| Donald III | |
|---|---|
| King of Alba | |
| Reign | 1093–1094 |
| Predecessor | Malcolm III |
| Successor | Duncan II |
| Reign | 1094–1097 |
| Predecessor | Duncan II |
| Successor | Edgar |
| Born | c. 1032 |
| Died | 1099(1099-00-00) (aged 66–67) Rescobie,Angus,Kingdom of Scotland |
| Burial | Dunfermline Abbey, later removed toIona |
| House | Dunkeld |
| Father | Duncan I of Scotland |
| Mother | Suthen |
Donald III (Medieval Gaelic:Domnall mac Donnchada;Modern Gaelic:Dòmhnall mac Dhonnchaidh;c. 1032–1099) wasKing of Alba (Scotland) from 1093–1094 and 1094–1097.[1] He was known asDomnall Bán or "Donald the Fair",anglicized asDonalbain.
Donald was born about 1033, during the reign of his great-grandfatherKing Malcolm II. He was the second known son of the king's grandson,Duncan. Malcolm died when Donald was a baby, at age 80, and Donald's father became king. King Duncan I however, perished in 1040 when Donald was still a boy, killed byMormaer Macbeth, yet another grandson of King Malcolm II, who usurped his place as king.
Following his father's death, Donald went into hiding inIreland for 17 years, for fear that he would be killed by Macbeth. His elder brother, Malcolm, went to England. It was during this time that Malcolm's grandfather,Crínán of Dunkeld, who was married to Malcolm II's daughter, was killed fighting Macbeth. When Malcolm grew to manhood, he overthrew Macbeth and became the new king. Donald was 25 years old at that time.
Donald's activities during the reign of his elder brother Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) are not recorded. It appears that he was not his brother's chosen heir, contrary to earlier custom, but that Malcolm had designated Edward, his eldest son byMargaret of Wessex, as the king to come.[2] If this was Malcolm's intent, his death and that of Edward on campaign inNorthumbria in November 1093 (seeBattle of Alnwick (1093)) confounded his plans. These deaths were followed very soon afterwards by that of Queen Margaret.
John of Fordun reports that Donald invaded the kingdom "at the head of a numerous band" after Queen Margaret's death, and laid siege toEdinburgh with Malcolm's sons by Margaret inside. Fordun has Margaret's brotherEdgar Ætheling take his nephews to England to keep them safe.[3]Andrew of Wyntoun's much simpler account has Donald becoming king and banishing his nephews. TheAnglo-Saxon Chronicle records only that Donald was chosen as king and expelled the English from the court.[4]
In May 1094, Donald's nephewDuncan (Donnchad mac Maíl Coluim), son of Malcolm and his first wife,Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, invaded at the head of an army ofAnglo-Normans andNorthumbrians, aided by his half-brotherEdmund and his father-in-lawGospatric, Earl of Northumbria. This invasion succeeded in placing Duncan on the throne, but an uprising defeated his allies and he was compelled to send away his foreign troops. Duncan was then killed on 12 November 1094 byMáel Petair,Mormaer of Mearns.[5] TheAnnals of Ulster say that Duncan was killed on the orders of Donald (incorrectly called his brother) and Edmund.[6]
Donald resumed power, probably with Edmund as his designated heir.[7] Donald was an elderly man by then, at around 62 years old, and without any known sons, so that an heir was clearly required.William of Malmesbury says that Edmund bargained "for half the kingdom", suggesting that Donald granted his nephew anappanage to rule.[8]
Edgar, eldest surviving son of Malcolm and Margaret, obtained the support ofWilliam Rufus, although other matters delayed Edgar's return on the coat-tails of an English army led by his uncle Edgar Ætheling.[9] Donald's fate is not entirely clear. William of Malmesbury tells us that he was "slain by the craftiness ofDavid [the later David I] ... and by the strength of William [Rufus]".[10] TheAnglo-Saxon Chronicle says of Donald that he was expelled,[10] while theAnnals of Tigernach have him blinded by his brother.[11]John of Fordun, following the king lists, writes that Donald was "blinded, and doomed to eternal imprisonment" by Edgar. The place of his imprisonment was said to beRescobie, byForfar, inAngus.[12] The old ex-king would die at the age of 67 in 1099, in prison. The sources differ as to whether Donald was first buried atDunfermline Abbey orDunkeld Cathedral but agree that his remains were later moved toIona.
Donald left one known child, a daughter Bethóc ingen Domnaill Bain, who married Uchtred (or Hadrian) de Tyndale, Lord of Tyndale.[13] Uchtred and Bethoc had a daughter, Hextilda, marriedRichard Comyn,Justiciar of Lothian. The claims ofJohn Comyn II of Badenoch,Lord of Badenoch to the crown in theGreat Cause came from Donald through Bethóc and Hextilda.[14] Ladhmann son of Domnall, "grandson of the King of Scots" who died in 1116, might have been a son of Donald.[15]
The minor character ofDonalbain inWilliam Shakespeare's playMacbeth represents Donald III.
Donald III of Scotland Born: c. 1032 Died: c. 1099 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Alba 1093–1094 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King of Alba 1094–1097 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
