Malcolm II of Scotland

Malcolm II ( Máel Coluim mac Cináeda; * around 954, † November 25, 1034 in Glamis ) was Scottish King 1005-1034 He was the son of Kenneth II, and cousin of his predecessor, Kenneth III. .

Malcolm, who was 990-995 already been king of Strathclyde, fought over a period of ten years to the Scottish throne. In 1005 he killed then in the Battle of Monzievaird ( Tayside ) his cousin Kenneth III. and now became King of Scotland. It is considered likely that he ruled only over a part of Scotland. Again and again he was beset by aristocrats from Moray, including Findláech mac Ruadrí († 1020, probably the father of Macbeth) and Máel Coluim mac Máel Brigte († 1029 ). Both were in the Irish annals as kings of "Alba" (by which he meant Scotland ) referred to, but in modern texts both are not considered as Scottish kings.

1006 Malcolm was defeated at Durham of troops from Northumbria. But the Englishman had to then defend against attacks from Denmark. Malcolm could exploit this situation sent, hit 1018, the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Carham and conquered Lothian back, where he extended his kingdom south to the River Tweed and still went his influence in the west to Strathclyde. The Anglo-Saxons, however, were conquered by the Danes under King Knut, and after an Anglo -Danish invasion in 1031 also Malcolm Knut had to submit.

When the King of Strathclyde died without an heir, Malcolm claimed the kingdom for his grandson Duncan. This led to unrest in the Kingdom of Strathclyde and finally to Malcolm's assassination in Glamis in 1034. Shortly thereafter, he was buried on the island of Iona.

Malcolm had no sons who could follow him to the throne. Therefore he arranged in a skilful way marriages for his daughters. His daughter married Jarl Sigurd of Orkney Plantula. Through their son Thorfinn, Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland arrived in the north to the Scottish kingdom. Malcolm's eldest daughter Bethoc married Crinan, Abbot of Dunkeld. From this connection came from Duncan I, the heir Malcolm. In addition, Malcolm had abolished the Tanistry system, thereby enabling his grandson Duncan was the first monarch of Scotland, who could inherit the kingship to his successors.