Home > Malcolm II of Scotland

His rule was contested for ten years during the reign of Kenneth III but Malcolm finally gained the throne after Kenneth's death. It appears that he only ruled part of Scotland during his reign, in opposition to leaders from Moray such as Findláech mac Ruadrí (d. 1020, probably father of Macbeth), and Máel Coluim mac Máel Brigte (d. 1029), both of whom were also called kings of Alba (and therefore Scotland) in the Irish annals, though neither are called kings of Scotland in modern texts. In 1006, Malcolm was defeated by Northumbrian forces at DurhamFor other places called Durham, see Durham (disambiguation). Durham is a small city in County Durham in the north east of England, situated 25 km (15 miles) to the south of Newcastle upon Tyne. The River Wear flows through the city, enclosing the centre o. The EnglishEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England then became preoccupied with the DanishKongeriget Danmark ( In Detail) Motto of the Queen: Guds hjaelp, Folkets kaerlighed, Danmarks styrke (English: God's help, the love of the people, Denmark's strength) Official language Danish Capital Copenhagen Kobenhavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Ministe allowing Malcolm to march south, avenging the loss at Durham by winning the Battle of Carham against the Anglo-Saxons in 1018Events Bulgaria becomes part of the Byzantine Empire. Peace of Bautzen between Poland and Germany. Boleslaus I of Poland conquers Red Ruthenia. Battle of Carham: The Scots conquer Lothian. Northumberland becomes part of Scotland. De facto end of the indep and, thereby, regaining LothianLothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills. It takes its name from the semi-legendary Brythonic King Loth or Lot. Subsequent Scottish administrative history saw it subdiv. Thirteen years later, however, CanuteCanute the Great Ruled (England) November 30, 1016- November 12, 1035 Predecessor (England) Edmund II Date of Birth 995 Place of Birth Denmark Wives AElgifu (marriage in Danish manner; not approved by the Church), Emma Buried Winchester Cathedral Date of, king of England, Denmark, and Norway, travelled to Scotland. What happened is lost to time, but claims that Malcolm submitted to Canute seem very unlikely. However, Canute seems to have recognised Malcolm's possession of Lothian.

In the west, Malcolm made an alliance with King Owen the Bald of Strathclyde and together they defeated King Canute at the Battle of Carham in 1018. At the same time, the marriage of his daughter to Sigurd the Stout , Norse Earl of Orkney, extended Malcolm's influence to the far north. He battled to expand his kingdom, gaining land down to the River Tweed and in Strathclyde. When King Owen died without an heir, Malcolm claimed Strathclyde for his grandson, Duncan. This caused dissent throughout the kingdom of Strathclyde which resulted in Malcolm's murder at Glamis in 1034. He was buried on the Isle of Iona shortly after.

As the last of the House of Alpin, he did not have any sons to succeed him. He, therefore, arranged good marriages for his daughters. One daughter married Earl Sigurd of Orkney and their son Thorfinn brought the lands of Caithness and Sutherland under the control of the King of Alba. His elder daughter, Bethoc, married the Abbot of Dunkeld and their son became Duncan I(c. 1010- 1040), who succeeded Malcolm upon his death in 1034.

After Malcolm II's reign, Scottish succession changed to be based on the principle of direct descent . (Previously, succession was determined by tanistry - during a king's lifetime an heir was chosen and known as tanaiste rig - 'second to the king'.)