Malcolm III of Scotland Worksheets
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Summary
- Background and early reign
- Relationship with the Norman rulers in England
Key Facts And Information
Let’s find out more about Malcolm III of Scotland!
Malcolm III of Scotland became king in 1058 after a military struggle with Macbeth and his successor Lulach. His reign coincided with the Norman conquest of England, during which he provided sanctuary to Anglo-Saxon exiles fleeing from William I of England. He launched invasions in the northern counties of England numerous times, which often resulted in his surrender to the Norman rulers. His rule lasted until 1093, when he was killed at the Battle of Alnwick.
Portrait of Malcolm III of Scotland
Background and early reign of Malcolm III of Scotland
- Born in 1031, Malcolm Canmore was the eldest of the two sons of Duncan mac Crinain and Suthen. In 1034, his father became king of Scotland, which was then called the Kingdom of Alba, without immediate challenges. His mother was believed to be a relative of Siward, Earl of Northumbria.
- In 1039, Duncan I besieged Durham with a huge army, but the campaign ultimately failed.
- In 1040, he led a punitive expedition against Moray, where he was killed at the Battle of Bothnagowan by the force of his rival, Macbeth, Mormaer of Moray.
- Macbeth succeeded to the Scottish throne with little opposition, and his rule was mostly peaceful.
- In 1045, Malcolm’s paternal grandfather was killed in action, probably as a result of an ongoing feud with Macbeth.
- During the conflict, Malcolm and his brother Donald were sent away for their protection.
- While Donald was sent to the Isles, Malcolm lived in exile in England and likely resided at the court of several prominent English people. Malcolm had to wait for his opportunity to exact revenge on Macbeth.
- In 1054, Siward led a large invasion of Scotland. It was a bloody campaign that led to the deaths of thousands.
- In 1057, Macbeth was killed on the north side of the Mounth at the Battle of Lumphanan, with numerous chroniclers reporting that it was Malcolm who was responsible for his death, with English help.
- Macbeth’s stepson Lulach succeeded to the Scottish throne with the assistance of Macbeth’s supporters, but he was also killed by Malcom near Huntly in 1058.
- In the same year, Malcolm ascended the Scottish throne and was inaugurated at Scone soon after.
- In medieval Gaelic-speaking societies, it was customary for rulers to launch an invasion soon after assuming power. In the recently crowned king’s case, Malcolm III pillaged Lindisfarne, a campaign that was likely used to cement the legitimacy of the new regime.
- The raid only impacted the territory of the rulers of Bamburgh and was unlikely to have inconvenienced the English king.
- It had also been claimed that Malcolm III’s motivation for the raid was to advance the position of a relative. Some suggest that it was a part of a conflict about the status of Strathclyde.
- After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which was fought between the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons, England was successfully conquered, with William, Duke of Normandy, becoming the king of England.
- Malcolm III was not directly involved in the defence of England. Nevertheless, he provided sanctuary to the Anglo-Saxon exiles after their defeat at the hands of the Normans, but did not offer immediate assistance.
- There is evidence to indicate that Malcolm III’s court adopted Anglo-Saxon attitudes and influences at this time.
- Around this time, it is likely that Malcolm III had been married to his first wife, Ingibjörg, who was the widow of the powerful Earl of Orkney.
- Malcolm III seems to have had a harmonious relationship with the Earldom of Orkney.
- The union helped ensure peaceful relations with the Norse rulers of the northern territories of Scotland. It produced at least three children, namely Duncan, Donald and Malcolm. The eldest son would later become king of Scotland.
- It is presumed that Ingibjörg was already dead when an opportunity came to Malcolm III to marry a lady of higher status.
- In 1070, Malcolm III married Margaret of Wessex, a direct descendant of the expelled Anglo-Saxon royalty. The two first met when Margaret’s family sought shelter in Scotland after fleeing England. During her exile, Margaret was with her mother Agatha, her brother Edgar Ætheling, and her sister Cristina.
- Malcolm III’s second marriage produced eight children, such as Edward, Edmund, Ethelred, Edgar, Alexander, Edith, Mary and David. Three of their sons would later succeed to the Scottish throne.
A depiction of William I in the Bayeux Tapestry
Malcolm III of Scotland's Relationship with the Norman rulers in England
- Malcolm III had earlier given refuge to Edgar Ætheling, who was the last male member of the Anglo-Saxon royal line and future brother-in-law. This alliance put him in a delicate position, as the Normans consolidated their power in England.
- In 1069, Edgar Ætheling became involved in the rebellions that broke out in Northumbria, and in fact, asked for assistance from the Danish king.
- During the rebellion, the Danes raided English towns as they headed to York.
- In response, William I of England gathered his army and began to march north.
- When the rebels heard William I was on his way, their force dispersed and the Danes decided to withdraw.
- Edgar Ætheling returned to Scotland, and Malcom III again welcomed and allowed him asylum.
- The rebellion and successive uprisings in the region led William I to wage a series of military campaigns in northern England in 1069–1070 that came to be known as the Harrying of the North.
- This was a campaign of devastation, terror, and scorched-earth tactics aimed at quelling resistance and securing Norman control over the region.
- Malcolm III raided Yorkshire in 1072. In response, William I launched a combined land and sea operation against Scotland, forcing Malcolm III to submit to his overlordship.
- The two rulers met and signed the Treaty of Abenerthy. The Scottish king was given estates in Cumbria in exchange for acknowledging the overlordship of William I.
- Furthermore, in accordance with the agreement, Malcolm III’s eldest son Duncan was given into the keeping of William I as a hostage, and Edgar Ætheling was exiled to Flanders.
- This did not stop Edgar Ætheling from scheming against and attacking the Normans.
- Meanwhile, Malcolm III soon broke his agreement with William I and resumed his incursions into Northumbria.
- William I responded by dispatching his son Robert Curthose north with an army and his brother Odo to punish the Northumbrians.
- Malcolm III made peace once more, which he maintained for over ten years. He then persuaded him to make peace with William I and return to England as his subject.
- In 1087, William II, also known as William Rufus, succeeded to the English throne after his father’s death. Malcolm initially did not get involved in the rebellions by supporters of William I’s elder brother, Robert Curthose.
- When William II confiscated the lands that belonged to Edgar Ætheling in 1091, Malcolm III renewed the aggressions in the north of England.
- He besieged Newcastle in a possible attempt to expand the Scottish border south from the River Tweed to the River Tees.
- William II, who was in Normandy at that time, was threatened by this Scottish advance and decided to return to England.
- Learning of the movement of William II’s army, Malcolm III went with his army into Lothian to wait. Unlike in 1072, he was prepared to fight the Anglo-Norman army.
- However, he soon realised that the odds were against him and agreed to swear fealty.
- A peace was arranged by Edgar Ætheling and Duke Robert. Malcolm III paid homage to William II, as agreed in the treaty signed in 1091.
Terms of the Treaty of 1091
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- Malcolm III had to acknowledge the overlordship of the English king.
- Malcolm III would retain the twelve villages given to him by
William I. - Malcolm III was to be paid an annual sum of £72 of silver to help maintain his household.
- Edgar Ætheling was to return to England.
- Malcolm III grew frustrated when the terms of the Treaty of 1091 were not honoured, such as the promise of annual payment and the Scottish control of Cumbrian territories.
- William II’s new castle at Carlisle and the English settlement in the surroundings were linked to the breakdown of peace.
- A meeting with William II was organised to discuss the dispute. Malcolm III travelled to Gloucester, arriving in August 1093 to find that William II refused to negotiate.
- William II insisted that the dispute be judged by his barons. Angry and humiliated, Malcolm III left for Scotland immediately.
- Shortly after, Malcolm III returned to England with his son Edward and an army. They laid waste to Northumberland. On their way back to Scotland, they were attacked and trapped by Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria. The Battle of Alnwick (1093) led to the deaths of the Scottish king and his son. Malcolm III’s death led to political chaos in Scotland. The late king’s brother, Donald Bane, took control and became the king of Scotland.
Frequently Asked Questions About Malcolm III of Scotland
- Who was Malcolm III of Scotland?
Malcolm III, also known as Malcolm Canmore, was King of Scotland from 1058 to 1093. He played a key role in establishing the Canmore dynasty and reshaping Scotland’s political ties with England.
- How did Malcolm III become king?
Malcolm became king after defeating and killing Macbeth (the same one made famous by Shakespeare) in 1057 and taking the throne in 1058.
- What challenges did Malcolm III face during his reign?
He dealt with internal rivals, Norse invasions, and Anglo-Scottish tensions, especially after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.