In what century was Macbeth first performed?

The historical Macbeth was king of Scotland from 1040 to 1057 which should give some perspective. He fought in many battles both before and after he became king. Notable among them are the battle in Moray where Duncan was killed on August 15, 1040, the English invasion under Siward in 1054, in which Siward's son was killed, and which was inconclusive, and the battle where Macbeth was fatally wounded by Malcolm in 1057.

Holinshed's Chronicle, Shakespeare's source, and thought now to be more legend than history, recounts a story somewhat similar to that in the Shakespeare play. However, there are two different battles which Shakespeare deals with at the same time. The first, which is the one described by the bloody captain, involved Macbeth and Banquo brutally slaying an army of "kerns and galloglasses" led by the traitor MacDonwald.

In retaliation, the Norwegian king Sweno invaded Fife the next year and beseiged Duncan and Malcolm. Duncan and Malcolm poisoned the Danes' provisions and sent secret Word to Macbeth to help mop up the incapacitated Danes. This they did, and burned their ships and demanded a great deal of treasure which was turned over to them at St. Colm's Inch. According to Holinshed, it was riding north from this battle (if you can call it that, since the Norwegians could not fight back) that Macbeth and Banquo met the witches.

According to Holinshed, the Thane of Cawdor was involved in neither of these battles.

In the play, Macbeth is clearly stated to have fought against MacDonweald at Forres, but the battle in Fife is stated to be going on at the same time several hundred miles away, and Sweno is said to be assisted by Cawdor. The victorious Scottish leader at this battle could not have been Macbeth since he could not be in two places at once, nor could he possibly be surprised by Cawdor's treachery if he had fought him face to face in Fife.