CHAPTER SIX
Before proceeding chronologically to the royal House of Stuart, it is time to retrace our steps through history to the 9th century, when the kingdom of Scotland was first established. Prior to this date, details of the early rulers of Scotland are obscure; the Scottish monarchy is said to have been founded by Alpin, founder of the House of MacAlpin or MacAlpine, which provided Scotland with kings until 1034, when the succession passed to the House of Dunkeld via the marriage of Bethoc, daughter of Malcolm II. The House of Dunkeld held sovereignty until 1290, when Queen Margaret, ‘the Maid of Norway’, perished at sea. Her death led to a great contest for the throne, with thirteen ‘competitors’ all contending for the crown. Edward I of England was asked to arbitrate, and he chose John Balliol, a lightweight whom he could easily manipulate to England’s advantage. The Scots naturally resented Edward’s interference in their government, and Balliol was obliged to abdicate in 1296. There followed the Second Interregnum, when Scotland was without a King from 1296 until 1306. Edward I was making strenuous efforts to bring Scotland under English rule during this period, until the emergence of Robert le Brus (or ‘the Bruce’), who declared himself King of Scotland in defiance of Edward in 1306, and who was destined to be one of the finest of Scotland’s rulers. Bruce’s dynasty did not long survive him; when his son died in 1371, the throne passed to Bruce’s grandson Robert II, son of Marjorie Bruce by Walter the Steward, who gave his name to the House of Stewart.
The Stewarts ruled Scotland for more than two centuries, and Great Britain for another century, yet their hold on the throne was often a tenuous one. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, each Scottish monarch succeeded to the throne whilst still a child or a minor, and the country was subjected to continuous faction fights amongst power-hungry nobles. That the dynasty survived at all was nothing short of a miracle. Even the abdication of Queen Mary in 1567 did not ruin it, for her son James VI was guided by the magnates from his infancy along the Calvinist path they had marked out for him, and Elizabeth of England, of course, took care of the displaced Mary by first imprisoning and then executing her. Thus it was that the Stewarts – or Stuarts, as they had become when Mary had married into the French royal house – came to inherit also the throne of England. For Mary’s grandfather, James IV, had married Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England, and when Queen Elizabeth died without heirs in 1603, James VI of Scotland, the great-grandson of Margaret Tudor, was the English Queen’s nearest surviving relative.
The succession of the earliest monarchs of Scotland is often confusing, as until Norman influence from England led to the adoption of succession by primogeniture in the late 11th century, the Scots favoured the ancient system of tanistry, whereby the crown passed back and forth from one branch of the family to the other. This system evolved in a time when life expectancy was short, society was violent, and a ruler might well die while his son was an infant: it ensured that the fittest, maturest male would inherit the throne. And until the reign of Malcolm II in the early 11th century, the kingdom of Scotland was shifting its borders all the time, incorporating earlier, smaller kingdoms, or being subdivided between rival rulers. Malcolm II could therefore be said to be the first monarch of modern Scotland. Yet our chapter begins two hundred years before his time, with Alpin, founder of the Scottish monarchy and its first dynasty.
PART ONE
King Alpin
FATHER: Eochaid IV, King ‘of Scotland’.
MOTHER: She was the sister and heiress of Constantine, King of the Picts.
SIBLINGS: Alpin is not known to have had any siblings.
KING ALPIN
He succeeded his father as a King in Scotland, and became also King of Kintyre in March/August, 834, thus establishing his power over a wide area. There is no record of his coronation.
King Alpin married a Scottish Princess (whose name is not known) and had issue:
1 Kenneth I ( 
see here).
2 Donald I ( see here).
KING ALPIN
He died on 20 July or in August, 834; he was killed whilst fighting the Picts in Galloway. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his son Kenneth.
Kenneth I
FATHER: King Alpin ( see here).
MOTHER: a Scottish Princess.
SIBLINGS: ( see here), under King Alpin).
KENNETH I
He succeeded his father as King of Galloway and other parts of Scotland on 20 July or in August, 834, and became King of the area known as Dalriada in 841. In 843/4, he became King of the Picts, thus uniting the old Gaelic kingdoms of Alba for the first time, and by 846 he was firmly established as King of Scotland. There is no record of his coronation.
Kenneth I married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Constantine I ( see here).
2 King Aedh ( see here).
3 Daughter (name not known).
She married Run Macarthagail, King of Strathclyde, and had issue:
1 King Eochaid ( see here).
4 Daughter (name not known).
She married Olaf the White, King of Dublin.
5 Daughter (name not known).
She married Aedh Finnliath, King of Ireland.
KENNETH I
He died in 859 at Forteviot, Perthshire, and was buried on the Isle of lona.
He was succeeded by his brother Donald.
Donald I
FATHER: King Alpin ( see here).
MOTHER: a Scottish Princess.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Alpin).
DONALD I
He succeeded Kenneth I in 859 as King of Scotland. There is no record of his coronation.
He was either killed in 863 in a battle at Scone, Perthshire, or died that year in his palace at Kinn Belachoir. He died unmarried and childless. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his nephew Constantine.
Constantine I
FATHER: Kenneth I ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under Kenneth I).
CONSTANTINE I
He succeeded Donald I as King of Scotland in 863. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Donald II ( see here).
CONSTANTINE I
He was killed in 877 in a battle against the Danes at Inverdorat, the Black Cove, Angus. He was buried on the Isle of Iona.
He was succeeded by his brother Aedh.
King Aedh
FATHER: Kenneth I ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under Kenneth I).
KING AEDH
He succeeded Constantine I as King of Scotland in 877. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Constantine II ( see here).
2 Donald
He became King of Strathclyde in 908.
KING AEDH
He was killed in 878 at Strathallan, and was perhaps buried at Maiden Stone, Aberdeenshire.
He was succeeded by his nephew Eochaid.
King Eochaid
FATHER: Run Macarthagail, King of Strathclyde.
MOTHER: A daughter of Kenneth I.
SIBLINGS: Eochaid is not known to have had any siblings.
KING EOCHAID
He succeeded his father as King of Strathclyde before succeeding his uncle King Aedh as King of Scotland in 878. There is no record of his coronation.
King Eochaid was deposed in 889, and perhaps died unmarried and childless the same year. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his cousin Donald.
Donald II
FATHER: Constantine I ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: Donald II did not have any siblings.
DONALD II
He succeeded his cousin Eochaid as King of Scotland in 889. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Malcolm I ( see here).
DONALD II
He was killed in 900 at Dun-fother, and was buried on the Isle of Iona.
He was succeeded by his cousin Constantine.
Constantine II
FATHER: King Aedh ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Aedh).
CONSTANTINE II
He succeeded Donald II as King of Scotland in 900. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 King Indulf ( see here).
2 Cellach
He was killed in 937 at the Battle of Brunanburgh.
3 Daughter (name not known).
She married Olaf Cuaran, King of Northumbria (d.981), in 937, and had issue:
1 Gluniarainn, King of Dublin (d.989).
2 Sihtric, King of Dublin (d.1042); he married and had issue.
3 Reginald (killed 980); he married and had issue.
CONSTANTINE II
He abdicated in 942/3, and became a monk at the monastery of St Andrews, Fife, where he later became Abbot. He died at St Andrews in 952, and was probably buried there.
He was succeeded by his second cousin Malcolm.
Malcolm I
FATHER: Donald II ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: Malcolm I did not have any siblings.
MALCOLM I
He succeeded Constantine II as King of Scotland in 942/3. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 King Duff ( see here).
2 Kenneth II ( see here).
Malcolm I is also said to have had the following illegitimate issue:
1 Kenneth (?).
MALCOLM I
He was killed in 954 by the men of Moray, and was buried on the Isle of Iona.
He was succeeded by his second cousin Indulf.
King Indulf
FATHER: Constantine II ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under Constantine II).
KING INDULF
He succeeded Malcolm I as King of Scotland in 954. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 King Colin ( see here).
2 Eochaid
He was killed in 971 by the King of Strathclyde.
3 Olaf
He was killed in c.977 by Kenneth II.
KING INDULF
He abdicated in 962 and became a monk. He was killed the same year by Viking invaders at the Battle of the Bauds at the Muir of Findochty, Banffshire. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his third cousin Duff.
King Duff
FATHER: Malcolm I ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under Malcolm I).
KING DUFF
He succeeded Indulf as King of Scotland in 962. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Kenneth III ( see here).
2 Malcolm
Styled Prince of Cumbria (a title borne in the early middle ages by the sons of the Kings of Scotland) in his youth, he became King of Strathclyde in 973, and died in 990/1.
KING DUFF
He was killed in 967 at Forres by the men of Moray. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his third cousin Colin.
King Colin
FATHER: King Indulf ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Indulf).
KING COLIN
Also called Cuilean, he succeeded Duff as King of Scotland in 967. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Constantine III ( see here).
2 Malcolm
He was alive in 1002. Nothing more is known of him.
KING COLIN
He was killed in 971 by Riderch of Strathclyde. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his third cousin Kenneth.
Kenneth II
FATHER: Malcolm I ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under Malcolm I).
KENNETH II
He succeeded Colin as King of Scotland in 971. There is no record of his coronation.
He is said to have married a Princess of Leinster (whose name is not known), and had issue:
1 Malcolm II ( see here).
2 Dungal
He was killed in 999 by his cousin Gillacomgain, son of Kenneth III.
3 Donada
She is also described as the daughter of Malcolm II. She married firstly (?) Finlay (Findlaech) MacRory, Mormaer of Moray (d.c.1004/5), and had issue:
(i) King Macbeth ( see here).
Donada married secondly Sigurd II Digri, Jarl of Orkney and Caithness (killed 1014), in c.1005/8, and had issue:
1 Thorfinn, Jarl of Orkney and Caithness (c.1009–c.1056/65?); he married Ingibiorg of Halland, afterwards the wife of Malcolm III, and had issue.
KENNETH II
He died (perhaps murdered on behalf of his successor) in 995 at Finella’s Castle, probably at Fettercairn, and was buried on the Isle of Iona.
He was succeeded by his fourth cousin Constantine.
Constantine III
FATHER: King Colin ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Colin).
CONSTANTINE III
He succeeded Kenneth II as King of Scotland in 995. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists. There was no issue of the marriage.
CONSTANTINE III
He was killed in 997 at Rathinveramon. His place of burial is not recorded.
He was succeeded by his fourth cousin Kenneth.
Kenneth III
FATHER: King Duff ( see here).
MOTHER: Unknown.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under King Duff).
KENNETH III
He succeeded Constantine III as King of Scotland in 997. There is no record of his coronation.
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
1 Beoedhe
Also known as Bodhe or Boite, he married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue:
(i) Son (name not known)
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and fathered a son (name not known) who was murdered in infancy in 1033.
(ii) Gruoch ( see here, under King Macbeth, whom she married).
Beoedhe died before 1033.
2 Giric
A Mormaer, or ‘Subregulus’, he was killed on c.25 March, 1005, at the Battle of Monzievaird.
3 Gillacomgain
He lived to maturity, but nothing more is known of him.
KENNETH III
He was killed on c.25 March, 1005, at the Battle of Monzievaird (?).
His place of burial is not known.
He was succeeded by his cousin Malcolm.
Malcolm II
FATHER: Kenneth II ( see here).
MOTHER: a Princess of Leinster.
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under Kenneth II).
MALCOLM II
He was born in c.954. In his youth, he was styled Prince of Cumbria. He succeeded his cousin Malcolm, son of King Duff, as King of Strathclyde in c.990/1, and ruled Strathclyde until 995, when he was deposed. He was restored in 997, and succeeded Kenneth III as King of Scotland on 25 March, 1005. In c.1016, he became King of Lothian, thus becoming the first effective ruler of the whole of Scotland. There is no record of his coronation.
Malcolm II married a lady whose name is not recorded, said to have been an Irishwoman from Ossory, and had issue:
1 Bethoc
Known as the Lady of Atholl, she married Crinan the Thane, Mormaer of Atholl, Abthane of Dule, Steward of the Western Isles, and Lay Abbot of Dunkeld (c.975–killed 1045 in battle against Macbeth), son of Duncan, Mormaer of Atholl. The marriage took place before 1008, perhaps in 1000, and they had issue, through whom they were founders of the Royal House of Dunkeld:
|
(i) |
Duncan I ( |
|
(ii) |
Maldred |
|
He was created Lord of Allerdale, and was appointed Regent of the Kingdom of Strathclyde in 1034. He was probably killed in battle in 1045. |
|
|
Maldred married (no record exists of the date or the place): |
|
|
Edith |
|
|
She was the daughter of Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria, by Elgiva, daughter of Ethelred II, King of England. |
|
|
Issue of marriage: |
|
(a) |
Gospatrick |
|
He was born in c.1040. He was created Earl of Northumbria before 1071, possibly in 1068, but was deprived of this earldom in 1072, when he was created Earl of Dunbar. He died on 15 December, but the year is unspecified, at Ubbanford (modern Norham), Scotland, and was buried in Norham Church; however, another tradition states that he became a monk at Durham Cathedral, where he died and was buried. |
|
|
Gospatrick married an unknown lady, and had issue: |
|
|
1 Dolfin, Earl of Cumberland (d. after 1092); he married an unknown lady and had issue. |
|
|
2 Waltheof, 1st Baron of Allerdale, Abbot of Crowland (d.1138?); he married a lady called Sigrid, and had issue. |
|
|
3 Gospatrick, 2nd Earl of Dunbar (killed at the Battle of the Standard, 1138); he married an unknown lady, and had issue. |
|
|
4 Octreda; she married Waldeve, son of Gillemin. |
|
|
5 Gunhilda; she married Orm, son of Ketil. |
|
|
6 Matilda; she married Dolfin, son of Aylward. |
|
|
7 Ethelreda; she married Duncan II. |
|
|
(b) |
Maldred |
|
He married a lady about whom no information exists, and had issue: |
|
|
1 Robert. |
|
|
2 Uhtred. |
|
|
3 Ulkil (?). |
|
(iii) |
Daughter (name not known) |
|
She married a man about whom no information exists, and had issue: |
|
|
1 Moddan, Earl of Caithness (killed 1040). |
|
|
(iv) |
Daughter (name not known) |
|
Nothing is known about her. |
2 Donada (?)
She has also been described as the daughter of Kenneth II, and the details of her life appear here.
3 Daughter (name not known)
This may have been the daughter married to Sigurd, Jarl of Orkney, in c.1005/8; some sources identify her with Donada.
MALCOLM II
He died on 25 November, 1034, at Glamis Castle, Angus, mortally wounded by his kinsmen, and was buried on the Isle of Iona. He was the last sovereign of the House of MacAlpine.
He was succeeded by his grandson Duncan.