Máel Coluim mac Cinaeda (; anglicised Malcolm II; (c.958 – 25 November 1034)Skene, Chronicles, pp. 99–100. was King of Alba (Scotland) from 1005 until his death in 1034.Malcolm's birth date is not known, but must have been around 980 if the Flateyjarbók is right in dating the marriage of his daughter and Sigurd Hlodvisson (Sigurd the Stout) to the lifetime of Olaf Tryggvason.Early Sources, p. 528, quoting Olaf Tryggvason's Saga. He was one of the longest-reigning Scottish Kings of that period.
He was a son of Cinaed mac Maíl Choluim or King Kenneth II, and The Prophecy of Berchán (which referred to him as Forranach, "the Destroyer") says his mother was "a woman of Leinster".Anderson, Early Sources, pp. 574–575. His mother may have been a daughter of a Uí Dúnlainge King of Leinster.
To the Irish annals, which recorded his death, Malcolm was ard rí Alban, High King of Scotland, but his fellow Kings of the geographical area of modern Scotland included the King of Strathclyde, who ruled much of the south-west, various Norse–Gaels Kings on the western coast and the Hebrides and his nearest and most dangerous rivals, the kings or "mormaers" of Moray.Higham, pp. 226–227, notes that the Kings of the English had neither lands nor mints north of the Tees.
Since he did not have any surviving sons, Malcolm pursued a strategy of marrying his daughters into these regional dynasties, which helped create stability in his reign, and ensured that he became the grandfather of his successor Duncan I of Scotland, through his daughter Bethóc, and according to some sources, of Macbeth, King of Scotland, (about whom William Shakespeare later wrote the play Macbeth), through his daughter Donada. Later Scandinavian saga tradition claims that the mother of Earl Thorfinn the Mighty was a daughter of Malcolm, though the Malcolm in question may have been Máel Coluim of Moray.
Early years and path to the throne Malcolm II was the son of Kenneth II and grandson of Malcolm I. Fourteenth century Scottish chronicler John of Fordun writes that Malcolm defeated a Norwegian army "in almost the first days after his coronation", but this is not reported elsewhere. Fordun says that the Bishopric of Mortlach (later moved to Aberdeen) was founded in thanks for this victory over the Norwegians.Early Sources, p. 525 note 1; Fordun, IV, xxxix–xl.
Succession of Scottish kings at the time often involved murder, even patricide. The killer of Scottish King Constantine III in 997 is credited as being "Kenneth, son of Malcolm". Since Kenneth II died in 995, this is considered an error, for either Kenneth III, (grandson of Malcolm I), who succeeded Constantine and stood to benefit, but by John of Fordham, for Malcolm II himself.Anderson, Early Sources, pp. 517–518. John of Fordun has Malcolm II as the killer, whereas later historian Duncan credits Kenneth MacDuff with Constantine's death.
Whether Malcolm killed Constantine or not, he certainly killed Constantine's successor Kenneth III in 1005, during a battle at Monzievaird in Strathearn.Chronicon Scotorum, s.a. 1005; Early Sources, pp. 521–524; Fordun, IV, xxxviii. Berchán places Cináed's death by the Earn.
Raids into Bernicia The first reliable report of Malcolm II's reign is an attack in 1006 of territory under the Northumbrian rulers of Bamburgh (the lands between the River Forth and the River Tees, roughly ancient Bernicia), perhaps the customary crech ríg (literally royal prey, a raid by a new King made to demonstrate prowess in war), which involved a siege of Durham. This resulted in a heavy defeat to the Northumbrians, led by Uhtred of Bamburgh, ruler of Bamburgh and ealdorman of Northumbria, which is reported by the Annals of Ulster.Duncan, pp. 27–28; Smyth, pp. 236–237; Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1006.
A second war against the Northumbrian English, probably in 1018, was more successful. The Battle of Carham, by the River Tweed, was a victory for the Scots led by Malcolm II and the men of Strathclyde led by their king, Owain Foel (Owen the Bald). By this time Eiríkr Hákonarson had been appointed ealdorman in Northumbria by his brother-in-law Cnut the Great, with limited in practice to the south around York, the former kingdom of Deira.Duncan, pp. 28-29 suggests that Earl Uhtred may not have died until 1018. Fletcher accepts that he died in Spring 1016 and that Eadwulf Cudel was ruler in Bernicia when Carham was fought in 1018; Higham, pp. 225–230, agrees. Smyth, pp. 236–237 reserves judgment as to the date of the battle, 1016 or 1018, and whether Uhtred was still living when it was fought. See also Stenton, pp. 418–419 and Daly pp. 53–57.
The twelfth-century tract known as De obsessione Dunelmi (The siege of Durham, associated with Symeon of Durham) claims that Uhtred's brother Eadwulf Cudel surrendered Lothian to Malcolm II, possibly in the aftermath of the defeat at Carham. Some other lands between Dunbar and the Tweed as other parts of Lothian may have been under Scots control before this time.Anderson, Early Sources, p. 544 note 6; Higham, pp. 226–227.
Relationships with neighbouring states Malcolm demonstrated a rare ability to survive among early Scottish Kings by reigning for 29 years. Brehon tradition provided that the successor to Malcolm was to be selected by him from among the descendants of King Aedh (Áed mac Cináeda), King of the Picts, with the consent of Malcolm's ministers and of the Church. Perhaps in an attempt to end the devastating feuds in the north of Scotland, and influenced by the Norman model, Malcolm ignored tradition and was determined to retain succession within his own line. Since Malcolm had no son of his own, he negotiated a series of dynastic marriages of his daughters to men who might otherwise be his rivals, while securing the loyalty of their relatives, the principal chiefs. The throne passed to his grandson through his eldest daughter.
Dynastic marriages of his daughters Although the identity of Malcolm's wives and queens are unknown, he did have at least one and probably three daughters. Malcolm married his eldest daughter Bethóc to Crínán of Dunkeld, head of what became the house of Atholl or Dunkeld dynasty and later Abbot of Dunkeld. Malcolm may have had another daughter, possibly named Donada, who married Finlay, ruler of Moray, father of Macbeth, later King of Scotland. Later Scandinavian saga tradition claims that the mother of Earl Thorfinn the Mighty was a daughter of Malcolm, though the Malcolm in question may have been Máel Coluim of Moray.
Sources of the Macbeth connection Fourteenth century Scottish chronicler and poet Andrew of Wyntoun suggests that "a third daughter" of Malcolm married Findláech of Moray, (Findláech mac Ruaidrí), father of Macbeth, King of Scotland, (Macbethad mac Findláech), which would make Malcolm to be Macbeth's grandfather.Hudson, pp. 224–225 discusses the question and the reliability of Andrew of Wyntoun's chronicle, on which this rests.
The only other early reference to Malcolm as Macbeth's grandfather is Raphael Holinshed's 1577 Chronicle of Scotland, an inspiration to William Shakespeare, which names "Doada" as a daughter of Malcolm II King of Scotland, and adds that she married "Sinell the thane of Glammis, by whom she had issue one Makbeth".
Seventeenth century historian Frederic Van Bossen only lists two daughters, one whom he calls "Beatrice, who married Albanacht the son of Crinan", and the other as "Daboada, who was the mother of Macbeth, and the wife of Finell, the Thane of Angus and Glames and the son of Cruthneth".
Relationship with Cnut The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that Cnut The Great (Canute) led an army into Scotland on his return from a pilgrimage to Rome. The Chronicle dates this to 1031, but there are reasons to suppose that it should be dated to 1027.ASC, Ms D, E and F; Duncan, pp. 29-30. Contemporary Burgundian chronicler Rodulfus Glaber recounts the expedition soon afterward, describing Malcolm as "powerful in resources and arms ... very Christian in faith and deed."Early Sources, pp. 545–546. Rodulfus claims that peace was made between Malcolm and Cnut through the intervention of Richard, Duke of Normandy, brother of Cnut's wife Emma. Richard died circa 1027 and Rodulfus wrote close in time to the events.Ralph was writing in 1030 or 1031; Duncan, p. 31.
Cnut came away only with a promise of peace and friendship, rather than the guarantee of aid on land and sea that previous kings such as Edgar and others had obtained. Contemporary sources say that Malcolm was accompanied by one or two other kings, certainly future King Mac Bethad, and perhaps Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, King of Mann and the Isles, and of Galloway.Duncan, pp. 29–30. St. Olaf's Saga, c. 1031 says "two kings came south from Fife in Scotland" to meet Cnut, suggesting only Malcolm and Mac Bethad, and that Cnut returned their lands and gave them gifts. That Echmarcach was king of Galloway is perhaps doubtful; the Annals of Ulster record the death of Suibne mac Cináeda, rí Gall-Gáedel ("King of Galloway") by Tigernach, in 1034. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle remarks of the submission "but he [Malcolm] adhered to that for only a little while".ASC, Ms. D, s.a. 1031. Cnut was soon occupied in Norway against Olaf Haraldsson and appears to have had no further involvement with Scotland.
Modern historian Duncan speculates that the quarrel between Cnut and Malcolm may have had its roots in Cnut's pilgrimage to Rome, and the coronation of Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II, where Cnut and Rudolph III, King of Burgundy had the place of honour. If Malcolm were present, and the repeated mentions of his piety in the annals make it quite possible that he made a pilgrimage to Rome, then the coronation could have allowed Malcolm to publicly snub Cnut's claims to overlordship.Duncan, pp. 31-32; the alternative, he notes, that Cnut was concerned about support for Olaf Haraldsson, "is no better evidenced."
Relationship with Orkney and Moray
Malcolm may also have married a daughter named Donada to Findláech of Moray (Findláech Mac Ruaidrí) and Macbeth, King of Scotland is presumed to be their son. Scandinavian saga tradition also claims that the mother of Earl Thorfinn the Mighty of Orkney was a daughter of Malcolm. However, as modern historian Duncan tells it, even if Malcolm exercised some control over Moray, the annals record several events pointing to a struggle for power in the north. Irish sources record that in 1020, Bethad mac Findláech's, (later known as Macbeth, King of Scotland), father Findláech mac Ruaidrí was killed by the sons of his brother Máel Brigte, and thatAnnals of Tigernach, s.a. 1020; Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1020, but the killers are not named. The Annals of Ulster and the Book of Leinster call Findláech "king of Scotland". Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti (Máel Coluim of Moray) took control of Moray. His death is reported in 1029.Annals of Ulster and Annals of Tigernach, s.a. 1029. Malcolm's death is not said to have been by violence and he too is called king rather than mormaer.