List of rulers of Scotland

The list of rulers of Scotland includes the sovereign heads of state of the Kingdom of Scotland (Alba) from its unification in the 9th century to 1707 when the Act of Union made it part of the Kingdom of Great Britain .

The King of the Scots from Dalriada (Dál Riata) , Kenneth MacAlpin , is traditionally at the top of the list of kings in Scotland. Through his coronation as King of the Picts in Scone around 843, he united their kingdom with that of the Gaelic Scots and thus founded the Kingdom of the Scots (Gaelic: Alba). The succession to the throne under the House of Alpin corresponded to the traditional royal election ( Tanistry ) of the Scots , which was replaced under the House of Dunkeld by the primogeniture .

Since the late 11th century, the Scottish kings were in a vassal relationship to the southern Kingdom of England . At the end of the 13th century, this led to the country being almost annexed by England, which, however, was averted by the victory of the Scots in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In 1603, the Scottish royal family was able to ascend the English throne instead, establishing a personal union between the two countries and the Kingdom of Ireland that lasted more than a hundred years . This was finally replaced in 1707 by a Realunion under the name Kingdom of Great Britain .

List of the Kings of Scotland

House Alpin

Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
Kenneth I. Cináed mac Alpín Coinneach mac Ailpein (* around 810; † 858)	841-859	Son of King Alpin II.	King of the Scots by Dál Riata . Was 843 in Scone for king of the united Picts and Scots crowned and founded the Kingdom of Alba .
Donald I. Domnall mac Alpín Dòmhnall mac Ailpein (* 812; † 862)	859-862	Brother of the predecessor
Constantine I. Causantín mac Cináed Còiseam mac Coinneach (* 836; † 877)	862-877	Son of Kenneth I.
Aedh Weißfuß Áed mac Cináed Aodh mac Coinneach († 878)	877-878	Brother of the predecessor
Eochaid Eochaid mac Run Eochaid mac Run († after 889)	878-889	Kenneth I.'s maternal grandson	King of Strathclyde. Ruled in Alba with Giric.
Giric Giric mac Dúngail Griogair mac Dhunghail († after 889)	878-889	maybe son of Donald I.	Ruled with Eochaid
Donald II. Domnall mac Causantín Dòmhnall mac Chòiseam († 900)	889-900	Son of Constantine I.
Constantine II. Causantín mac Áeda Còiseam mac Aoidh (* around 875; † 952)	900-943	Son of Aedh
Malcolm I. Máel Coluim mac Domnaill Maol Chaluim mac Dhòmhnaill († 954)	943-954	Son of Donald II.
Indulf Ildulb mac Causantín († 962)	954-962	Son of Constantine II.	Recaptured Edinburgh from the Anglo-Saxons
Dubh Dub mac Maíl Choluim Dubh mac Mhaoil Chaluim († 967)	962-967	Son of Malcolm I.	King of Strathclyde
Culen Cuilén mac Ilduilb Cailean († 971)	967-971	Son of Indulf
Kenneth II. Cináed mac Maíl Choluim Coinneach mac Mhaoil Chaluim († 995)	971-995	Son of Malcolm I.
Constantine III Causantín mac Cuilén Còiseam mac Chailein († 997)	995-997	Son of Culen
Kenneth III. Cináed mac Duib Coinneach mac Dhuibh († 1005)	997-1005	Son of Dubh
Malcolm II. Máel Coluim mac Cináeda Maol Chaluim mac Choinnich († 1034)	1005-1034	Son of Kenneth II.	Abolished the tanistry system

House Dunkeld

Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
Duncan I. Donnachad mac Crínáin Donnchadh mac Crìonain (* 1001; † 1040)	1034-1040	Maternal grandson of Malcolm II.	Son of the Abbot of Dunkeld . Killed fighting Macbeth.
Macbeth Mac Bethad mac Findláich MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh (* 1005; † 1057)	1040-1057	Maternal grandson of Malcolm II.	Son of Findláech, Mormaer from Morey. Fell fighting Malcolm, son of Duncan.
Lulach Lulach mac Gille Comgaín Lughlach mac Gille Chomghain (* around 1029; † 1058)	1057-1058	Great-grandson of Kenneth III. and stepson of Macbeth	Son of Gilla Coemgáin, Mormaer of Moray. Fell fighting Malcolm.
Malcolm III Canmore Máel Coluim mac Donnchada Maol Chaluim mac Dhonnchaidh († 1093)	1058-1093	Son of Duncan I.	Fought for the throne of the Scots from England. Turned against the Norman invaders on Britain from 1066, but was repeatedly forced to submit.
Donald III Domnall mac Donnchada Dòmhnall mac Dhonnchaidh (* 1033; † 1099)	1093-1094	Brother of the predecessor
Duncan II.Donnchad mac Maìl Choluim Donnchadh mac Mhaoil Chaluim (* 1060; † 1094)	1094	Son of Malcolm III.	Revolted against his uncle with English help and briefly took power. Was killed fighting his uncle.
Donald III Domnall mac Donnchada Dòmhnall mac Dhonnchaidh (* 1033; † 1099)	1094-1097
Edgar Étgar mac Maìl Choluim Eagar mac Mhaoil Chaluim (* 1074; † 1107)	1097-1107	Son of Malcolm III.
Alexander I. Alaxandair mac Maìl Choluim Alasdair mac Mhaoil Chaluim (* 1078; † 1124)	1107-1124	Brother of the predecessor
David I. Dabíd mac Maìl Choluim Dàibhidh mac Mhaoil Chaluim (* 1080; † 1153)	1124-1153	Brother of the predecessor	Supported Matilda's side against Stephan in the English Civil War (the Anarchy) and defeated in 1138 in the standard battle . Promoted the settlement of Anglo-Norman and Bretons in the Lowlands (including the Bruce and Steward families).
Malcolm IV. Máel Coluim mac Eanric Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig (* 1142; † 1165)	1153-1165	Grandson of the predecessor
Wilhelm I the lion Uilliam mac Eanric Uilleam mac Eanraig (* 1143; † 1214)	1165-1214	Brother of the predecessor
Alexander II. Alaxandair mac Uilliam Alasdair mac Uilleim (* 1198; † 1249)	1214-1249	Son of the predecessor
Alexander III Alaxandair mac Alaxandair Alasdair mac Alasdair (* 1241; † 1286)	1249-1286	Son of the predecessor
Margarete Maighread (* 1283; † 1290)	1286-1290	Granddaughter of the predecessor (on maternal side), daughter of King Erik II of Norway.	The “Maid of Norway” died during her crossing from Norway to Scotland.

Interregnum and struggle for independence

With the extinction of the House of Dunkeld, there was a vacancy in the succession to the Scottish throne, as several pretenders made a claim to the crown. King Edward I of England , who was called on as arbitrator, decided in 1292, following the principle of primogeniture, for the pretender of the Balliol family as the oldest relative of the old royal family.

image	Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
	John Balliol († 1313)	1292-1296	Great-great-great-grandson of David I.	Founded the Auld Alliance directed against England with France .

After King John had not proven to be the reliable vassal for King Edward I, the latter ordered the deposition of the King of Scotland. After the English victory in the Battle of Dunbar , John surrendered and abdicated. Scotland was then placed under direct English administration, which provoked the Scots' independence struggle .

Bruce House

Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
Robert I. the Bruce Roibert a Briuis Raibeart Bruis (* 1274; † 1329)	1306-1329	Great-great-great-great-grandchildren of David I.	Was crowned king in 1306. Defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and decided the War of Independence.
David II. Daibhidh a Briuis Dàibhidh Bruis (* 1324; † 1371)	1329-1333	Son of the predecessor	In 1332 Eduard Balliol was crowned the opposing king against him. Had to flee to France after the defeat at Halidon Hill (1333) .
Eduard Balliol (* 1283; † 1367)	1332-1336	Son of Johann Balliol	Was able to ascend the Scottish throne with English support after the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. Was expelled in 1338, but fought for the throne from England for a few years until he finally renounced it in 1356.
David II. Daibhidh a Briuis Dàibhidh Bruis (* 1324; † 1371)	1336-1371		Returned from exile in 1341 and was again recognized as a legitimate king. Supported France in the Hundred Years War against England. After the defeat of Neville's Cross (1346) fell into English captivity, from which he was released in 1357.

Stewart / Stuart house

Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
Robert II. Robert Stewart (* 1316; † 1390)	1371-1390	Maternal grandson of Robert I.
Robert III (* 1337; † 1406)	1390-1406	Son of the predecessor
Jacob I (* 1394; † 1437)	1406-1437	Son of the predecessor	Renewed the Auld Alliance with France. Was murdered by relatives.
Jacob II (* 1430; † 1460)	1437-1460	Son of the predecessor
Jacob III (* 1451; † 1488)	1460-1488	Son of the predecessor
Jacob IV (* 1473; † 1513)	1488-1513	Son of the predecessor
Jacob V (* 1512; † 1542)	1513-1542	Son of the predecessor
Maria I. Mary Stuart (* 1542; † 1587)	1542-1567	Daughter of the predecessor	Widowed Queen of France. Forced to abdicate in favor of her son. Fled to England, where she was arrested. Executed after participating in a conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth I.
Heinrich Stuart Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (* 1545; † 1567)	1565-1567	Husband of Maria and also a Stuart on his father's side	Proclaimed King of Scots after his wedding, but not crowned. Murdered by political intrigue in unknown circumstances.
Jacob VI (* 1566- † 1625)	1567-1625	Son of the predecessor	Crowned king after his mother was deposed. As heir to the Tudor, he also ascended the English throne as James I in 1603, thus establishing the Anglo-Scottish personal union. Under his rule, the first English settlement in North America was established ( Jamestown ). Was in conflict with parliament.
Charles I (* 1600; † 1649)	1625-1649	Son of the predecessor	King of England too. Ruled eleven years without parliament. The conflict with the Puritan- dominated House of Commons led to civil war . His supporters were beaten by the parliamentary army under Oliver Cromwell , he himself convicted of high treason and beheaded. Then England became a republic.
Charles II (* 1630; † 1685)	1649-1651	Son of the predecessor	Was crowned King of Scotland in 1651 but had to flee to France after the defeat of Worcester by Oliver Cromwell.

Scotland in the Commonwealth of England

image	Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
	Oliver Cromwell (* 1599; † 1658)	1651-1658		As lord protector de facto ruler of republican England. Subjugated Scotland and Ireland to English rule and emerged victorious from the first Anglo-Dutch War .
	Richard Cromwell (* 1626; † 1712)	1658-1659	Son of the predecessor	Gave up the office of Lord Protector. The ensuing anarchy made the restoration of the Stuart kingdom possible.

House of Stuart

Name Old Gaelic New Gaelic (life dates)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
Charles II (* 1630; † 1685)	1660-1685		The anarchy that followed Richard Cromwell's resignation from office was ended in 1660 with the restoration of parliament and monarchy. The conflict between the king and parliament continued to smolder during Charles's reign. Was defeated in the second Anglo-Dutch War , but was able to win the colony of Nieuw Amsterdam (later New York ).
Jacob VII (* 1633; † 1701)	1685-1688	Brother of the predecessor	As James II also King of England. His Catholic creed and absolutist style of rule ultimately led to his dismissal in the Glorious Revolution .
Wilhelm II. Wilhelm of Orange (* November 14, 1650 - † March 19, 1702) and Maria II. (* 1662; † 1694)	1689-1702	Nephew and son-in-law of his predecessor	Elevated to the throne of Scotland, England and Ireland by the Glorious Revolution, they recognized the freedoms customary in England in the Bill of Rights , with which the state took on a constitutional form. William asserted himself against Jacobite uprisings in Scotland and Ireland ( Battle of the Boyne , 1690). After the death of Mary he continued to rule alone. In the Act of Settlement 1701, Catholics were excluded from the line of succession. Formed the great alliance against France with Habsburg .
	1689-1694	Daughter of Jacob VII
Anne (* 1665; † 1714)	1702-1707	Daughter of Jacob VII	Last Queen of Stuart. Under her reign, England stood in the War of the Spanish Succession against France. Became the first Queen of Great Britain in 1707.

By the Act of Union on May 1, 1707, the personal union between Scotland and England, which had existed for a century, was dissolved and replaced by a real union . The Kingdom of Great Britain , to which Scotland has belonged since then, was established, which remained united with Ireland in personal union.

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