Who was the real Banquo?

Answer 1

In 'Macbeth,' Banwuo was a real person, who happened to be related to King James I. The character was originally supposed to be a murderer who helped Macbeth kill King Duncan. However, fearing the king might not take too kindly to his relative being called a murderer, Banquo's character was changed into a nobleman.

Answer 2

There was no real Banquo. According to the Shakespearean play, Banquo was the friend and fellow General of Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057]. He was the father of Fleance, and the predicted ancestor of a long royal line in Scotland. But Banquo didn't exist outside the Shakespearean play and the minds of the Stuart monarchs of Scotland. The Stuart monarchs of Scotland included Mary Stuart [December 8, 1542-February, 8, 1587], Queen of Scots; and her descendants through her son, King James [June 19, 1566-March 27, 1625] I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland. The Stuarts liked to circulate stories about themselves. One such story was their purported descent from Banquo through his son Fleance. Fleance was supposed to have fled all the way from northern Scotland, down south through England, and southwestwards into Wales. There, he married Nesta verch Gruffydd [b. 1059], and had a son Walter. Walter ended up retracing his father's steps all the way back to Scotland. There, he became High Steward to the Kings of Scotland, and even married into the royal family. But genealogical and historical records haven't supported Stuart claims. For example, Nesta was the daughter of Prince Gruffydd ap Llywelyn [c. 1007-August 5, 1063] of Wales; and Aldgyth [d. after 1070] of Mercia, whose second husband was King Harold II [c. 1022-October 14, 1066] of England. With such a noble and royal background, the information on Nesta and her family was recorded and preserved. According to the records, Nesta's husband was Osbern fitzRichard [c. 1055-1080]. Also according to the records, she had no children named Walter.