Donald Iii Of Scotland Article Index for
Donald
Website Links For
Donald
 

Information About

Donald Iii Of Scotland




In his native Gaelic language he was known as Domnall Bán which means ''Fair Donald''. The minor character of ''Donalbain'' in William Shakespeare 's play '' Macbeth '' is loosely based on him, this name is an English phonetic spelling of the former name. He is also known as ''Donaldbane'', ''Donald Ban'', ''Donald Bane'', or ''Donald Bain''.

He was born about 1033 and became Mormaer (or Earl) Of Gowrie about 1060. He was the son of Duncan I , brother of the previous king Malcolm III , and uncle of his successor Duncan II .

Donald III took the throne of Scotland in 1093 on the death of his brother Malcolm III, in a joint rule with his nephew Edmund I . No record exists that indicates that Donald was ever crowned. Malcolm's son Duncan II deposed Donald III in May 1094 with the help of English troops, who then withdrew. Donald III and Edmund then rose against Duncan, killed him, and retook the throne the following November, with Donald ruling the north of the kingdom and Edmund ruling the south. Donald III and Edmund were deposed by King Edgar in 1097 , again with the help of English troops.

Donald died, imprisoned at Rescobie , Angus , in 1099 . He is buried on Iona .

At some point in his life Donald married, and had a daughter, Bethóc, through this marriage. Bethóc married and had children of her own. Bethóc's husband was Ughtred of Tynedale, an Anglo-Saxon noble and lord in Northumbria . They had a daughter Hextilda, who married Richard de Comyn, a noble of Norman descent. Their descendants, the Comyn s became important in Scotland, for example obtaining the earldom of Buchan by marriage, and lordship of Badenoch.
However, Bethóc's descendants did not make a bid for the Scottish throne until 1290, when her descendant John Comyn of Badenoch, heir of William Comyn, son of Hextilda, was one of claimants to the Scottish throne after the death of Margaret Of Norway . See Competitors Of Scotland .


  Title King Of Scots '''<br />with ''' Edmund I
  Before Malcolm III
  After Duncan II


  Title King Of Scots '''<br />with ''' Edmund I
  Before Duncan II
  After Edgar