Monday, October 27
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Some of Scots Law is influenced by Roman law, and English Commonlaw
Some are pre-Roman influenced. Closely resemble old laws from India. Things on periphery tend
to be more conservative.
Ritual sacrifice of kings (at least in literature) if fir flathemon is broken. Social order is
maintained through fir flathemon.
Crith Gablach → Tract on status in ascending order
Early Gaelic society very hierarchical
Shows that tradition of king of Scots did not begin with Canmore dynasty
Feis Temro → Feast of Tara. Stone of Fal at Tara is similar to the Stone of Destiny.
Similar ceremonies in India
Last King to celebrate Feis Temro is said to have been Diarmaid mac Cerbaill in 560 AD.
Derbhfhine/derbfine is an important aspect of the kinship group for inheritance. Included all the
male members of family stemming from the same great grandfather. New kings or tribal leaders
selected from within the derbfine
o Gives equal right of inheritance to the male members of a kingroup (tanistry)
Not clear if Mac Alpins formally followed Gaelic laws of inheritance but it would be probable
In some provinces, they asserted independence from time to time. It seems that in some Pictish
kingdoms a Dalriadic family provided the king/mormaer.
Possible that MacBeth’s reign was the time of unification of northern and southern Alba. Must
have been a strong king. Ruled for 17 years.
Tuesday, October 28
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After Aed, there was no king who was succeeded by his brother and kingship alternated
between cousins of two branches
Method of succession is a facet of Gaelic kinship patterns.
o Derbfine in particular
New king was acclaimed on Stone of Scone, symbolic marriage to people and land of Alba
3rd royal line added
Malcolm II wanted his daughter’s son Duncan to succeed him and had the heir of the other line
killed
Duncan I reigned for 6 years before being killed in battle by MacBeth
MacBeth was married to Kenneth III’s granddaughter, Gruach, which strengthened his claim
Both Duncan and MacBeth had similar claims to the throne but both of them were usurpers as
they broke the pattern of alternating succession.
Malcolm killed MacBeth’s step-son, Lulach, grandson of Kenneth III in order to avoid further
claims of traditional co-lateral line, and establish the royal house of Atholl.
Atholl is where Dunkeld is. Malcolm III’s mother was married to the lay abbot of Dunkeld.
Border between Scotland and England as it is now was established under Malcolm II in the 11th
Century
Lothian had been somewhat in contention between Alba and Northumbria but was finally
acquired in 1018 by Malcolm II who defeated the Northumbrians at Carlisle
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The kings of England abandoned to the Scots the northern most part of Northumbria to
maintain their hold of the rest of England
Kingdom of Alba was mostly Gaelic but now included some people of Anglo-Saxon speech
At about the same time, the king of Strathclyde died.
Malcolm’s grandson, Duncan II, succeeded to Strathclyde possibly due to a dynastic connection
But Strathclyde is essentially no longer Cumbrian as it was under control of the earl of
Northumbria
Kingdom when Duncan came to power included Pictland, Scotland, Lothian, and large parts of
Cumbrian Strathclyde
o Almost modern Scotland
Viking period runs from about 790-1080
o Period of major movement and influence of Norse
Important sources include annals of Ulster and Saga of the Orkneys, archaeology, place names,
influence of Norse languages
Vikings began to make themselves known through coastal raids
Lindisfarne gospels were said to be lost in the sea but washed ashore and were saved
795 Iona was raided along with monasteries in Ireland
More raids in Hebrides in 798, also Ulster. Iona raided continuously and many monks and the
abbot Blathmacc were killed (he would not reveal the location of Columba’s shrine)
Manuscripts, especially illuminated ones were very valuable
Thursday, October 30th
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Difference between viking and Norse: Viking refers to the activity of raiding, Norse is the actual
culture
Orkneyinga Saga and Saga of Laxdalen are important sources for Viking raids in Scotland from
Norse perspective
Ketil Flatnose says he prefers to go to Scotland because the living was good and he had raided
extensively
Norse began to settle permanently in Shetland, Orkney and Caithness. Norse earldom (jarl)
established in Orkney
Southern borders of earl of Orkney extended to mainland, now Sutherland (Sudrland)
Earldom was gradually weakened, feuds by 892. But later regained its former standing under
Sigurd the Stout who brought Western Isles under his control and challenged Brian Boru at the
Battle of Clontarf (unsuccessfully) in 1014.
Dublin had been a Viking town since 853
Orkney’s power was challenged after this by Norway’s king Magnus Barelegs, who brought the
area under his control until the Battle of Largs in 1213
Norse kingdom included almost all of the islands West of Scotland
Earliest hoards probably hidden from Vikings by Picts or Scots. Owners may have been killed and
therefore never returned for their possessions
Later hoards probably made by Vikings themselves
Norse assimilated and adopted Christianity (absence of grave goods)
Level of settlement in the northern isles not found anywhere else in Scotland
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Viking age considered over by 9th century, but power of Northern isles continued and areas
under Norse control began to think of themselves as distant groups
Norse language in Northern Isles developed into Norn
By 11th and 12th centuries Gaelic ruling class in Western isles was of mixed Celtic and Norse
heritage: Gall-Gaedhil
James III was not paid dowry for Margaret of Denmark so was given northern isles in 15th
century
Monday, November 3
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MacMalcolm kings 1058-1290
o Period of growing English influence and feudalism
Malcolm III married Ingibjorg, the widow of an Orkney earl called Thorfinn
Thorfinn had been an ally of MacBeth. Malcolm’s marriage neutralized the threat of the Norse,
and the potential for internal dissent in Moray
Ingibjorg died in 1069, and Malcolm insisted on marrying Margaret who was the sister of Edgar
the Atheling who had fled to Scotland after the Norman invasion. Three of their sons ruled
successively as kings of Scots. Internal squabbles over succession in 1093.
Siward replaced Tostig of Wessex. But there was a revolt and Northumbria became unstable
Malcolm invades Northumbria several times
Tuesday, November 4th
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Domhnall Ban becomes king
o He had been raised in the Gaelic West after MacBeth killed his father Duncan
o Was successful in raising a powerful fleet, taking the throne and gaining support of
leading Gaelic magnates
 Probably a reaction to Anglo-Norman influences in Scotland under Malcolm III
and Margaret
Expelled English from Scotland including his nephews except Edmund who was allied with him
Edmund held sway over Lothian and Strathclyde
Domhnall controlled further north, suggesting that the north was still the heartland of Gaelic
Scotland
Likely that Edmund was chosen by Domhnall as his successor
First rival to the throne was Duncan, son of Malcolm III and Ingibjorg. He had sworn fealty to
William Rufus hoping for support in overthrowing Domhnall. Successful in 1094, became Duncan
II, but lost throne by the end of the year
o Native Scots rebelled against his rule
o Had been accepted by magnates on the condition that he not keep Angles or Normans
in the country or allow them to perform military services for him.
Domhnall Ban restored as king and rules until 1097.
William Rufus sends a 2nd army north led by Edgar
Edgar gains throne but does not feel secure until Domhnall Ban was captured. He spent the rest
of his life blind and in captivity but was buried on Iona (last king buried there)
Edmund spent the rest of his life as a monk
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Edgar is supported by kings of England. Was forced to recognize Norse claim to Northern and
Western Isles. Died childless in 1107 and was succeeded by his brother Alexander. Alexander
was succeeded by youngest brother David.
David I brings about a new epoch in kingdom of Scotland → feudalism
o Anglo-Norman colonization
New Anglo-Norman families rise to great power in medieval Scotland
Between 1050-1150 Normans become masters of England, Scotland, Wales, Sicily and Ireland.
Scottish MacMalcolm kings were vassals of Anglo-Norman kings of England. “Granted” territory
of Scotland
Technically Scotland was never part of Norman empire. French was never adopted as an official
language.
David held wide estates in the middle of England through marriage to Matilda as well as on his
own
Intrusion of Anglo-French, Norman, Breton and Flemish barons between Cheviot mountains and
Clyde-Forth line. As well as some in Fife and Moray (after 1130)
Robert de Brus originated from West Normandy and was given Annandale in return for service
Walter fitz Allan was the younger son of a Breton knight who joined David’s service and was
made steward of his household. Given lordship of Renfrew and Ayrshire. Forefather of Stewart
line.
o Brought followers with him including Richard Wallace who had been a sergeant in
Shropshire
Thursday, November 6th
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Norman influence: feudal system, governing by royal castles and burghs, sheriffs, knight-service
baronies, justiciars
Latest currents of intellectual and religious life in Western Christendom
Strength and new direction to ancient Scottish kingship
o Created/made possible medieval Scottish kingdom which endured until 1638, despite
disastrous defeat at Battle of Flodden in 1415, pressures of reformation, and union of
crowns in 1603.
Several Anglo-Norman families settled in highlands → Frasier, Sinclair
David I created many royal burghs and sheriffdoms in an attempt to extend his authority. Burgh
acts as a kind of town, but held a royal charter granting them a monopoly on industry and trade.
Were an important source of income for the crown through tariffs and taxes
Burgh was often caput of a sheriff, making it a sheriffdom. Burghs had their own laws. There was
a need for someone to uphold the king’s authority in the surrounding countryside. Sheriff held
court in the king’s name and dealth with civil cases, criminal charges, military matters. Also
administered the king’s estates and collected taxes.
Sheriffs chosen from among high ranking Anglo-Normans
Burghs established under David I: Edinburgh, Sterling, Dumfermline, Perth, Scone, etc
Sheriffdoms: Edinburgh, Sterling, Perth, etc.
Sheriffs replaced thanes. Thane was a royal officer, first introduced under Malcolm II, AngloSaxon in origin. System of local government dividing the country into manageable parts.
Very similar to later sheriffs; managed royal estates (thanages), military matters, justice, taxes
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Some thanages were granted to Anglo-Norman settlers or Gaelic nobility. A few became the
caputs of sheriffs
Justiciar was an officer of the crown who went on twice yearly circuits of the countryside of
their jurisdiction and tried serious crimes such as arson, robbery, murder and rape. Supervised
work of sheriffs and heard appeals. At first there were only two justiciars: one north of Forth
and one for Lothian. Later one added for Galloway.
David’s eldest son was Henry. Collateral succession replaced by primogeniture. Henry died
before David, so Henry’s son Malcolm became Malcolm IV at the age of 11. Died at 23.
Succeeded by his brother William (the Lion) who expanded feudalism, sheriffdoms and network
of castles. Second phase of feudalism. Policy of extension of royal control into provinces by
granting large estates to key Anglo-Norman families, which would equal native earls in all but
rank.
Attempted to regain Northumbria. Invaded northern England. Was taken prisoner by English
forces. Taken to Henry II with his feet shackled beneath his horse. From there to Normandy
where a treaty was made in 1174 which secured release of William in return for
acknowledgement of Henry’s feudal superiority. Feudal subjugation lasted 15 years, at Henry II’s
death.