Macbeth, King of Scotland

Macbethad mac Findláech, son of Findláech of Moray and possibly grandson of Malcolm II, became Mormaer of Moray in 1032, likely after killing his predecessor Gille Coemgáin, then married Coemgáin's widow Gruoch. When Duncan I attacked Moray in 1040, Macbeth's forces killed him in battle, and Macbeth took the throne of Alba with little resistance. His reign lasted seventeen years, largely stable until 1054 when Siward, Earl of Northumbria, invaded on behalf of Edward the Confessor. Macbeth fell at Lumphanan in 1057 to forces backing the future Malcolm III and was buried on Iona among Scotland's kings. His stepson Lulach succeeded him but lasted only months before Malcolm III killed him too, founding a dynasty that held Scotland for two centuries.