Home > House of Dunkeld

The Dunkelds came to power after the two centuries of civil unrest under the House of Alpin. The first king of this new dynasty was Malcolm III of Scotland who determined that succession would be to the eldest son, not according to the rules of tanistry. This political decision reduced the conflicts inside the Royal family. The Dunkelds consolidated Scotlands' union and independence as a kingdom, despite several skirmishes with the neighbouring England. The fall of the House of Dunkeld began in 1286, when Alexander III died in a horse riding accident. The king had no living sons, only one three year-old granddaughter, Margaret, princess of Norway. Fearing the influence of king Eric II of Norway, her father, and another endless civil war, the Scottish nobles appealed to Edward I of England. Margaret was betrothed to the future Edward II of England, but died shortly afterwards on her arrival to Scotland.

Following the end of the Dunkelds, Scotland fell in the First Scottish War of Independence against England.

Kings of the House of Dunkeld

• Malcolm III Canmore, r. 1058- 1093Events Donald III of Scotland comes to the throne of Scotland. Building of Durham Cathedral begun in Durham, England. Births Abenezra (or 1092), writer Deaths August 29 Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy November 13 King Malcolm III of Scotland 1093.
• Donald IIIDonald III of Scotland (about 1033 1099) was king of Scotland from 1093 to 1094 and 1094 to 1097. He is also known as Donaldbane Donalbain or Donald Bane''. He was born about 1033 and became Mormaer (or Earl) of Gowrie about 1060. He was the son of Duncan, r. 1093Events Donald III of Scotland comes to the throne of Scotland. Building of Durham Cathedral begun in Durham, England. Births Abenezra (or 1092), writer Deaths August 29 Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy November 13 King Malcolm III of Scotland 1093.- 1094Events May the siege of Valencia ends Pleas for help fighting the Seljuk Turks by Byzantium starts the First Crusade Duncan III of Scotland succeeds Duncan II of Scotland as King of Scotland The first mention of the city of Zagreb, Croatia, as it became a and 1094Events May the siege of Valencia ends Pleas for help fighting the Seljuk Turks by Byzantium starts the First Crusade Duncan III of Scotland succeeds Duncan II of Scotland as King of Scotland The first mention of the city of Zagreb, Croatia, as it became a- 1097Events Edgar I deposes Donald III to become king of Scotland. The First Crusade reaches Constantinople. Crusaders besiege Nicaea, win the Battle of Dorylaeum, and capture Latakia from the Seljuk Turks, and begin the siege of Antioch. Births Deaths Odo of (with Edmund IEdmund I of Scotland was king of Scotland between 1094 and 1097, in a joint rule with his uncle Donald III. He was the son of Malcolm III and his second wife St Margaret. In 1097, both he and Donald III were deposed by Edmund's brother Edgar. He then beca)
• Duncan II, r. 1094
• Edgar, r. 1097- 1107
• Alexander I, r. 1107- 1124
• David I, r. 1124- 1153
• Malcolm IV, r. 1153- 1165
• William I, r. 1165- 1214
• Alexander II, r. 1214- 1249
• Alexander III, r. 1249- 1286
• Margaret, r. 1286- 1290

See also: History of Scotland - Scottish monarchs family tree