Macbeth is without doubt one of the greatest plays ever written.
However, Shakespeare’s depictions of the principal characters bear little resemblance to the actual people he was writing about.
The historical Macbeth lived in a time of constant battle between the areas of Scotland that had only recently been incorporated into the main kingdom of Alba -- and Scadinavian Vikings.
His REAL wife was Princess Gruadh, pronounced "Groo-aath”. This fascinating lady is in fact the first Scottish Queen whose name appears in surviving records. She was Queen of Scots in her own right, and also Queen Consort of her much more famous husband from 1040 to 1057. Unfortunately, her personality was much maligned by her husband’s successors, and the scribbler from Stratford-upon-Avon utterly assassinated her character for his own reasons in “The Scottish Play”.
Although I quite deliberately wanted this scenario to feature slight fantasy elements, (the era and location practically forces that anyway), the inclusion of Norse Vikings from the Mormaership of Orkney & Caithness is entirely correct for any depiction of mid-11th century Scotland.
The "Banner of the Boar" Gruadh carries is also correct. The silver boar was the ancient Royal symbol of Scottish monarchs until it was replaced in the 12th century by the Lion Rampant banner of William the Lyon, grandson of Malcolm III Canmore.
The vignette features various 75mm figures from Pegaso, Alexandros Miniatures, and some others that I can’t remember. It’s set one year after MacBeth was killed by Duncan’s illegitimate son, Malcolm Canmore, and depicts the Queen and her last remaining loyal companions under siege by the forces of Malcolm and MacDuff the traitor Earl of Fife.
I love imagining her final defiance in the face of overwhelming odds.
“I am Queen Gruadh, lately wife to the King of Scots"
"Whom you have vilely betrayed"
"And I choose to remain here in my simple tower”
“Come ye chapping at my door with armed strength whatever”
“My answer to a Foresworn Foul Usurper will always be the same”
