Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameMalcolm II MacAlpin , King of Scots 
Birthabt 954, Alba, Scotland
Death25 Nov 1034, Glamis Castle, Angus, Forfarshire, Scotland
BurialIsle of Iona, Scotland
FatherKenneth II MacAlpin , King of Scots (~932-995)
Misc. Notes
Malcolm II of Scotland (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda) (c. 954 – November 25, 1034) was King of Scots (Alba) from 1005 to 1034. He was the son of King Kenneth II of Scotland and first cousin of his predecessor, King Kenneth III of Scotland (Cináed mac Duib), who was murdered by Malcolm II at the Battle of Monzievaird in 1005.
His rule was contested for ten years during the reign of Kenneth III but Malcolm II finally gained the throne after Kenneth III's death. It appears that he only ruled part of Scotland during his reign, in opposition to leaders from Moray such as Findláech mac Ruaidrí (d. 1020, probably father of Macbeth), and Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti (d. 1029), both of whom were also called Kings of Alba (and therefore Scotland) in the Irish annals, though neither are called Kings of Scotland in modern texts. In 1006, Malcolm II was defeated by Northumbrian forces under Uhtred the Bold while besieging Durham. The English then became preoccupied with the Danish allowing Malcolm II to march south, avenging the loss at Durham by winning the Battle of Carham against the Anglo-Saxons in 1016 and, thereby, regaining Lothian. Thirteen years later, however, Canute, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, travelled to Scotland. What happened is lost to time, but claims that Malcolm II submitted to Canute seem very unlikely. However, Canute seems to have recognised Malcolm II's possession of Lothian.
In the west, Malcolm II made an alliance with King Owen the Bald of Strathclyde and together they defeated King Canute at the Battle of Carham in 1018. At the same time, the marriage of his daughter to Sigurd the Stout, Norse Earl of Orkney, extended Malcolm II's influence to the far north. He battled to expand his kingdom, gaining land down to the River Tweed and in Strathclyde. When King Owen died without an heir, Malcolm II claimed Strathclyde for his grandson, Duncan. This caused dissent throughout the Kingdom of Strathclyde which resulted in Malcolm II's murder at Glamis in 1034. He was buried on the Isle of Iona shortly after.
As the last of the House of Alpin, he did not have any sons to succeed him. He, therefore, arranged good marriages for his daughters. One daughter married Earl Sigurd of Orkney and their son Thorfinn brought the lands of Caithness and Sutherland under the control of the King of Alba. His elder daughter, Bethoc, married Crínán, the Abbot of Dunkeld and their son became Duncan I (c. 1010–1040), who succeeded Malcolm II upon his death in 1034.
His rule was contested for ten years during the reign of Kenneth III but Malcolm II finally gained the throne after Kenneth III's death. It appears that he only ruled part of Scotland during his reign, in opposition to leaders from Moray such as Findláech mac Ruaidrí (d. 1020, probably father of Macbeth), and Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti (d. 1029), both of whom were also called Kings of Alba (and therefore Scotland) in the Irish annals, though neither are called Kings of Scotland in modern texts. In 1006, Malcolm II was defeated by Northumbrian forces under Uhtred the Bold while besieging Durham. The English then became preoccupied with the Danish allowing Malcolm II to march south, avenging the loss at Durham by winning the Battle of Carham against the Anglo-Saxons in 1016 and, thereby, regaining Lothian. Thirteen years later, however, Canute, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, travelled to Scotland. What happened is lost to time, but claims that Malcolm II submitted to Canute seem very unlikely. However, Canute seems to have recognised Malcolm II's possession of Lothian.
In the west, Malcolm II made an alliance with King Owen the Bald of Strathclyde and together they defeated King Canute at the Battle of Carham in 1018. At the same time, the marriage of his daughter to Sigurd the Stout, Norse Earl of Orkney, extended Malcolm II's influence to the far north. He battled to expand his kingdom, gaining land down to the River Tweed and in Strathclyde. When King Owen died without an heir, Malcolm II claimed Strathclyde for his grandson, Duncan. This caused dissent throughout the Kingdom of Strathclyde which resulted in Malcolm II's murder at Glamis in 1034. He was buried on the Isle of Iona shortly after.
As the last of the House of Alpin, he did not have any sons to succeed him. He, therefore, arranged good marriages for his daughters. One daughter married Earl Sigurd of Orkney and their son Thorfinn brought the lands of Caithness and Sutherland under the control of the King of Alba. His elder daughter, Bethoc, married Crínán, the Abbot of Dunkeld and their son became Duncan I (c. 1010–1040), who succeeded Malcolm II upon his death in 1034.