The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to the Annals of Ulster, Kenneth I MacAlpin () — styled King of the Picts — was the first king of a unified kingdom that encompassed the majority of what would later become the Kingdom of Alba. The Kingdom of the Picts went through a series of political turmoils including Viking invasions, and the assassination of Áed, King of The Picts in 878CE. The Kingdom of Alba became the kingdom's official name during the reign of Domnall mac Causantín, further evolving into the "Kingdom Of Scotland" in Scots and English by the 11th Century. Scottish kings would eventually style themselves using the term "", or King of Scots.
After years of being ruled in a personal union, both the kingdoms of Scotland and England were dissolved to form a single unified kingdom, the Kingdom of Great Britain, in 1707. Queen Anne was the last monarch of both the kingdoms of Scotland and England and the first of Great Britain (see Union of the Crowns). Her uncle Charles II was the last monarch to be crowned in Scotland, at Scone in 1651. He had a second coronation in England ten years later.
Heraldry
List of monarchs of Scotland House of Alpin (848–1034)
The reign of Kenneth MacAlpin begins what is often called the House of Alpin, an entirely modern concept. The descendants of Kenneth MacAlpin were divided into two branches; the crown would alternate between the two, the death of a king from one branch often hastened by war or assassination by a pretender from the other. Malcolm II was the last king of the House of Alpin; in his reign, he successfully crushed all opposition to him and, having no sons, was able to pass the crown to his daughter's son, Duncan I, who inaugurated the House of Dunkeld.
Modern English nameReign Epithet Title Dynastic status Kenneth I MacAlpinProperly speaking, Coinneach should actually be Cionaodh, since Coinneach is historically a separate name. However, in the modern language, both names have converged.843/848 – 13 February 858 An Ferbasach, son of Alpin, king of Dál Riata Donald I858 – 13 April 862 Drechruaidh, son of Alpin, king of Dál Riata, and brother of Kenneth I Constantine I862–877 An Finn-Shoichleach, Son of Kenneth I Áed877–878 Fhionnscothach, Giric878–889 Mac Rath, Son of Donald I? Eochaid878–889?* In Tuilti, grandson of Kenneth I* Donald II889–900 Dásachtach, Son of Constantine I Constantine II900–943 An Midhaise, Son of Áed Malcolm I943–954 An Bodhbhdercc, Son of Donald II IndulfHis name is a Gaelicisation of the Norse name Hildufr (or perhaps English Eadulf); it occurs in various contemporary Gaelic forms, such as Iondolbh, found in the Duan Albanach; Ildulb is used by some historians because it correctly represents the name Hildulfr in Gaelic orthography; Eadwulf would perhaps be Idulb, hence that form is also used sometimes. The name never came into wider use in the Scottish world, or the Gaelic world more generally, and has no modern form. The name "Indulf" is a spelling produced by later medieval French influence; Hudson, Celtic Kings, p, 89.954–962 An Ionsaighthigh, Son of Constantine II Dub / Dubh or Duff962–967 Dén, Son of Malcolm I Cuilén967–971 An Fionn, Son of Indulf Amlaíb973–977¤ Kenneth II971–995 An Fionnghalach, Son of Malcolm I Constantine III995–997 Calvus, Son of Cuilén Kenneth III997 – 25 March 1005 An Donn, Son of Dub Malcolm II1005–1034 Forranach, Son of Kenneth II
*Eochiad was a son of Run, King of Strathclyde, but his mother was a daughter of Kenneth I. Evidence of his reign is unclear. He may have never actually been king and if he was, he was co-king with Giric.
¤Amlaíb is known only by a reference to his death in 977, which reports him as King of Alba; since Kenneth II is known to have still been King in 972–973, Amlaíb must have taken power between 973 and 977.
House of Dunkeld (1034–1040)
Duncan succeeded to the throne as the maternal grandson of Malcolm II. The House of Dunkeld was therefore closely related to the House of Alpin. Duncan was killed in battle by Macbeth, another maternal grandson of Malcolm II.
Modern English nameReign Epithet Title Marriage(s) Dynastic status Duncan I1034–1040 Skene, Chronicles, p. 101. Suthenat least two sons Grandson of Malcolm II (son of eldest daughter)
House of Moray (1040–1058)
Macbeth came to power in 1040 after killing Duncan I in battle and had a long and relatively successful reign. Macbeth may have been a maternal grandson of Malcolm II and thus possibly a cousin of Duncan. He married Gruoch in 1032, who may have had a claim to the Scottish throne herself, being the granddaughter of either Kenneth II or Kenneth III. In a series of battles between 1057 and 1058, Duncan's son Malcolm III defeated and killed Macbeth and Macbeth's stepson and heir Lulach and became the king, thereby passing the throne back to the House of Dunkeld.
Modern English nameReign Epithet Title Marriage(s) Dynastic status Macbeth1040–1057 Rí DeirccSkene, Chronicles, p. 102. Gruoch of Scotlandno children Son of Mormaer Findláech Grandson of Malcolm II (son of second daughter) Cousin of Duncan I Lulach1057–1058 Tairbith-FatuusAnderson, Early Sources, vol. i, p. 603. Unknowntwo children Son of Gille Coemgáin, Mormaer of Moray and Gruoch of Scotland Step-son of Macbeth Great-grandson of Kenneth II or Kenneth III through his mother
House of Dunkeld (restored) (1058–1286)
In a series of battles between 1057 and 1058, Duncan's son Malcolm III defeated and killed Macbeth and Macbeth's stepson and heir Lulach, claiming the throne. The dynastic feuds did not end there: on Malcolm III's death in battle, his brother Donald III, known as "Bán", claimed the throne, expelling Malcolm III's sons from Scotland. A civil war in the family ensued, with Donald III (later supported by Malcolm III's son Edmund) opposed by Malcolm III's other sons, led first by Duncan II and then by Edgar and backed by the Kingdom of England. Edgar triumphed, sending his uncle and brother to monasteries. After the reign of David I, the Scottish throne was passed according to rules of primogeniture, moving from father to son, or where not possible, brother to brother. Alexander III was the last ruler from the house of Dunkeld, and having no sons, the throne was inherited by his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway.
Modern English nameReign Epithet Title Marriage(s) Dynastic status Malcolm III1058–1093 Cenn Mór This name was probably only originally applied to Mael Coluim IV, Mael Coluim III's grandson, and then later confused; see Duncan, Kingship of the Scots, pp. 51–52, 74–75; Oram, David I, p. 17, note 1. Cenn Mór certainly means "great chief" rather than "big head", as sometimes thought. Ingibiorg Finnsdottirthree sonsMargaret of Wessex1070eight childrenSon of Duncan I Donald III1093–1097 Bán, Unknownat least one daughter Duncan II1094 Ethelreda of Northumbriaone sonSon of Malcolm III Edgar1097–1107 Probus, None Alexander I1107–1124 This nickname however is not attested for another three centuries, in the work of Andrew of Wyntoun. Sybilla of Normandyno children David I1124–1153 Later nickname. Latin Sanctus also means simply "Holy". David was never canonised. Maud, Countess of Huntingdon1113four children Malcolm IV of Scotland1153–1165 Virgo-Cenn Mór, NoneGrandson of David I William I1165–1214 "the Lion"-Garbh, Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1214.6; Annals of Loch Cé, s.a. 1213.10. Ermengarde de BeaumontWoodstock Palace, Oxford, England5 September 1186four children Alexander II1214–1249 "the Peaceful" Ashley, Mike. British Kings & Queens. New York: Carroll and Graf Publishers (1998), p. 407 Joan of EnglandYork Minster, England21 June 1221no childrenMarie de CoucyRoxburgh15 May 1239one son Son of William I Alexander III1249–1286 Margaret of EnglandYork Minster, England25 December 1251three childrenYolande de DreuxJedburgh Abbey15 October 1285no children Son of Alexander II
House of Sverre (1286–1290)
Margaret, Maid of Norway inherited the throne in 1286, but died in 1290 in Orkney on her way to be crowned. During her absence, Scotland was ruled by a set of guardians. After her death, Scotland entered a period of interregnum, where 13 contenders fought for the throne and ultimately, John Balliol succeeded.
The status of Margaret, as a Scottish monarch is debated by historians. She was never crowned, and her contemporaries in Scotland described her as "queen" very rarely, referring to her instead as Scotland's "lady", "heir", or "lady and heir". On the other hand, documents issued from late 1286 no longer refer to the "king whosoever he may be", indicating that the throne may have been regarded as already occupied by Margaret. In modern historiography she is nearly unanimously called "queen", and reference books give 19 March 1286, the date of Alexander III's death, as the start of her reign.
Name Birth Death Dynastic status Margaretthe Maid of Norway1286–1290 Tønsberg, Norwaydaughter of Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland September/October 1290St Margaret's Hope, Orkneyaged 7 Granddaughter of Alexander III through his daughter
First Interregnum (1286–1292)
The First Interregnum began upon the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286. Alexander's only surviving descendant was his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway, a young child, who inherited the throne in 1286. A set of guardians were appointed to rule Scotland in her absence since she was living in Norway where her father Eric II was king. She was finally sent to Scotland in 1290 but died before arriving in Scotland. The next king of Scots was not determined until completion of an arbitration in 1292.
House of Balliol (1292–1296)
The death of Margaret of Norway began a two-year interregnum in Scotland caused by a succession crisis. With her death, the descent of William I became extinct and there was no obvious heir. Thirteen candidates presented themselves; the most prominent were John Balliol, great-grandson of William I's younger brother David of Huntingdon, and Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, grandson of David of Huntingdon. The Scottish magnates invited Edward I of England to arbitrate the claims. He did so but forced the Scots to swear allegiance to him as their overlord. Eventually, it was decided that John Balliol should become king. He proved weak and incapable and, in 1296, was forced to abdicate by Edward I. Edward then attempted to annex Scotland into the Kingdom of England.
Name Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Death Dynastic status John BalliolToom Tabard ("Empty Cloak")1292–1296 Isabella de Warenne9 February 1281at least one sonPicardy, France Great-great-great-grandson of King David I(election)
Second Interregnum (1296–1306)
John Balliol abdicated in March 1296. That same month Edward I invaded Scotland. The second set of guardians were appointed under Edward I who ruled from 1296 to 1306, until the election of Robert the Bruce as the king of Scotland.
House of Bruce (1306–1371)