 In William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth", this title was given to Macbeth after the previous Thane of Cawdor was captured and executed for treason against King Duncan.The historical King Macbeth fought a Thane of Cawdor who died in battle, but he did not thereby acquire the title himself.The 2nd Earl of Cawdor wrote a history of the Thanes of Cawdor, in 1742, published in 1859.