Battle of Lumphanan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Lumphanan |
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| Belligerents | |||||
| Scottish Crown | Rebels | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| King MacBeth † | Malcolm Canmore | ||||
The Battle of Lumphanan was an important fight in Scottish history. It happened on August 15, 1057. The battle was between King Macbeth of Scotland and Malcolm Canmore. Malcolm would later become King Malcolm III. King Macbeth was badly hurt during this battle and died soon after. This fight took place after Macbeth's earlier defeat at the battle of Dunsinane in 1054. People believe the battle happened in Lumphanan, a place in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A large rock there, called Macbeth's Stone, is said to mark where Macbeth was hurt. After the battle, Macbeth's stepson, Lulach, became king. But Malcolm later defeated Lulach and took the throne for himself.
Why Did the Battle of Lumphanan Happen?
This battle was part of a long struggle for the Scottish throne. After his father, King Duncan, was killed by Macbeth in battle, Malcolm found safety. He was looked after by his uncle, Earl Siward of Northumbria. An Earl was a powerful noble, like a duke.
With Earl Siward's help, Malcolm first attacked Macbeth in 1054. This led to the battle of Dunsinane. Malcolm did not win the crown then. However, he did get his own lands back. Some historical writings say that Edward the Confessor, who was the King of England, told Siward to invade Scotland.
What Happened During the Battle?
After his earlier defeat, King Macbeth moved north. He faced Malcolm again in battle at Lumphanan. This area is now in Aberdeenshire. The battle itself seems to have been a smaller fight. The most important event was that Macbeth was badly wounded. He died from his injuries later. Old writings say the battle happened "in a wood."
Macbeth's Stone is a large rock at the battle site. People traditionally believe this stone marks the exact spot where King Macbeth was wounded.
What Happened After the Battle?
After King Macbeth died, his stepson Lulach was made king. He ruled for about 18 weeks. Then, in 1058, Malcolm defeated Lulach near Aberdeen. Malcolm then became the new king. He was known as Malcolm III.
Once Malcolm became king, he worked to change Scotland. With the help of his English queen, Margaret, he began to reduce the influence of Gaelic culture. Gaelic culture included the language, traditions, and ways of life of the Scottish people at that time.
