Duncan and Edgar

Duncan II

Duncan II was the son of Malcom III and his first wife, he was named for his grandfather, Duncan I. He was given into the keeping of William the Conqueror in 1072 as a hostage and spent some time living in England.

Quick Facts:
Born:  1060
Died:  1094
Reign:  1094
Parents: Malcom III and Ingibiorg Finnsdottir
Predecessor:  Donald III
Successor:  Donald III
Spouse: Ethelreda of Northumbria
Children: William Fitz Duncan
Royal House:  Dunkeld

Unlike the other Scottish kings of this period, Duncan was raised in the Anglo-Norman court of William I and was trained as a Norman knight, participating in William’s campaigns. He was released from custody and officially knighted by William’s oldest son Robert Curthose who would go on to rule the Duchy of Normandy. Despite being released, Duncan chose to join the court of William’s successor in England. It would appear that his family didn’t attempt to negotiate Duncan’s return, likely because his father had other sons that could be named as heir.

By 1092, Scotland’s king and Duncan’s father, Malcom III was engaged in an ongoing campaign against William II. William captured Carlisle and began to construct a castle there, which led to Malcom invading Northumberland. It was during this battle that he and his son Edward were killed, allowing Duncan to lay claim to the throne. At the news of Malcom’s death, his younger brother Donald seized power, however, Duncan had the support of the English king and his armies at his disposal.

As a way to further cement his relationship, Duncan married Ethelreda the daughter of the Earl of Northumbria, the pair had a son known as William Fitz Duncan who would go on to have pivotal roles in other reigns.

Reign and death

Donald III was unable to gain the support of certain officials, which allowed Duncan to step in. He led an army in an invasion of Scotland, meeting Donald’s troops and overpowering them. Duncan was crowned king at Scone but his authority did not extend north of the River Forth and he was deemed to be far too reliant on the support of the Anglo-Normans. Bowing under pressure, Duncan sent away William’s borrowed troops, which left him at a disadvantage when Donald’s troops marched back into the lowlands. Duncan was ambushed and killed in battle having reigned for less than seven months.

Edgar

After the murder of Duncan, Donald retook the throne, but his younger half-brother Edgar, laid his own claim to the throne.

Quick Facts:
Born:  1074
Died: 1107
Reign:  1097 - 1107
Parents:  Malcolm III and Margaret of Wessex
Predecessor:  Donald III
Successor:  Alexander I
Spouse: None
Children: None
Royal House:  Dunkeld

Edgar was the fourth son of Malcom III and his second wife, Margaret of Wessex and was the first of this union to be considered eligible for the Scottish throne. Edgar’s claims had the support of his brothers Alexander and David, though his older half brother Edmund, continued to support their uncle Donald.

Much like Duncan, Edgar had the support of William II, but unlike with Duncan, who had access to troops and funds, Edgar’s plans were halted by William dealing with his own rebellion against the Earl of Northumbria, Duncan’s father in law. Edgar Aetheling, Edgar’s uncle, alongside William II lent the support that he needed to defeat Donald.

Despite a hard won campaign to win the throne, Edgar’s time as king is barely recorded. It is known that he signed a treaty with the King of Norway to set a boundary between Scotland and Norway, which led him to cede claims to the Hebrides and Kintyre. He died in Edinburgh in January 1107 and as he remained unmarried and childless, he would name his brother Alexander as his successor.

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