Donald III of Scotland
Donald III of Scotland (Domnall mac Donnchada) (c. 1033 - 1099) was king of Scotland from 1093 to 1094 and 1094 to 1097.
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 Comyns 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.
| Preceded by: Malcolm III |
King of Scots 1093–1094 |
Succeeded by: Duncan II |
| Preceded by: Duncan II |
King of Scots 1094–1097 |
Succeeded by: Edgar |
