Editing Fleance (section)

==History==
Fleance and his father Banquo are both fictional characters presented as historical fact by the Scottish historian [[Hector Boece]], whose ''Scotorum Historiae'' (1526–27) was a source for [[Raphael Holinshed]]'s ''Chronicles'',<ref>Bevington, p.714.</ref> a history of the British Isles popular in Shakespeare's time. In the ''Chronicles'', Fleance – in fear of Macbeth – flees to [[Wales]] and marries Nesta, daughter of [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]], the last native Prince of Wales. They have a son named [[Walter fitz Alan|Walter]] who makes his way back to Scotland and is appointed Royal Steward. According to legend, he fathered the [[House of Stuart|Stuart]] monarchs of England and Scotland.<ref>Shakespeare and Brooke, p. 68.</ref>

The Stuarts used their connection with Fleance and his marriage to the Welsh princess to claim a genealogical link with the legendary [[King Arthur]]. This, they hoped, would strengthen the legitimacy of their claim to the throne.<ref>Ferguson, pp. 122–23</ref> In 1722, however, Richard Hay, a Scottish historian, presented strong evidence that not only was James not a descendant of Fleance, but also that neither Fleance nor Banquo ever even existed. Most modern scholars now agree that Fleance is not a real historical figure.<ref>Paul, pp. 150–152</ref>