Scottish History - The House of Dunkeld

• Malcolm I (942-954)
• Indulf (954-962)
• Dubh (962-967)
• Cuilean (967-971)
• Kenneth II (971-995)
• Constantine III (995-997)
• Kenneth III (997-1005)
• Malcolm II (1005-1034)
• Duncan I (1034-1040)
• Macbeth (1040-1057)
• Lulach (The Fool) (1057-1058)

The House of Dunkeld ruled from the Scottish throne after the House of MacAlpin from 943 to 1058 when they were followed by the House of Canmore. Probably the most famous member of the Dunkelds was Macbeth.

MALCOLM I (943-954)

The son of Donald II the harried the north of England and was killed in battle by rebels from Moray.

Indulf (965-962)

It has been said that Edinburgh passed to the Scots during his reign. He was the son of Constantine II and died fighting the Danes.

Dubh (962-966)

Dubh was the son of Malcolm I. In Gaelic "dubh" means black. Culen challenged him for the throne twice and won on the second try. He was killed during this second confrontation in 966.

Culen (966-971)

Culen was the son of Indulf and obtained the throne from Dubh. However, he was killed by the King of Strathclyde, Riderch, whose daughter he had kidnapped.

Kenneth II (971-995)

Kenneth was the brother of Dubh. He had acknowledged Edgar as King of England in return for Lothian. He broke his promise to keep the peace and invaded England. At this point he lost Lothian to the English. He killed Culen's brother and in turn was killed in a blood feud by Culen's son, Constantine.

Constantine III (995-997)

The son of Culen, his reign was brief. He probably was killed by Kenneth III in retaliation for Constantine III having killed Kenneth II.

Kenneth III (997-1005)

Kenneth was the son of Dubh and according to one belif made his son Giric joint king to ensure succession. Kenneth was killed in battle in 1005 by Malcolm who then seized the throne. Malcolm may also have murdred Kenneth III's grandson so that his own grandson, Duncan I could obtain the throne.

Malcolm II (1005-1034)

The son of Kenneth II regained Lothian. The English were fighting the Danish and Malcolm II raided south winning that territory. He made alliances with the Danes. The marriage of his daughter to Sigurd the Stout the Earl of Orkney, extended Malcolm's influence too the far north and he had the alliance of Strathclyde in the west. He was probably over 80 years old when he died.

[NOTE: TANISTRY. The Pictish system of succession was matrilineal. The Scottish system was determined by tanistry - the succession by a previously elected member of the royal family. During the lifetime of the king an heir was chosen and known as tanaiste rig (second to the king). This manner of rule remained until Malcolm II decided on the principle of direct descent. After Malcolm died the succession was based on direct descent.]

Duncan I (1034-40)

Duncan was the first of the royal House of Dunkeld. He added Strathclyde to his grandfather's kingdom, thereby being the first monarch of a united Scotland. The hereditary right to the throne of his two sons, Malcolm Canmore and Donald Ban was threatened by his cousin Macbeth who claimed the kingdom on the grounds of tanistry. The matter was settled in 1040 near Elgin when Macbeth killed Duncan in battle.

Macbeth (1040-57)

Macbeth was another grandson of Malcolm II and had as good a claim to the throne as Duncan. Shakespeare, using poetic license, has distorted the historical facts, which facts show that Macbeth ruled Scotland for 17 years quite successfully. He was married to Kenneth III's granddaughter Gruoch, who had a son, Lulach, by a previous marriage, which strengthened his claim to the throne. In 1045 Macbeth defeated and killed Duncan's father Crinan at Dunkeld. Hhis reign was peaceful for the most part and he was generous to the Church. He was defeated in 1054 by Malcolm Canmore at Scone and killed by Malcolm Canmore in 1057.

Lulach (the Fool) (1057-58)

Lulach the Fool ruled next. Remember, he is Macbeth's step-son. (FYI, his father's name was Gillacomgan.) After a few months of rule he was killed by Malcolm Canmore, who also killed Macbeth (see above).