Scottish Kings: 13 Famous Monarchs of Scotland and why we remember them to this day
From Shakespearean villains to national heroes, peacemakers to warmongers, there have been many Scottish monarchs with unique legacies; some more infamous than others.
Scotland only emerged as the land we know it as today over the course of many centuries with all sorts of fascinating ancestry like the Picts, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Gaels and Britons, influencing the fabric of our culture.
For this reason, when discussing Scottish kings, it is important to acknowledge the historical nuances in terms of what constituted ‘Scotland’ or even a ‘King’ as some famous Scottish monarchs were more like tribal chiefs.
Traditionally, our kings were crowned in a ceremony involving the legendary Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace. However, it was taken to England by King Edward I and used for the coronation of English monarchs for 700 years before being returned to Scotland in 1996 (inspiring the 2008 film.)
Here are 13 Scottish kings and why we remember them even to this day.
Traditionally, our kings were crowned in a ceremony involving the legendary Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace. However, it was taken to England by King Edward I and used for the coronation of English monarchs for 700 years before being returned to Scotland in 1996 (inspiring the 2008 film.)
5. Macbeth, King of Scotland: A Shakespearean Villain (1040 - 57)
Seen as the evil tyrant of William Shakespeare’s famous play, he is portrayed as turning from a loyal general to a murderous villain who kills the old king, Duncan, and takes his throne. In real life, however, Duncan was not an old man but aged the same as Macbeth. He was also known as an ‘ineffective’ king who succumbed to Macbeth in battle (not in bed) upon invading his territory. This saw Macbeth become the new King of Scotland and his reign was largely uncontested by the masses. This allowed him to travel further than many other monarchs. According to Marianus Scotus (an Irish monk), Macbeth made a pilgrimage to Rome in 1050 where he gave money to the poor, contrary to his Shakespearean portrayal. Photo: Wellcome Collection via Look and Learn
Lulach was the son of Gruoch of Scotland from her first marriage with the Mormaer of Moray, making him the stepson of Macbeth. Known as Lulach the Fool, he is distinguished for being the first king of Scotland as coronation details are available for when he was crowned at Scone Palace. However, his reign barely lasted eight months before he was killed by Malcolm III. His legacy as a king can be summarised as he was crowned and then killed, with little else to report on. His name “Lulach” is said to originate from the Scottish Gaelic “laogh” which refers to a “little calf” - an appropriate title for such an ineffective monarch. Photo: via WikiCommons
7. Malcolm III: The ‘Great Chief’ and father of Scottish Kings (1058-93)
Malcolm III reigned long over 35 years before the dawn of the Scoto-Norman age and so was nicknamed ‘Canmore’ from the Scottish Gaelic “ceann mòr” meaning “great chief”. He was the eldest son of Duncan I and so Malcolm fled from Scotland after Macbeth killed his father and took the throne. In 1054, the Earl of Northumberland invaded Scotland with the intention to restore Malcolm to the throne. While this attack failed, another attempt three years later in Aberdeenshire saw Malcolm kill Macbeth. Malcolm went on not only to establish the Dunkeld Dynasty (which ruled over Scotland until the thirteenth century) but also to be a father to four Scottish kings; Duncan II, Edgar, Alexander I and David I. Photo: via WikiCommons
8. David I: The King that would become ‘the Saint’ (1124 - 53)
As the youngest son of King Malcolm III, David I took the throne upon the death of his brother Alexander I. As he was raised in Scottish and English courts, David was influenced by Anglo-French aesthetics and incorporated them into the Scottish court. He was also well-known for being ‘pious’ and thus founding new monasteries and granting lands to churches. When David invaded England in 1138, he was defeated at the Battle of the Standard near Northallerton, but was later granted control of Northumbria under the Treaty of Durham which recognised him as king of an independent Scotland. For his religious devotion and influential legacy, David is now recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. Photo: via WikiCommons