The list of monarchs of Scotland concerns the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, the state was created by Kenneth I of Scotland in 843, however modern historiography would tend to see his grandson Constantine II of Scotland as the creator of the kingdom of Alba which became Scotland. It ceased to exist as an independent kingdom following the Acts of Union in 1707, when it was merged with the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Today, Scotland exists as one of the constituent countries and nations of the United Kingdom, alongside England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From the reign of Macbeth of Scotland, Scottish monarchs most commonly employed the style King of Scots or Queen of Scots, with the exception of the final three: William III, Mary II and Anne used the style "of Scotland" rather than "of Scots" (see Style of the monarchs of Scotland). The Gaelic styles rí Alban (King of Scotland) and ard-rí Alban (High-King of Scotland) were probably used from the time of Constantine II.
Charles II was the last monarch to be coronated in Scotland, at Scone.
Although genealogists divide the monarchs of Scotland into "Houses", based on continental European ideas of dynasties, it appears that the kings and queens of Scotland, insofar as they thought about their ultimate origins, traced their descent from Fergus Mór, the legendary founder of Dál Riata said to have flourished in the late 5th century, and from his sons Gabrán and Loarn. James VI is recorded as saying that he was a "Monarch sprunge of Ferguse race". After the Restoration of 1660, when Jacob de Wet was commissioned to produce a portraits of Scotland's past and present rulers for Holyrood Palace, the series began with Fergus Mór.
Kings of Alba edit
Kings of the Picts edit
These kings are included in most lists of Scottish rulers, but are not considered kings of Alba or Scotland by historians but rather kings of the Picts.
- Kenneth I (Modern Gaelic: Coinneach I mac Alpin; Old Gaelic: Cináed mac Ailpín) (c.843–858)
- Donald I (Domhnall I; Domnall mac Ailpín) (858–862)
- Constantine I (Causantín mac Cináeda) (862–877)
- Aed (877–878)
- Giric (Giric; Giric mac Dúngail) (878–889) Eochaid (Eochaidh; Eochu) was possibly joint ruler with Giric
- Donald II (Domhnall II; Domnall mac Causantín) (889–890)
Kings of Alba edit
These kings are treated as rulers of the gaelicised Pictish kingdom of Alba.
- Constantine II (Causantín mac Áeda) (900–943)
- Malcolm I (Calum I; Máel Coluim mac Domnaill) (943–954)
- Indulf (Indulbh; Idulb mac Causantín) (954–962)
- Dub (Dubh; Dub mac Maíl Choluim) (962–967)
- Culen (Cuilean; Cuilén mac Iduilb) (967–971)
- Kenneth II (Coinneach II; Cináed mac Maíl Choluim) (971–995)
- Constantine III (Constantin III; Causantín mac Cuilén) (995–997)
- Kenneth III (Coinneach III; Cináed mac Duib) (997–1005)
- Malcolm II (Calum II; Máel Coluim mac Cináeda) (1005–1034)
- Duncan I (Donnchadh I; Donnchad mac Crínáin) (1034–1040)
Kings of the Scots edit
From MacBeth onwards, kings used Latin styles with the meaning "king of (the) Scots" or "king of Scotland".
- MacBeth (MacBeatha; Mac Bethad mac Findláich) (1040–1057)
- Lulach (Lulach mac Gillai Comgain) (1057–1058)
- Malcolm III (Calum III; Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) (1058–1093)
- Donald III (Domhnall III; Domnall mac Donnchada) (1093–1094)
- Duncan II (Donnchadh II; Donnchad mac Maíl Choluim) (1094)
- Donald III (Domhnall III; Domnall mac Donnchada) (1094–1097)
- Edmund (Eamonn; Etmond mac Maíl Choluim) (1094–1097)
- Edgar (Eagar/Eadgar; Etgair mac Maíl Choluim) (1097–1107)
- Alexander I (Alasdair I; Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim) (1107–1124)
- Saint David I (Daibhidh I; Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim) (1124–1153)
- Malcolm IV (Calum IV; Máel Coluim mac Enric) (1153–1165)
- William I (Uilleam I; Uilliam mac Enric) (1165–1214)
- Alexander II (Alasdair II ) (1214–1249)
- Alexander III (Alasdair III) (1249–1286)
Interregnum, Invasion and the Wars of Independence edit
With the death of Alexander III in 1286, the kingdom was left with no near male heir.
- Margaret (Mairead; Maighread) (1286–1290) heir apparent at the death of Alexander III; never invested as ruler.
- Guardians of Scotland
Edward I of England was asked by the Scots to arbitrate the claims of Bruce and Balliol to the throne of Scotland, so as to avoid civil war. Edward found for Balliol.
Balliol proved to be less pliable than Edward may have hoped, and he was exiled. King John was owned by many Scots, well into the 14th century.
Robert Bruce, having killed John Comyn, had himself declared king and embarked upon a civil war and war against Edward I and later Edward II.
David II was a youth, then an exile and prisoner, and the effective government of Scotland was exercised by a series of Guardians. Edward Balliol, son of King John, attempted to take the throne, firstly on his own, later with the assistance of Edward III of England. On David's death, the throne passed to the Stewarts
The Stewart dynasty (French: Stuart; Gaelic: Stiubhart) edit
- Robert II (Raibeart II) (1371–1390)
- Robert III (Raibeart III) (1390–1406)
- James I (Seumas I) (1406–1437)
- James II (Seumas II) (1437–1460)
- James III (Seumas III) (1460–1488)
- James IV (Seumas IV) (1488–1513)
- James V (Seumas V) (1513–1542)
- Mary I (Mairi) (1542–1587)
- James VI (Seumas VI) (1587–1625), Union of the Crowns with Kingdom of England from (1603)
- Charles I (Teàrlach I) (1625–1649)
- Charles II (Teàrlach II) (1649–1685) (See also English Interregnum)
- James VII (Seumas VII) (1685–1689)
- Mary II (Màiri II) (1689–1694), co–monarch
- William II (Uilleam II) (1689–1702), co-monarch until 1694
- Anne (Anna) (1702–1714), though the Scottish throne was replaced with that of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707
From 1707, the titles King of Scots and Queen of Scots are incorrect. Hence, this list runs up to 1707; for monarchs after that date, see List of British monarchs.
References edit
 |