House of Dunkeld

The House of Dunkeld or Canmore was a dynasty of Scottish kings that ruled Scotland from 1058 to 1290.

The Dunkelds came to power after the two centuries of civil unrest under the House of Alpin. The first king of this new dynasty was Malcolm III of Scotland who determined that succession would be to the eldest son, not according to the rules of tanistry. This political decision reduced the conflicts inside the Royal family. The Dunkelds consolidated Scotlands' union and independence as a kingdom, despite several skirmishes with the neighbouring England. The fall of the House of Dunkeld began in 1286, when Alexander III died in a horse riding accident. The king had no living sons, only one three year-old granddaughter, Margaret, princess of Norway. Fearing the influence of king Eric II of Norway, her father, and another endless civil war, the Scottish nobles appealed to Edward I of England. Margaret was betrothed to the future Edward II of England, but died shortly afterwards on her arrival to Scotland.

Following the end of the Dunkelds, Scotland fell in the First Scottish War of Independence against England.

Kings of the House of Dunkeld

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 from: 1058 till: 1093 text:Malcolm III Canmore
 from: 1093 till: 1097 shift:(25,0) text:Donald III (with Edmund I)
 at: 1094  shift:(100,-5) text:Duncan II (1094 only)
 from: 1097 till: 1107 text:Edgar
 from: 1107 till: 1124 text:Alexander I
 from: 1124 till: 1153 text:David I
 from: 1153 till: 1165 text:Malcolm IV
 from: 1165 till: 1214 text:William I
 from: 1214 till: 1249 text:Alexander II
 from: 1249 till: 1286 text:Alexander III
 from: 1286 till: 1290 text:Margaret

• Malcolm III Canmore, r. 1058-1093
• Donald III, r. 1093-1094 and 1094-1097 (with Edmund I)
• Duncan II, r. 1094
• Edgar, r. 1097-1107
• Alexander I, r. 1107-1124
• David I, r. 1124-1153
• Malcolm IV, r. 1153-1165
• William I, r.1165-1214
• Alexander II, r.1214-1249
• Alexander III, r.1249-1286
• Margaret, r. 1286-1290

See also: History of Scotland – Scottish monarchs family tree