The MacMalcolm Kings of Scotland

The House of Dunkeld

 The House of Dunkeld

The House of Dunkeld also known as the Mac Malcolm Kings ruled Scotland from 1058 – 1290.

  • Malcolm III (Calum III; Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) (1058–1093)
  • Donald III (Domhnall III; Domnall mac Donnchada) (1093–1094)
  • Duncan II (Donnchadh II; Donnchad mac Maíl Choluim) (1094)
  • Donald III (Domhnall III; Domnall mac Donnchada) (1094–1097)
  • Edgar (Eagar/Eadgar; Etgair mac Maíl Choluim) (1097–1107)
  • Alexander I (Alasdair I; Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim) (1107–1124)
  • David I (Daibhidh I; Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim) (1124–1153)
  • Malcolm IV (Calum IV; Máel Coluim mac Enric) (1153–1165)
  • William I (Uilleam I; Uilliam mac Enric) (1165–1214)
  • Alexander II (Alasdair II) (1214–1249)
  • Alexander III (Alasdair III) (1249–1286)
  • Margaret (Mairead; Maighread) (1286–1290)

The House of Dunkeld which is also known as the MacMalcolm kings of Scotland came to the throne after two centuries of turmoil caused mainly by the Viking onslaught of the ninth century onwards. Scotland was then ruled by the House of Alpin.  The term MacMalcolm kings meaning ‘son of Malcolm’ comes from the founder of the dynasty King Malcom III (1058-1093). The dynasty then continued through his immediate sons. Edgar, Alexander I and most importantly David I (1124-1153). The MacMalcolm rulers consolidated their hold over Scotland and extensively developed its economy, government and religious structure.

                                      The Thirteenth Century

The thirteenth century was particularly successful under Alexander II and his son King Alexander III and to contemporaries it looked as though the dynasty would continue to govern an increasingly prosperous Scotland for some time. This all ended when the two male heirs of Alexander III died in the early 1280’s and then King Alexander III himself was thrown from his horse over a cliff at Kinghorn in Fife in March 1286. His only surviving heir being Margaret, a granddaughter in Norway who it was planned would marry Edward I, King of England’s son, the future Edward II. Margaret died on the voyage to Scotland from Norway in 1290 thus ending the MacMalcolm dynasty and precipitating the crisis that would develop into what became known as the Wars of Independence. The pages which follow illustrate these MacMalcolm rulers of Scotland.