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List of Scottish monarchs

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Monarchy of Scotland
Royal coat of arms
Longest reigning
James VI
24 July 1567 – 27 March 1625
Details
First monarchKenneth I
Last monarchAnne
Formation843 (traditional)
Abolition1 May 1707
ResidenceRoyal Court of Scotland

The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to the Annals of Ulster, Kenneth I MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín) — styled King of the Picts[a] — was the first king of a unified kingdom that encompassed the majority of what would later become the Kingdom of Alba. The Kingdom of the Picts went through a series of political turmoils including Viking invasions, and the assassination of Áed, King of The Picts in 878CE. The Kingdom of Alba became the kingdom's official name during the reign of Domnall mac Causantín, further evolving into the "Kingdom Of Scotland" in Scots and English by the 11th Century. Scottish kings would eventually style themselves using the term "rex Scottorum", or King of Scots.

After years of being ruled in a personal union, both the kingdoms of Scotland and England were dissolved to form a single unified kingdom, the Kingdom of Great Britain, in 1707. Queen Anne was the last monarch of both the kingdoms of Scotland and England and the first of Great Britain (see Union of the Crowns). Her uncle Charles II was the last monarch to be crowned in Scotland, at Scone in 1651. He had a second coronation in England ten years later.

Heraldry

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List of monarchs of Scotland

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House of Alpin (848–1034)

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The reign of Kenneth MacAlpin begins what is often called the House of Alpin, an entirely modern concept. The descendants of Kenneth MacAlpin were divided into two branches; the crown would alternate between the two, the death of a king from one branch often hastened by war or assassination by a pretender from the other. Malcolm II was the last king of the House of Alpin; in his reign, he successfully crushed all opposition to him and, having no sons, was able to pass the crown to his daughter's son, Duncan I, who inaugurated the House of Dunkeld.

Modern English name
(Modern Gaelic name)
(Medieval Gaelic name)
Reign		 Epithet Title Dynastic status
Kenneth I MacAlpin[2]
(Coinneach mac Ailpein)
(Cináed mac Ailpín / Ciniod m. Ailpin)[3]
843/848 – 13 February 858		 An Ferbasach,
"the Conqueror"[4]		 Rex Pictorum
("King of the Picts")		 son of Alpin, king of Dál Riata
Donald I[5]
(Dòmhnall mac Solein)
(Domnall mac Ailpín)
858 – 13 April 862		 Drechruaidh,
"of the Ruddy Countenance"[6]		 son of Alpin, king of Dál Riata, and brother of Kenneth I
Constantine I[7]
(Còiseam mac Choinnich)
(Causantín mac Cináeda)
862–877		 An Finn-Shoichleach,
"the Wine-Bountiful"[8]		 Son of Kenneth I
Áed[9]
(Aodh mac Choinnich)
(Áed mac Cináeda)
877–878		 Fhionnscothach,
"of the White Flowers"[10]
Giric[11]
(Griogair mac Dhunghail)
(Giric mac Dúngail)
878–889		 Mac Rath,
"Son of Fortune"[12]		 Son of Donald I?
Eochaid
(Eochaid mac Run)
878–889?*		 In Tuilti,
"the Floods"[13]		 grandson of Kenneth I*
Donald II[14]
(Dòmhnall mac Chòiseim)
(Domnall mac Causantín)
889–900		 Dásachtach,
"the Madman"[15]		 Rí Alban
("King of Scotland")
Rì nan Albannaich
("King of Scots")		 Son of Constantine I
Constantine II[16]
(Còiseam mac Aoidh)
(Causantín mac Áeda)
900–943		 An Midhaise,
"the Middle Aged"[17]		 Son of Áed
Malcolm I[18]
(Maol Chaluim mac Dhòmhnaill)
(Máel Coluim mac Domnall)
943–954		 An Bodhbhdercc,
"the Dangerous Red"[19]		 Son of Donald II
Indulf[20][21]
(Ildulb mac Causantín)
954–962		 An Ionsaighthigh,
"the Aggressor"[22]		 Son of Constantine II
Dub / Dubh or Duff[23]
(Dub mac Maíl Choluim)
(Dubh mac Mhaoil Chaluim)
962–967		 Dén,
"the Vehement"[24]		 Son of Malcolm I
Cuilén[25]
(Cuilean)
(Cuilén mac Ilduilb)
967–971		 An Fionn,
"the White"[26]		 Son of Indulf
Amlaíb
(Amhlaigh)
(Amlaíb mac Ilduilb)
973–977¤
Kenneth II[27]
(Coinneach mac Mhaoil Chaluim)
(Cináed mac Maíl Choluim)
971–995		 An Fionnghalach,
"the Fratricide"[28]		 Son of Malcolm I
Constantine III[29]
(Còiseam mac Chailein)
(Causantín mac Cuiléin)
995–997		 Calvus,
"the Bald"[30]		 Son of Cuilén
Kenneth III[31]
(Coinneach mac Dhuibh)
(Cináed mac Duib)
997 – 25 March 1005		 An Donn,
"the Chief"/ "the Brown"[32]		 Son of Dub
Malcolm II[33]
(Maol Chaluim mac Choinnich)
(Máel Coluim mac Cináeda)
1005–1034		 Forranach,
"the Destroyer"[34]		 Son of Kenneth II

*Eochiad was a son of Run, King of Strathclyde, but his mother was a daughter of Kenneth I. Evidence of his reign is unclear. He may have never actually been king and if he was, he was co-king with Giric.

¤Amlaíb is known only by a reference to his death in 977, which reports him as King of Alba; since Kenneth II is known to have still been King in 972–973, Amlaíb must have taken power between 973 and 977.

House of Dunkeld (1034–1040)

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Duncan succeeded to the throne as the maternal grandson of Malcolm II. The House of Dunkeld was therefore closely related to the House of Alpin. Duncan was killed in battle by Macbeth, another maternal grandson of Malcolm II.

Modern English name
(Modern Gaelic name)
(Medieval Gaelic name)
Reign		 Epithet Title Marriage(s) Dynastic status
Duncan I[35]
(Donnchadh mac Crìonain)
(Donnchad mac Crínáin)
1034–1040		 An t-Ilgarach
"the Diseased"
or "the Sick"[36]		 Rí Alban Suthen
at least two sons		 Grandson of Malcolm II (son of eldest daughter)

House of Moray (1040–1058)

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Macbeth came to power in 1040 after killing Duncan I in battle and had a long and relatively successful reign. Macbeth may have been a maternal grandson of Malcolm II and thus possibly a cousin of Duncan. He married Gruoch in 1032, who may have had a claim to the Scottish throne herself, being the granddaughter of either Kenneth II or Kenneth III. In a series of battles between 1057 and 1058, Duncan's son Malcolm III defeated and killed Macbeth and Macbeth's stepson and heir Lulach and became the king, thereby passing the throne back to the House of Dunkeld.

Modern English name
(Modern Gaelic name)
(Medieval Gaelic name)
Reign		 Epithet Title Marriage(s) Dynastic status
Macbeth[37]
(MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh)
(Mac Bethad mac Findláich)
1040–1057		 Rí Deircc
"the Red King"[38]		 Rí Alban Gruoch of Scotland
no children		 Son of Mormaer Findláech

Grandson of Malcolm II (son of second daughter)
Cousin of Duncan I

Lulach[39]
(Lughlagh mac Gille Chomghain)
(Lulach mac Gille Comgaín)
1057–1058		 Tairbith
"the Unfortunate"[38]
-
Fatuus
"the Foolish"[40]		 Unknown
two children		 Son of Gille Coemgáin, Mormaer of Moray and Gruoch of Scotland
Step-son of Macbeth
Great-grandson of Kenneth II or Kenneth III through his mother

House of Dunkeld (restored) (1058–1286)

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In a series of battles between 1057 and 1058, Duncan's son Malcolm III defeated and killed Macbeth and Macbeth's stepson and heir Lulach, claiming the throne. The dynastic feuds did not end there: on Malcolm III's death in battle, his brother Donald III, known as "Bán", claimed the throne, expelling Malcolm III's sons from Scotland. A civil war in the family ensued, with Donald III (later supported by Malcolm III's son Edmund) opposed by Malcolm III's other sons, led first by Duncan II and then by Edgar and backed by the Kingdom of England. Edgar triumphed, sending his uncle and brother to monasteries. After the reign of David I, the Scottish throne was passed according to rules of primogeniture, moving from father to son, or where not possible, brother to brother. Alexander III was the last ruler from the house of Dunkeld, and having no sons, the throne was inherited by his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway.

Modern English name
(Modern Gaelic name)
(Medieval Gaelic name)
Reign		 Epithet Title Marriage(s) Dynastic status
Malcolm III[41]
(Maol Chaluim mac Dhonnchaidh)
(Máel Coluim mac Donnchada)
1058–1093		 Cenn Mór ("Canmore")
"Great Chief"[42]		 Rí Alban / Scottorum basileus Ingibiorg Finnsdottir
three sons

Margaret of Wessex
1070
eight children		 Son of Duncan I
Donald III[43]
(Dòmhnall mac Dhonnchaidh)
(Domnall mac Donnchada)
1093–1097		 Bán,
"the Fair"		 Rí Alban Unknown
at least one daughter
Duncan II[44]
(Donnchadh mac Mhaoil Chaluim)
(Donnchad mac Maíl Choluim)
1094		 Rí Alban / Rex Scottorum Ethelreda of Northumbria
one son		 Son of Malcolm III
Edgar[45]
(Eagar mac Mhaoil Chaluim)
(Étgar mac Maíl Choluim)
1097–1107		 Probus,
"the Valiant"[46]		 None
Alexander I[47]
(Alasdair mac Mhaoil Chaluim)
(Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim)
1107–1124		 "the Fierce"[48] Sybilla of Normandy
no children
David I[49]
(Dàibhidh mac Mhaoil Chaluim)
(Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim)
1124–1153		 "the Saint"[50] Maud, Countess of Huntingdon
1113
four children
Malcolm IV of Scotland[51]
(Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig)
(Máel Coluim mac Eanric)
1153–1165		 Virgo
"the Maiden"
-
Cenn Mór,
"Great Chief"[42]		 None Grandson of David I
William I
(Uilleam mac Eanraig)
(Uilliam mac Eanric)
1165–1214		 "the Lion"
-
Garbh,
"the Rough"[52]		 Ermengarde de Beaumont
Woodstock Palace, Oxford, England
5 September 1186
four children
Alexander II[53]
(Alasdair mac Uilleim)
(Alaxandair mac Uilliam)
1214–1249		 "the Peaceful"[54] Joan of England
York Minster, England
21 June 1221
no children

Marie de Coucy
Roxburgh
15 May 1239
one son		 Son of William I
Alexander III[55]
(Alasdair mac Alasdair)
(Alaxandair mac Alaxandair)
1249–1286		 Margaret of England
York Minster, England
25 December 1251
three children

Yolande de Dreux
Jedburgh Abbey
15 October 1285
no children		 Son of Alexander II

House of Sverre (1286–1290)

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Margaret, Maid of Norway inherited the throne in 1286, but died in 1290 in Orkney on her way to be crowned. During her absence, Scotland was ruled by a set of guardians. After her death, Scotland entered a period of interregnum, where 13 contenders fought for the throne and ultimately, John Balliol succeeded.

The status of Margaret, as a Scottish monarch is debated by historians. She was never crowned,[56] and her contemporaries in Scotland described her as "queen" very rarely, referring to her instead as Scotland's "lady", "heir", or "lady and heir".[57] On the other hand, documents issued from late 1286 no longer refer to the "king whosoever he may be", indicating that the throne may have been regarded as already occupied by Margaret. In modern historiography she is nearly unanimously called "queen", and reference books give 19 March 1286, the date of Alexander III's death, as the start of her reign.[57]

Name Birth Death Dynastic status
Margaret[58]
the Maid of Norway
1286–1290		 c. April 1283
Tønsberg, Norway
daughter of Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland		 September/October 1290
St Margaret's Hope, Orkney
aged 7		 Granddaughter of Alexander III through his daughter

First Interregnum (1286–1292)

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The First Interregnum began upon the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286. Alexander's only surviving descendant was his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway, a young child, who inherited the throne in 1286. A set of guardians were appointed to rule Scotland in her absence since she was living in Norway where her father Eric II was king. She was finally sent to Scotland in 1290 but died before arriving in Scotland. The next king of Scots was not determined until completion of an arbitration in 1292.

House of Balliol (1292–1296)

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The death of Margaret of Norway began a two-year interregnum in Scotland caused by a succession crisis. With her death, the descent of William I became extinct and there was no obvious heir. Thirteen candidates presented themselves; the most prominent were John Balliol, great-grandson of William I's younger brother David of Huntingdon, and Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, grandson of David of Huntingdon. The Scottish magnates invited Edward I of England to arbitrate the claims. He did so but forced the Scots to swear allegiance to him as their overlord. Eventually, it was decided that John Balliol should become king. He proved weak and incapable and, in 1296, was forced to abdicate by Edward I. Edward then attempted to annex Scotland into the Kingdom of England.

Name Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Death Dynastic status
John Balliol[59]
Toom Tabard ("Empty Cloak")
(Iain Balliol)
1292–1296		 c. 1249 Isabella de Warenne
9 February 1281
at least one son

c. 25 November 1314
Picardy,