Malcolm II (1005 - 1034)

The MacAlpin dynasty came to an end with Malcolm II and at the end of his reign Scotland had become a much more clearly defined national unit. To begin with, however, it looked like Malcolm's reign would be as bloodthirsty as many of his predecessors - he won the throne by murdering Kenneth III and his son near Perth. Following this he attacked England and was defeated by Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria at Durham. This meant that Lothian remained in English hands.

After finding no luck to the south Malcolm then turned his attentions to the north. He was defeated by the mormaer of Moray near Forres in 1008 but two years later he defeated a Viking army at Carron. In a more diplomatic attempt to subdue the north his daughter was probably married to Findlaech, the mormaer of Moray. Another daughter was married to Sigura 'the Stout', Earl of Orkney.

Malcolm then turned his attention south once more, this time with more success. In 1018, assisted by Owen the Bald, King of Strathclyde, he defeated Uhtred at Carham on Tweed. King Cnut had Uhtred assassinated on hearing the news of his defeat and Northumbria was given to Eadulf, who ceded Lothian to Malcolm.

Having no children of his own Malcolm named Duncan as his successor and to make sure Duncan became king Malcolm had all of Kenneth III's male decendants killed. Malcolm finally died in 1035 aged over 80.

History Books on this time period:

Author	Title	Published	Price	Order Now From:
Duncan, A. A. M.	The Edinburgh History of Scotland: Vol 1 The Making of the Kingdom	1975	£16.99	Amazon.co.uk
Scotland: the Making of the Kingdom is the first "straight" history of Scotland from pre-history to 1286 to be published since 1862. It starts with the evidence on pre-historic and Roman Scotland and covers in some detail the incursions and amalgamations of races who made up the Celtic Kingdom, the impact of the Vikings and the forging of a single kingdom. Professor Duncan looks at the Anglo-Norman influence on Scotland and gives a full account of Anglo-Scottish relations up to 1214. The growth of towns is discussed together with the expansion of trade and the place of Scottish evidence in the evolution of rural and urban society in north-west Europe. The closing chapters narrate the progress which made possible the establishment of an efficient and unoppressive administrative system.
Barrow, G. W. S.	Kingship & Unity: Scotland 1000-1306	1989	£9.95 or $16.50	Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Professor Barrow takes up the history of a Scotland which in the eleventh century already has the beginnings of a clear sense of identity, and a successful expansion policy. Emphasising in particular the kingdom's political growth and the evolution of a distinct Scottish nation, Professor Barrow narrates the story of Scotland's remarkable Medieval kings and their development of a kingship and the institutions of government which provided the unity and administration to fend off Edward I's onslaughts in the thirteenth century. This is a thoroughly readable and comprehensive account of the building of medieval Scotland, and a welcome reissue from the New History of Scotland series (formerly published by Edward Arnold).