Malcolm III of Scotland

King Malcolm III of Scotland (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada), (1031-November 13, 1093) also known as Ceann Mór (Anglicized as Canmore) meaning 'Big Head' in the then Scottish language. "Malcolm" is an anglicization derived from a Latin form, Malcolmus. The name Máel Coluim means 'Servant of Columba', after the devotional pattern of many medieval Scottish names ( c/f Máel Ísu' (Malise), 'servant of Jesus' or Gilla Coluim, also 'servant of Columba'). He was the eldest son of King Duncan I and first king of the House of Dunkeld.

Related Topics:
1031 - November 13 - 1093 - Scottish - Columba - Jesus - Duncan I - House of Dunkeld

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In 1040 his father was killed in battle by his cousin Macbeth who became the new king. Malcolm found refuge in England under the protection of King Harthacanute of Denmark and England. In 1042 Harthacanute died and was succeeded to the throne of England by his half-brother King Edward the Confessor. In 1053 Edward finally agreed to help Malcolm gain the throne of Scotland by offering him an army. Malcolm's invasion of Scotland started in the same year. Malcolm found support from the nobles of Southern Scotland. He managed to kill first Macbeth in 1057 and then his successor King Lulach I of Scotland in 1058. He then succeeded Lulach as king. He was crowned at Scone Abbey, Perthshire, on April 25, 1058. He married Ingibjorg, widow of the Earl of Orkney, in about 1065 and they had three sons, who were:

Related Topics:
1040 - Macbeth - England - Harthacanute - Denmark - 1042 - Edward the Confessor - 1053 - 1057 - Lulach I of Scotland - 1058 - Scone Abbey - April 25 - Ingibjorg - Orkney

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• King Duncan (Donnchad)
• Donald (Domnall) (d.1085)
• Malcolm (Máel Coluim) (d. after 1094).

Ingibjörg was dead by 1070, when he wed Margaret.

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He agreed on an alliance with England, sealed by his (second) marriage to Saint Margaret, Edgar Atheling's sister. Margaret herself promoted the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland throughout Malcolm's reign. At that time, Christianity did exist in Scotland in the form of the Celtic Church, but varied from Roman Catholic practice in some respects e.g. the dating of Easter and the shape of monks' tonsures. Malcolm had several sons by Margaret - these became known as the Margaretsons. Malcolm and Margaret's children were:

Related Topics:
Saint Margaret - Edgar Atheling

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• Prince Edward (Etbard) of Scotland, killed 1093.
• Edmund (Etmond)
• Ethelred, possibly the same as Aedh, Mormaer of Fife
• King Edgar (Etgair)
• King Alexander I (Alaxandair)
• King David I (Dabíd)
• Edith of Scotland, also called Matilda, married King Henry I of England
• Mary of Scotland, married Eustace III of Boulogne

Malcolm unsuccessfully tried to stop this influence by waging wars against the Norman kings of England after 1066. In 1072 he was forced to give an oath of subservience to William I of England. It is notable that while his first wife Ingibjorg's sons all bore Gaelic names, half of Margaret's bore Anglo-Saxon/English names and the other half standard continental names. At the time this was noted with displeasure amongst many in the Scottish court and amongst the public.

Related Topics:
1066 - 1072 - William I of England

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His war against William II of England in 1093 only led to the loss of Scottish territory to England. Malcolm died on November of the same year in an ambush at Alnwick during a battle against William's army. His eldest son by Margaret, Edward, also died in that ambush. Malcolm was succeeded by his brother Donald.

Related Topics:
William II of England - 1093 - Alnwick - Donald

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Malcolm established the Dunkeld dynasty which ruled Scotland from 1058 until 1286. Four of his sons (Duncan II, Edgar, Alexander I, and David I) became kings of Scotland, whilst a fifth (Edmund) ruled as co-ruler of Scotland with his uncle Donald III.

Related Topics:
Dunkeld dynasty - 1058 - 1286 - Duncan II - Edgar - Alexander I - David I - Edmund - Donald III

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