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?

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, 8:44 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, 9:19 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, 10:08 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, 10:39 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, 10:44 PM

JoshCaleb12

King Duncan Aug 14 05, 11:55 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, 8:15 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, 5:46 PM

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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? King George IV was born in 1763. He was king of England from 1820 until his death in 1830. He was not a great king, but he did start a trend in footwear. his boots were different from everyone else's. The innovation concerning his boots was copied and is comonplace today, but at the time it was very unusual. What was it? Nephew of a Queen's favorite and son-in-law of her spymaster, he dedicated his most famous work to yet another relative, who was a patron of poets. That work influenced a great playwright and a novelist, and is said to have been quoted by a king as he went to his death. Who was this man, and what is the work? Sadly, 35 years ago the great actress Judy Garland died. What caused her death? Almost 40 years ago a famous trophy was stolen. What was the trophy and who found it?

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