Malcolm III 'Canmore' (1058 - 1093)

St Margaret, St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh Castle

It was during the long reign of Malcolm III that the Norman conquest of England occured and this was to have long term implications for Scotland. Feudal society gradually migrated northwards and after Malcolm married his second wife, Margaret, this process quickened. To his contemporaries Malcolm was known as Ceann Mor, or Canmore, which means Big Head, and may have referred to either his physical stature or that he was considered a Great Leader. As with other Scottish kings at this time Malcolm made several raids into England, the first of which was in 1061 while Earl Tostig of Northumbria was in Rome on a pilgrimage. He also supported the losing side at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 and again in 1070 he raided England. By now though the Normans under King William were in control and they were not going to take these attacks lying down. William came to Scotland two years later and although Malcolm refused to fight he was forced to accept the terms of the Treaty of Abernethy. In this agreement Malcolm was forced to become William's man and he also handed over his oldest son, Duncan, as a hostage. This did not stop Malcolm, however, he raided northern England again in 1079 and this initiated the construction of new castles on the Tyne, by William's son Robert, and at Carlisle by William Rufus. These castles effectively set the Scottish - English border. In 1087 Rufus became king of England and by 1091 Malcolm was again raiding the north of England while Rufus was in Normandy. Rufus took his revenge by forcing Malcolm to do homage to him.

Malcolm's reign is best remembered in Scottish history for his marrige to Margaret rather than his ineffectual raids on England. His first wife, Ingibiorg, was the daughter, or widow, of the Earl of Orkney, Thorfin. She bore him four sons before her death in 1069. In 1071 Malcolm married Margaret, to the fury of William I. Margaret was a virtuous and devout Queen and the chapel that she had built at Edinburgh Castle can still be seen. She had been raised in Hungary and when she came to Scotland she brought with her some of the current manners, culture and ceremony of the European court. Malcolm and Margaret had four sons and they were given English, rather than Scottish, names. Among Margaret's achievements were the building of Dunfermline Priory and the institution of the Queen's Ferry over the Forth to bring pilgrims to Fife to visit the shrine of St Andrew.

St Margaret's Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey

St Margaret (from a 15th century illumination)

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).

Historical Fiction Books on this time period:

Author	Title	Published	Price	Order Now From:
Tranter, Nigel	Margaret the Queen		£5.99	Amazon.co.uk
The story of the mild and saintly Margaret of Scotland. A young refugee Saxon princess, 24 years old when she arrived north of the border, she gained the throne of Scotland and tamed her wild and warlike people. Single handed, she changed the nation's destiny and won their lasting love.