Malcolm III, king of Scots

Also known as:

Mael Coluim Ceann Mór. “Ceann Mór” means “Big Head”. The name is not attested before the thirteenth century.

Malcolm Canmore.

Máel Coluim mac Donnchada.

Malcolm became king after killing Macbeth and Macbeth’s stepson, Lulach. Malcolm appears as a character in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth.

Events

Date of Birth: about 1030 - 1035.

Place of Birth: unknown.

The estimated date is given by Baldwin.

Date of Death: 13 November 1093.

Place of Death: north of Alnwick, in Northumbria.

The date and place are given by Barrow.

Place of Burial: Tynemouth Priory, then Dunfermline.

This information is given by Barrow and Baldwin.

Relationships

Father: Duncan I, king of Scots.

This relationship is given by Barrow, by Woolf, and by Baldwin.

Mother: Suthen.

The name is given by Baldwin.

Spouse: Ingibjorg Finnsdóttir, widow of Þorfinnr Sigurðarson, jarl of Orkney. Married about 1060.

This relationship is given by Barrow and Baldwin. The date is given by Barrow.

Spouse: Margaret (died 1093). Married in 1070 or 1071.

This relationship is given by Barrow and by Baldwin.

Children (by Ingibjorg Finnsdóttir):

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Most information below comes from Baldwin.)

Duncan II (died 12 November 1094). King of Scotland in 1094.

Children (by Margaret):

Edward (died November 1093).

Edmund.

Edgar (died January 1107). King of Scotland, 1097 - 1107.

Alexander I (died March or April 1124) married Sybil, daughter of Henry I of England. Alexander was king of Scotland, 1107-1124.

Æthelred, earl of Fife, abbot of Dunkeld.

David I (died 24 May 1153) married Matilda, daughter of Waltheof, earl of Northumbria. David was king of Scotland, 1124 - 1153.

Matilda (died 1 May 1118) married Henry I of England on 11 November 1100.

Mary (died 31 May 1116) married Eustace III, count of Boulogne, in 1102.

Children (mother unknown):

Domnall (died 1085).

Malcolm.

References

Baldwin, Stewart. “Máel Coluim mac Donnchada (Malcolm III)” in The Henry Project.

Barrow, G.W.S. “Malcolm III (d. 1093)” in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Woolf, Alex. From Pictland to Alba: 789 - 1070. (Edinburgh University Press, 2007).