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    In mid-August, nearly a millennium ago, a king died in battle. Almost 600 years later, the obscure events surrounding his death inspired a great work of literature. Who was the king, and what is the work?

    Question #58807. Asked by lanfranco. (Aug 14 05 4:08 PM)


    Ilona_Ritter

    		I want to say it's the Scottish play, because I know he was based on a real king, but I don't know if he died in battle, so is it that one?

    Aug 14 05, 7:44 PM
    lanfranco

    		I think you've got it, Ilona. But could you be just a little more specific?

    If you think mentioning the actual name of the play is bad luck, as many people -- though mostly in the theater -- do, that's fine. But do come up with the king!

    Aug 14 05, 8:19 PM
    Ilona_Ritter

    		I would say it's the play about Lady MacBeth's husband.

    I learned how to get around saying it a long time ago....theatre tradition...never say the name of the play.

    Aug 14 05, 9:08 PM
    lanfranco

    		It is, of course, "The Scottish Play," written around 1606. But who's the king who died in battle nearly a millennium ago?

    His death date is given as either the 14th or the 15th of August.

    Aug 14 05, 9:39 PM
    Ilona_Ritter

    		I thought it was Lady MacBeth's husband, but I guess I was wrong, and it's been a while since I read it so I don't remember.

    Aug 14 05, 9:44 PM
    JoshCaleb12

    		King Duncan

    Aug 14 05, 10:55 PM
    lanfranco

    		Excellent, Josh, I'll divide the yay between the two of you. In mid-August of 1040, King Duncan I was killed in battle by, um, the Lady's husband, who then went on to rule Scotland for about 17 years -- apparently quite well.

    From whence I owe this strange intelligence?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_I_of_Scotland

    Aug 15 05, 7:15 AM
    lanfranco

    		To be fair to Ilona, it turns out that the protagonist of The Scottish Play died on August 15, 1057, at the hands of Duncan's son, Malcolm III.

    I hadn't checked the month or the day. A certain irony there.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth_I_of_Scotland

    Aug 15 05, 4:46 PM

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