Normans and Northumbrians, aided by his half-brother Edmund and his father-in-law
Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria. This invasion succeeded in placing Duncan on the
throne as Duncan II, but an uprising defeated his allies and he was compelled to send
away his foreign troops. Duncan was then killed on 12 November 1094 by Máel Petair,
Mormaer of Mearns.[6] The Annals of Ulster say that Duncan was killed on the orders
of Donald (incorrectly called his brother) and Edmund.[7]
Donald resumed power, probably with Edmund as his designated heir.[8] Donald was
an elderly man by the standards of the day, approaching sixty years old, and without
any known sons, so that an heir was clearly required. William of Malmesbury says that
Edmund bargained "for half the kingdom", suggesting that Donald granted his nephew
an appanage to rule.[9]
Edgar, eldest surviving son of Malcolm and Margaret, obtained the support of William
Rufus, although other matters delayed Edgar's return on the coat-tails of an English
army led by his uncle Edgar Ætheling.[10] Donald's fate is not entirely clear. William of
Malmesbury tells us that he was "slain by the craftiness of David [the later David I] ...
and by the strength of William [Rufus]".[11] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says of
Donald that he was expelled,[11] while the Annals of Tigernach have him blinded by
his brother.[12] John of Fordun, following the king-lists, writes that Donald was
"blinded, and doomed to eternal imprisonment" by Edgar. The place of his
imprisonment was said to be Rescobie, by Forfar, in Angus.[13] The sources differ as
to whether Donald was first buried at Dunfermline Abbey or Dunkeld Cathedral, but
agree that his remains were later moved to Iona.
Descendants[edit]
Donald left one daughter but no sons. His daughter Bethoc married Uctred (or
Hadrian) de Tyndale, Lord of Tyndale.[14] Bethoc's daughter, Hextilda, married
Richard Comyn, Justiciar of Lothian. The claims of John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
to the crown in the Great Cause came from Donald through Bethóc and Hextilda.[15]
Ladhmann son of Domnall, "grandson of the King of Scots" who died in 1116, might
have been a son of Donald.[16] He may equally have been a son of Domnall, son of
Máel Coluim who died in 1085, who may in turn have been a son of Malcolm III or of
Máel Coluim mac Maíl Brigti, Mormaer of Moray.
Bethoc's second husband was Radulf of Nithsdale.
Fictional depictions[edit]
The minor character of Donalbain in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth represents
Donald III.
Parents
MAC CRINAN Duncan I (ABT 1001 - 14 Aug 1040)
FITZSIWARD Sibyl (ABT 1017 - 1070)
Siblings
____ Malcolm III "Ceanmor" (ABT 1033 - 13 Nov 1093)
____ Duncan (ABT 1035 - )
____ Donald III "Bane" (1039 - 1099)
Marriage To ----- ----- ()
m.
Notes
Children by ----- -----
____ Bethoc (ABT 1086 - )
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