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Macbeth was a real character in history. He became King of Scotland in 1039 or 1040 by slaying his predecessor Duncan, and he reigned until he was himself slain in battle with Malcolm in 1056 or 1057. It seems that, in rising against Duncan, Macbeth was asserting a legitimate claim to the crown; not he, but Duncan, was the usurper; but the records of the time are very scanty.

Shakespeare, however, acquired his knowledge of Macbeth from Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (first published in 1577); and Holinshed's account makes no distinction between the meagre facts of history and the myths that had accumulated during five centuries. Shakespeare, in turn, made very free use of Holinshed, rearranging and altering incidents as he pleased. His play, in consequence, is almost wholly unhistorical.

Holinshed says that Macbeth slew Duncan, but he gives no details. He does, however, give a minute account of the murder of another Scottish king, which had taken place sixty-seven years earlier; and Shakespeare borrowed from this a number of hints for his own account of the murder of Duncan. Holinshed narrates the revolt of Macdonwald, the invasion of Scotland by the Norwegians, and the condemnation of Cawdor for treason; but the three events have no connection with one another. Shakespeare condenses them all into a single action, thereby introducing a number of confusions into the story. Holinshed tells of the prophecies made to Macbeth and Banquo by the weird sisters, and of later assurances given to Macbeth by 'a certain witch.' Shakespeare blends