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Rulers of Scotland (843 .. 1513)

Early Middle Ages

The Kings of Alba (843 - 1058)

From
Date
Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date
Comments
843Kenneth I-858Kenneth 'MacAlpin' is tradionally regarded as the first ruler of the Scottish nation, known as Alba. He was the ruler of Dal Riata, an area of the west coast of Scotland, and the ruler of the Picts whose leaders were killed either be Kenneth or during Viking raids.
858Donald IBrother862Very little is know about the short reign of Donald.
862Constantine INephew877Viking raids increased greatly during Constantine's reign.
877AedBrother878Aed'd reign only lasted for one year as it is believed he was killed by Giric who succeed him.
878Giric / EochaidEochaid was Aed's nephew889Giric and Eochaid shared the rule of Alba. Giric was older and may have acted as stepfather to Eochaid.
889Donald II-900Donald overthrew Giric and Eochaid to become the King of Alba.
900Constantine IICousin943Constantine's reign was one of the longest of all the Scottish kings and lasted 43 years. In his old age he abdicated in favour of his nephew Malcolm.
943Malcolm INephew954Malcolm gave shelter to Vikings driven out of York by Edmund of Wessex. malcolm agreed to stop supporting the Vikings in exchange of land in northern England. A reign filled with conflicts resulted in his death in battle.
954Indulph-962Indulph abdicated and retired to a monastery after a reign of eight years full of conflict with Vikings and the English. He was called out of retirement to fight the Danes and was killed in battle.
962Dubh/Duff-966The reign of Duff is noted for civil war. When Duff favoured his cousin Donald rather than Cuilean as the next heir a civil was broke out. Duff was killed and Cuilean became king.
966Culen/Cuilean/Colin-971Cuilean's reign was short as he was killed in battle.
971Kenneth II-995
995Constantine III-997
997Kenneth III-1005
1005Malcolm II-1034
1034Duncan IGrandson1040Duncan was killed in battle fighting men led by Macbeth.
1040MacbethCousin1057Shakespeare's play is based on this Scottish King. Macbeth was killed by Malcolm, the son of Duncan.
1057LulachStepson1058Lulach was the stepson of Macbeth and became king of the Scots after Macbeth was killed by Malcolm. Lulach was assassinated and Malcolm became the next king. Lulach was known as the 'fool' or the 'simple'.
The Kings of Alba (843 - 1058)
Name:
Kenneth I
Reign:
843 to 858
Kenneth 'MacAlpin' is tradionally regarded as the first ruler of the Scottish nation, known as Alba. He was the ruler of Dal Riata, an area of the west coast of Scotland, and the ruler of the Picts whose leaders were killed either be Kenneth or during Viking raids.
Name:
Donald I
Reign:
858 to 862
Very little is know about the short reign of Donald.
Name:
Constantine I
Reign:
862 to 877
Viking raids increased greatly during Constantine's reign.
Name:
Aed
Reign:
877 to 878
Aed'd reign only lasted for one year as it is believed he was killed by Giric who succeed him.
Name:
Giric
/ Eochaid
Reign:
878 to 889
Giric and Eochaid shared the rule of Alba. Giric was older and may have acted as stepfather to Eochaid.
Name:
Donald II
Reign:
889 to 900
Donald overthrew Giric and Eochaid to become the King of Alba.;
Name:
Constantine II
Reign:
900 to 943
Constantine's reign was one of the longest of all the Scottish kings and lasted 43 years. In his old age he abdicated in favour of his nephew Malcolm.
Name:
Malcolm I
Reign:
943 to 954
Malcolm gave shelter to Vikings driven out of York by Edmund of Wessex. malcolm agreed to stop supporting the Vikings in exchange of land in northern England. A reign filled with conflicts resulted in his death in battle.
Name:
Indulph
Reign:
945 to 962
Indulph abdicated and retired to a monastery after a reign of eight years full of conflict with Vikings and the English. He was called out of retirement to fight the Danes and was killed in battle.
Name:
Dubh/Duff
Reign:
962 to 966
The reign of Duff is noted for civil war. When Duff favoured his cousin Donald rather than Cuilean as the next heir a civil was broke out. Duff was killed and Cuilean became king.
Name:
Culen/Cuilean/Colin
Reign:
966 to 971
Cuilean's reign was short as he was killed in battle.
Name:
Kenneth II
Reign:
971 to 995
 
Name:
Constantine III
Reign:
995 to 997
 
Name:
Kenneth III
Reign:
997 to 1005
 
Name:
Malcolm II
Reign:
1005 to 1034
 
Name:
Duncan I
Reign:
1034 to 1040
 
Name:
Macbeth
Reign:
1040 to 1057
 
Name:
Lulach
Reign:
1057 to 1058
Lulach was the stepson of Macbeth and became king of the Scots after Macbeth was killed by Malcolm. Lulach was assassinated and Malcolm became the next king. Lulach was known as the 'fool' or the 'simple'.

High Middle Ages

The House of Canmore (1058 - 1290)

From
Date
Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date
Comments
1058Malcolm IIICousin of Macbeth1093Malcolm took the Scottish throne after killing the previous two rulers. He married Margaret, the daughter of Edmund of England. He was killed at Alnwick as he tried to invade England.
1093Donald IIIBrother1094Donald was Malcolm's younger brother and took the throne by deposing Malcolm's sons. Donald himself was deposed by Duncan, his nephew with help from the English.
1094 MayDuncan IINephew1094 NovemberDuncan was killed by Edmund, his half-brother.
1094Donald III (restored)-1097Once restored to the Scottish throne, Duncan ruled togther with Edmund.
1097EdgarNephew of Duncan II1107Edgar was placed on the Scottish thone with help from the English and became a vassal of William Rufus, the English king.
1107Alexander IBrother1124Another Scottish king with ties to the English. He married an illegitimate daughter of Henry I of England.
1124David IBrother1153David forged strong ties with England. His sister married King Henry I of England. David supported the claim of Matilda, the daughter of Henry, to the English throne. David gave large donations to the Scottish Church.
1153Malcolm IVGrandson1165Malcolm handed back Northumbria and Cumbria back to the English under Henry II. He did not marry but is thought to have had an illegitimate son.
1165William I (The Lyon)Brother1214William tried to invade England and supported France and the rebellious sons of King Henry II. William was captured and had to pay homage to the English King for his freedom.
1214Alexander IISon1249Alexander married the daughter of King John of England and after a failed attempt to regain lost land renounced claims to the north of England.
1249Alexander IIISon1286Alexander reclaimed land that had been lost to Norway. He died without a male heir and succession fell to the ill-fated Maid of Norway.
1286Margaret (Maid of Norway)Granddaughter1290As granddaughter of Alexander III, Margaret was chosen as heir to the Scottish throne. She died during the voyage from Norway.
The House of Canmore (1058 - 1290)
Name:
Malcolm III
Reign:
1058 to 1093
 
Name:
Donald III
Reign:
1093 to 1094
 
Name:
Duncan II
Reign:
1094 May to 1094 November
 
Name:
Donald III
Reign:
1094 to 1097
 
Name:
Edgar
Reign:
1097 to 1107
 
Name:
Alexander I
Reign:
1107 to 1124
 
Name:
David I
Reign:
1124 to 1153
 
Name:
Malcolm IV
Reign:
1153 to 1165
 
Name:
William I (The Lyon)
Reign:
1165 to 1214
 
Name:
Alexander II
Reign:
1214 to 1249
 
Name:
Alexander III
Reign:
1249 to 1286
 
Name:
Margaret (Maid of Norway)
Reign:
1286 to 1290
 

Time of Conflict (1290 - 1371)

From
Date
Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date
Comments
1290First Interregnum-1292During this period of time when Scotland had no monarch the country was governed by several influential bishops and earls.
1292John Balliol-1296
1296Second Interregnum-1306
1306Robert I (The Bruce)-1329
1329David II-1332
1332Edward Balliol-Nov to Dec
1332 DecDavid II-1333 Jun
1333Edward Balliol-1336
1336David II-1371
Time of Conflict (1290 - 1371)
Name:
First Interregnum
Reign:
1290 to 1292
 
Name:
John Balliol
Reign:
1292 to 1296
 
Name:
Second Interregnum
Reign:
1296 to 1306
 
Name:
Robert I (The Bruce)
Reign:
1306 to 1329
 
Name:
David II
Reign:
1329 to 1332
 
Name:
Edward Balliol
Reign:
1332 to Nov to Dec
 
Name:
David II
Reign:
1332 Dec to 1333 Jun
 
Name:
Edward Balliol
Reign:
1333 to 1336
 
Name:
David II
Reign:
1336 to 1371
 

The (partial) House of Stewart (1371 - 1625)

From
Date
Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date
Comments
1371Robert II-1390
1390Robert III-1406
1406James I-1437
1437James II-1460
1460James III-1488
1488James IV-1513
1513James V-1542
1542Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots-1567
The (partial) House of Stewart (1371 - 1625)
Name:
Robert II
Reign:
1371 to 1390
 
Name:
Robert III
Reign:
1390 to 1406
 
Name:
James I
Reign:
1406 to 1437
 
Name:
James II
Reign:
1406 to 1437
 
Name:
James III
Reign:
1460 to 1488
 
Name:
James IV
Reign:
1488 to 1513
 
Name:
James V
Reign:
1513 to 1542
 
Name:
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots
Reign:
1542 to 1567
 
 

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