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King Macbeth

King Macbeth, Fact or Fiction?

Dave in Macbeths helmet weilding a battleaxe
The Real Macbeth

Fact or Fiction: You Decide

There were two Macbeths

One was a fiction created by the playwright William Shakespeare. This was no work of history but a drama intended to delight a royal client.

The other was a real man, a Mormaer of the Province of Moray in frontier lands opposing the Viking north of Scotland. In the year 1040 he realised a dynastic ambition and became king of Alba. The 11th century was a turbulent, decisive time in the development of the kingdoms of mediæval Europe and King Macbeth ruled Alba for seventeen years.

Dave wearing Macbeths helmet
The Real Macbeth
Shakespeares head in profile
Fictional Macbeth

Both Macbeths are fascinating. Use our twin timelines - one for the Fictional Macbeth and the other for the Real Macbeth - and follow their stories. Decide for yourself which you prefer - the man or the myth.

About The Project

After a realisation of a shared interest in Scottish history, and Macbeth in particular, Alex & Sara Wright of Flying Mirrors collaborated with Cameron Taylor (known locally as Mr. Macbeth) from Moray Speyside Tourism, Paul Johnson (local entrepreneur) and Dave Barr of barrd.dev to create a documentary on The Real Macbeth. This is the associated website.