LIST OF MONARCHS OF SCOTLAND

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The 'monarch of Scotland' was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, the first 'King of Scots' was Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín), who founded the state in 843, although this is no longer taken seriously by historians. The distinction between the Kingdom of Alba/Scotland and the Kingdom of the Picts is rather the product of later medieval myth and confusion from a change in nomenclature, i.e. ''Rex Pictorum'' (King of the Picts) becomes ''ri Alban'' (King of Alba) under Donald II when annals switched from Latin to vernacular around the end of the 9th century, by which time the word Alba in Gaelic had come to refer to the Kingdom of the Picts rather than Britain (its older meaning).
The Kingdom of the Picts just became known as Kingdom of Alba in Gaelic, which later became known in English as ''Scotland''; the terms are retained in both languages to this day. By the late 11th century at the very latest, Scottish kings were using the term ''rex Scotorum'', or King of Scots, to refer to themselves in Latin. The title of ''King of Scots'' fell out of use in 1707 when the Kingdom of Scotland merged with the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Thus Queen Anne became the last monarch of Scotland (and concurrently, the last monarch of England) and the first monarch of Great Britain. The two kingdoms had shared a monarch since 1603 (see Union of the Crowns), and Charles II was the last Scottish monarch to actually be crowned in Scotland, at Scone in 1651.

Contents

Style

Houses

List of monarchs of Scotland

Late Pictish kings

MacAlpin dynasty, 889-1034

MacAlpin dynasty, 1034-1286

Balliol and Bruce Dynasties

Stewart Dynasty

Early Stewart Dynasty: 1371-1567

Late Stewart Dynasty: 1567 onwards

Jacobite Claimants

Notes

References

See also

Style

Main articles: Style of the monarchs of Scotland

By the twelfth century, Scotland's monarchs were using both the style ''rex Scottorum'', king of the ''Scots'' and ''rex Scotiae'', king of Scotland, in Latin documents. This continued until the 17th century; the last three monarchs before the Act of Union only used the style King or Queen of Scotland. In the high Middle Ages, the vernacular style seems to have continued to be ''rí Alban'' or ''Ard rí Alban'', King of Scotland or High King of Scotland.

Houses

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 grandson Gabrán mac Domangairt and brother Loarn mac Eirc. 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 portraits of Scotland's past and present rulers for Holyrood Palace, the series began with Fergus Mór.

List of monarchs of Scotland

Late Pictish kings

Main articles: List of Kings of the Picts

Portrait	Traditional modern English regnal name	Gaelic name	Modern Gaelic name	Reign	Title	Nickname
	Kenneth I	Cináed mac Ailpín Ciniod m. Ailpin	Coinneach mac Ailpein[1]	848-858	Rex Pictorum ("King of the Picts")	An Ferbasach, "The Conqueror"[2]
-	Donald I	Domnall mac Ailpín	Dòmhnall mac Ailpein	858–862	Rex Pictorum ("King of the Picts")
	Constantine I	Causantín mac Cináeda	Còiseam mac Choinnich	862–877	Rex Pictorum ("King of the Picts")	An Finn-Shoichleach, "The Wine-Bountiful"[3]
-	Áed	Áed mac Cináeda	Aodh mac Choinnich	877–878	Rex Pictorum ("King of the Picts")
-	Giric	Giric mac Dúngail	Griogair mac Dhunghail	878–889		Mac Rath, "Son of Fortune"[4]

MacAlpin dynasty, 889-1034

Portrait	Traditional modern English regnal name	Medieval Gaelic name	Modern Gaelic name	Reign	Title	Nickname
	Donald II	Domnall mac Causantín	Dòmhnall mac Chòiseim	889–900	Rí Alban ("King of Scotland")	Dásachtach, the "Madman" or "Psycho"[5]
	Constantine II	Causantín mac Áeda	Còiseam mac Aoidh	900–943	Rí Alban	An Midhaise, "the Middle Aged".[6]
	Malcolm I	Máel Coluim mac Domnaill	Maol Chaluim mac Dhòmhnaill	943–954	Rí Alban	An Bodhbhdercc, "the Dangerous Red"[7]
	Indulf	Ildulb mac Causantín[8]	N/A	954–962	Rí Alban	An Ionsaighthigh, "the Aggressor"[9]
-	Dub (Dubh or Duff)	Dub mac Maíl Choluim	Dubh mac Mhaoil Chaluim	962–967	Rí Alban	Dén, "the Vehement"[10]
-	Cuilén	Cuilén mac Ilduilb	Cailean	967–971	Rí Alban	An Fionn, "the White"[11]
-	Amlaíb	Amlaíb mac Ilduilb	Amhlaigh	973x –977	Rí Alban
	Kenneth II	Cináed mac Maíl Choluim	Coinneach mac Mhaoil Chaluim	971 x 977–995	Rí Alban	An Fionnghalach, "The Fratricide"[12]
	Constantine III	Causantín mac Cuiléin	Còiseam mac Chailein	995–997	Rí Alban
	Kenneth III	Cináed mac Duib	Coinneach mac Dhuibh	997–1005	Rí Alban	An Donn, "the Chief"/ "the Brown".[13]
	Malcolm II	Máel Coluim mac Cináeda	Maol Chaluim mac Choinnich	1005–1034	Rí Alban / Rex Scotiae	Forranach, "the Destroyer";[14]

MacAlpin dynasty, 1034-1286

Portrait	Traditional modern English regnal name	Medieval Gaelic name	Modern Gaelic name	Reign	Title	Nickname
	Duncan I	Donnchad mac Crínáin	Donnchadh mac Chrìonain	1034–1040	Rí Alban	An t-Ilgarach, "the Diseased" or "the Sick".[15]
	Macbeth	Mac Bethad mac Findláich	MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh	1040–1057	Rí Alban	Rí Deircc, "the Red King"[16]
-	Lulach	Lulach mac Gille Comgaín	Lughlagh mac Gille Chomghain	1057–1058	Rí Alban	Tairbith, "the Unfortunate"[16] - Fatuus, "the Foolish"[18]
	Malcolm III	Máel Coluim mac Donnchada	Maol Chaluim mac Dhonnchaidh	1058–1093	Rí Alban/ Scottorum basileus	? Cenn Mór ("Canmore") "Great Chief"[19]
-	Donald III	Domnall mac Donnchada	Dòmhnall mac Dhonnchaidh	1093–1097	Rí Alban	Bán, "the Fair".
	Duncan II	Donnchad mac Maíl Choluim	Donnchadh mac Mhaoil Chaluim	1094	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum
-	Edgar	Étgar mac Maíl Choluim	Eagar mac Mhaoil Chaluim	1097–1107	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum	Probus, "the Valiant"[20]
	Alexander I	Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim	Alasdair mac Mhaoil Chaluim	1107–1124	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum	"The Fierce"[21]
	David I	Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim	Dàibhidh mac Mhaoil Chaluim	1124–1153	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum	"The Saint"[22]
	Malcolm IV	Máel Coluim mac Eanric	Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig	1153–1165	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum	"The Maiden" - Cenn Mór, "Great Chief"[23]
	William I	Uilliam mac Eanric	Uilleam mac Eanraig	1165-1214	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum	"The Lion" - Garbh, "the Rough"[24]
	Alexander II	Alaxandair mac Uilliam	Alasdair mac Uilleim	1214–1249	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum
	Alexander III	Alaxandair mac Alaxandair	Alasdair mac Alasdair	1249–1286	Rí Alban/ Rex Scottorum

Recognized as Queen (1286-90) by the Guardians of Scotland in the Treaty of Salisbury, Margaret, Maid of Norway, is sometimes in lists of Scottish monarchs even though as she never set foot in Scotland and was never crowned at Scone.

Balliol and Bruce Dynasties

Portrait	Regnal name	Pre-regnal name	Gaelic name	Reign	Nickname
	John	John de Balliol	Iain Balliol	1292–1296	Toom Tabard, "Empty Cloak"
	Robert I	Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick	Raibeart Bruis Roibert a Briuis (medieval)	1306–1329	"The Good" "Robert the Bruce"
	David II	David de Brus	Dàibhidh Bruis	1329–1371

Stewart Dynasty

Early Stewart Dynasty: 1371-1567

Portrait	Regnal name	Pre-regnal name	Gaelic name	Reign	Nickname
	Robert II	Robert Stewart, Earl of Strathearn	Raibeart II Stiùbhairt Roibert II Sdíbhard (medieval)	1371 – 1390	"The Steward"
	Robert III	John Stewart, Earl of Carrick	Raibeart III Stiùbhairt Roibert III Sdíbhard (medieval)	1390–1406	"An Righ Bhacaigh" "the Lame King"[25]
	James I	James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Seumas I Stiùbhairt	1406/24–1437
	James II	James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Seumas II Stiùbhairt	1437–1460
	James III	James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Seumas III Stiùbhairt	1460–1488
	James IV	James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Seumas IV Stiùbhairt	1488–1513
	James V	James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Seumas V Stiùbhairt	1513–1542
	Mary I	Mary Stuart	Mairi Stiùbhairt	1542–1567

Late Stewart Dynasty: 1567 onwards

Portrait	Regnal name	Pre-regnal name	Gaelic name	Reign	Notes
	James VI	James Stewart, Duke of Albany and Rothesay	Seumas VI Stiùbhairt	July 29 1567–March 27 1625	Also King of England and Ireland from March 24, 1603.
	Charles I	Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay and York	Teàrlach I Stiùbhairt	March 27, 1625–January 30, 1649	Also King of England and Ireland.
	Charles II	Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay and Cornwall	Teàrlach II Stiùbhairt	1660 (1649)–1685	Also King of England and Ireland.
	James VII	James Stuart, Duke of Albany and York	Seumas VII Stiùbhairt	February 6, 1685–1688	Also King of England and Ireland. Deposed.
	Mary II	Mary Stuart	Mairi II Stiùbhairt	1689–1694 ''with William II until 1694''	Also Queen of England and Ireland
	William II	Willem Hendrik, Prince of Orange	Uilleam Orains	1689–1702 ''with Mary II until 1694''	Also King of England and Ireland; Stadtholder of Guelders, Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Overijssel.
	Anne	Anne Stuart	Anna Stiùbhairt	March 8, 1702–May 1, 1707	Also Queen of England and Ireland. Scotland ceased to exist as a sovereign kingdom in 1707, and Anne continued on as Queen of Great Britain until her death on August 1, 1714.

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.

Jacobite Claimants

★ James VIII (Seumas VIII), also known as ''The Old Pretender'', son of James VII, was claimant from 1701 until his death in 1766.

★ Charles III (Teàrlach III), also known as ''The Young Pretender'' and often called ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'', son of James VIII, was claimant from his father's death until his own death in 1788.

★ Henry I (Eanraig I), brother of Charles III and youngest son of James VIII. Died in 1807 without offspring.

★ After 1807, the Jacobite claims passed first to the House of Savoy (1807–1840), then to the Modenese branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine (1840–1919), and finally to the House of Bavaria (since 1919). The current heir is Franz, Duke of Bavaria. Neither he nor any of his predecessors since 1807 have pursued their claim.

Notes

1. Properly speaking, Coinneach should actually be Cionaodh, since Coinneach is historically a separate name. However, in the modern language, both names have converged.
2. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 83.
3. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 85.
4. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 87.
5. Hudson, ''Celtic Kings'', p. 58.
6. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 91; Hudson, ''Celtic Kings'', p. 65.
7. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 93.
8. His name is a Gaelicization of the Norse name Hildufr (or perhaps English Eadulf); it occurs in various contemporary Gaelic forms, such as ''Iondolbh'', found in the the ''Duan Albanach''; Ildulb is used because by some historians because it correctly represents the name ''Hildulfr'' in Gaelic orthography; Eadwulf would perhaps be Idulb, hence that form is also used sometimes. The name never came into wider use in the Scottish world, or the Gaelic world more generally, and has no modern form. The name "Indulf" is a spelling produced by later medieval French influence; Hudson, ''Celtic Kings'', p, 89.
9. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 94.
10. ''Duan Albanach'', 23 here; as Dub means "Black", "Dub the Black" is tautologous.
11. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 95.
12. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 96.
13. Former probable because later English (speaking) sources called him "Grim"; Old Irish ''donn'' has similar meaning to Old Irish ''greimm'', which means "power" or "authority"; see Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 98; Hudson, ''Celtic Kings'', p. 105.
14. Skene, ''Chronicles'', pp. 99-100.
15. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 101.
16. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 102.
17. Skene, ''Chronicles'', p. 102.
18. Anderson, ''Early Sources'', vol. i, p. 603.
19. This name was probably only originally applied to Mael Coluim IV, Mael Coluim III's grandson, and then later confused; see Duncan, '' Kingship of the Scots'', pp. 51–52, 74–75; Oram, ''David I'', p. 17, note 1. Cenn Mór certainly means "great chief" rather than "big head", as sometimes thought.
20. Anderson, ''Early Sources'', vol. ii, p. 141.
21. This nickname however is not attested for another three centuries, in the work of Andrew of Wyntoun.
22. Later nickname. Latin ''Sanctus'' also means simply "Holy". David was never canonised.
23. See Duncan, '' Kingship of the Scots'', pp. 51–52, 74–75; Oram, ''David I'', p. 17, note 1. Cenn Mór certainly means "great chief" rather than "big head", as sometimes thought.
24. Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1214.6; Annals of Loch Cé, s.a. 1213.10.
25. E.g. ''Annals of the Four Masters'', s.a. 1425.5. This epithet was later applied to his father, Robert II, in Gaelic tradition.

References

★ Anderson, Alan Orr, ''Early Sources of Scottish History: AD 500–1286'', 2 Vols, (Edinburgh, 1922)

★ Hudson, Benjamin T., ''Kings of Celtic Scotland'', (Westport, 1994)

★ Skene, W. F. (ed.), ''Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots and other Early Memorials of Scottish History'', (Edinburgh, 1867)

See also

★ British monarchy

★ Scottish monarchs family tree

★ List of Kings of the Picts

★ List of regnal numerals of future British monarchs

★ Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland

★ List of Queens of Scotland

★ List of monarchs of the British Isles by cause of death

★ Idi Amin (self-proclaimed "last king of Scotland")