It is traditionally stated that Kenneth MacAlpin founded the kingdom of Alba (or Scotland) after he defeated the separate tribes, including the Picts, in the country and brought them all under his control.

Duncan attempted to capture the city of Durham, but was unable to break its defences and incurred heavy loses. He turned his attention to Thorfinn, the earl of Orkney and took an army north into Moray. The leader of the area, Macbeth, was not prepared to support Duncan and sided with Thorfinn instead. A battle was fourght and during the fighting Duncan was killed. Shortly afterward Macbeth became the King of Scotland.

Crinan, the Abbot of Dunkfeld, led an uprising against Macbeth in an attempt to put his grandson Malcolm (III) on the Scottish throne. Malcolm was living at the court of Edward the Confessor at the time. Crinian was killed and the uprising failed.

Macbeth took time to travel to Rome on a pilgrimage. Reports of his visit tell of him distributing large amounts of money.

Macbeth was killed by Malcolm III, also known as Malcolm Canmore, who later became the King of Scotland. Macbeth was succeeded by his stepson Lulach who was crowned at Scone.

Magellan, the explorer, was born in northern Portugal in this year. The exact location is known. His father was Ruy de Magalhaes, and his mother was Alda de Mezquita. His parents may have held some position of importance and so Ferdinard attended the Court at Lisbon as a page. ¹

Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Seville with five ships in search of a passageway to the south of South America in order to reach the Pacific Ocean and the Far East. The five ships were the Trinidad, the San Antonio, the Conception, the Victoria and the Santiago. The flagship Trinidad was commanded by Magellan. Juan de Catagena commanded the San Antonio; Gaspar de Quesada commanded the Conception; Luis de Mendoza was captain of the Victoria and the Santiago was captained by Juan Serrano.

After leaving Seville Magellan's fleet anchored in the estuary of the Guadalquivir river south Seville. Here they took on the supplies they needed for the long voyage ahead. At the end of the month they set sail for Teneriffe. ¹

The five ships commanded by Magellan reach Teneriffe. On October 3rd, the fleet set sail for South America.

On the 13th of December, Magellan's fleet arrived at Brazil. The the location they anchored at may have been the bay of Rio de Janeiro, near the location of the present capital of Brazil.

Magellan's fleet of ships sailed down the east coast of South America reaching Rio de la Plata in late January and then Port St Julian in Argentina towards the end of March. It was here that Magellan decided to spend the Winter.

Magellan observed a solar eclipse while anchored off the east coast of current-day Argentina.

After spending the winter in the harbour of St. Julian Megellan and his ships continued on their voyage south. Shortly afterwards a storm drove the Santiago onto the shore and the ship was lost. The crew and supplies on board the ship were saved though.

Magellan's fleet of four ships began their passage along what is now known as the Strait of Magellan.

Ferdinand Magellan found a route from the Altantic Ocean through to the Pacific via a passage that is now called the Strait of Magellan. Magellan named the sea Mar Pacifico, or Peaceful Sea because of its calmness.

Unlike the inhabitants of Zebu (Cebu in the Philippines) who had accepted Magellan's offer to ally themselves with the King of Spain, the inhabitants of the nearby island of Mactan did not. The King of Mactan challenged Magellan and a fight ensued. In the fighting Magellan was killed.

Malcolm killed his cousin Kenneth III to become Malcolm II, King of the Scots.

The Scots led by Malcolm II defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Carham. The actual date of the battle is confused and could have been two years earlier.

Already the ruler of Strathclyde Duncan killed his grandfather Malcolm II to become the King of Scotland.

After the death of David I Malcolm became king. He was crowned at Scone Abbey. ¹

The areas of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland were surrendered by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland to King Henry II of England. The lands had been acquired by King David I in 1135 at the Treaty of Durham. Henry took back control of Carlisle Castle from the Scots. ¹

This Scottish Cistercian abbey was founded by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. The monks that colonised it came from the abbey at Melrose. ¹

On the death of Malcolm IV his brother, William, became the king of the Scots. William was crowned at Scone.

Matilda and her supporters entered London for her coronation. Her supporters included David I, king of the Scots. Geoffrey de Mandeville who controlled the Tower of London, abandoned his king as he saw Matilda had the upper hand. He joined her side and offered her the Tower of London. He did this to ensure he kept the Earldom of Essex which made him one of the most powerful barons of the time.

Secret negotiations between Matilda and Mandeville take place. ¹

King Stephen arrested Geoffrey de Mandeville at a meeting of the Royal Court. Mandeville had tried Stephen's patience with his disloyalty and the king did not want the Tower of London (which Mandeville controlled) fall into the hands of Matilda. Mandevilles castles and title of Earl of Essex were taken from him, and he became an outlaw. ¹

James III of Scotland married Margaret of Denmark. Margaret's father was unable to pay the dowry for his daughter so offered Orkney and the Shetland Islands instead until he could raise the money. They were married at Holyrood Abbey.

Margaret, the wife of Alexander III, died in this year. ¹

Alexander, the King of the Scots exchanged his daughter in marriage to Eric, the King of Norway for the Hebrides. ¹

The birth of a daughter called Margaret to Eric, the young Norwegian King, and Margaret, the daughter of Alexander III. Margaret, the child's mother, died during childbirth.

Margaret, Henry VII's and Elizabeth of York's second child was born. ¹

This peace treaty signed between King Henry VII of England and King James IV of Scotland was an attempt to bring long term peace between the two nations. Part of the agreement was the marriage of James to Henry's daughter Margaret.

Henry VII and his eldest daughter Margaret, started their journey to Scotland where the arranged marriage between Margaret and the Scottish King James IV would take place. Margaret was only fourteen years old.

The marriage of the 30 year old Scottish king James IV to Margaret the 14 year old daughter of Henry VI took place at Holyrood house in Edinburgh.

Shortly after the death of his father, James V was crowned King of Scotland at Stirling Castle. His mother, Margaret became regent as the young king was too young to rule.

Richard, Earl of Pembroke in alliance with Llywelyn of Wales join forces to fight Henry III. (Details required). ¹

Llywelyn, the Prince of Wales, began raiding Pembrokeshire to retake land that he accused William Marshall, the younger, of stealing. This included Wiston Castle. ¹

Llywelyn, the Prince of Wales, had captured the castles at Carmarthen and Cardigan but both were recaptured by William Marshall, the younger. ¹

William Marshall, the younger, recaptured the castle at Cilgerran from Llywelyn ap Iorwerth.

In retaliation for the removal of their trading rights agreed in the treaty of 1082 by the emperor of Byzantine, John II, the Venetians led by Doge Michiel began a long siege of the island of Corfu. ¹

The Venetian fleet arrived at Ascalon and instantly set about attacking the Egyptian fleet. The Egyptian fleet was totally destroyed or captured. ¹

Llywelyn attacked Hawarden Castle because Henry de Montfort had promised to hand the castle over to the Welsh but had failed to honour the agreement. ¹

A rebellion against Tostig, Earl of Northumbria leads to Tostig fleeing to Flanders and Morcar becoming the new Earl.

The rebels Hereward the Wake and Morcar on the Isle of Ely were attacked and defeated by William the Conqueror.

Edmund Mortimer's army met Owain Glyndwr at Pilleth near Whitton in central Wales. Mortimer's army was badly defeated and Mortimer was captured. Glyndwr offered to release Mortimer for a large ransom, but Henry IV refused to pay.

The armies of the Percies and the Scots met at Homildon Hill near Wooler in Northumberland. The Scots were defeated and the Scots' leader the Earl of Douglas was captured. Henry IV wanted Douglas handed over but Hotspur refused. Hotspur was angry with the English king who had refused to pay a ransom for Edmund Mortimer who had been captured by Owain Glyndwr and who was a friend of Hotspur's.

Owain Glyndwr, Edmund Mortimer and the Earl of Northumberland combine forces and share the same goal of removing Henry IV. They agreed to divide England and Wales in three, Owain taking Wales and the west of England, the Earl to take the north of England and the north Midlands. Mortimer could have the rest.

The Welsh in Harlech Castle surrender to the English and the revolt of Welsh comes to an end. Edmund Mortimer was killed.

The Percies, led by the Earl of Northumberland and Hotspur announced their intent to revolt against Henry IV. They even promised to free the Scots they had captured at the battle of Homildon if the Scots assisted in the revolt. The plan was to join forces with Owain Glyndwr and support the claim of the young Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl of March to the English throne.

Led by Richard Earl of Cambridge, Henry's cousin, a plot to assassinate the King and replace him with the Earl of March who was the true heir to the throne was hatched. The revolt brought together all the old enemies of Henry including Lord Scrope (Archbishop Scrope's nephew) and the Lollards. The Earl of March whose loyalties were with the king informed Henry of the plot the night before and the rebels were arrested. Several were executed.

Roger Mortimer was appointed commissioner to agree terms of a truce with Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

A truce of a year was agreed bewteen Roger Mortimer on behalf of King Henry III and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd the Welsh prince.

The castle at Builth Wells was captured by the Welsh. ¹

After attacking four merchant ships Robert Mowbray was called for by William Rufus to explain his actions. Instead Mowbray rose up in rebellion against the king along with other powerful Norman Barons.