| Dub | |
|---|---|
 Painting of King Dub of Scotland labeled "DVFFVS", painted byGeorge Jamesone, Made on unknown date in 1633 | |
| King of Alba (Scotland) | |
| Reign | 962–967 |
| Predecessor | Indulf |
| Successor | Cuilén |
| Born | c. 928 |
| Died | 967 Forres |
| Issue | Kenneth III, King of Alba |
| House | Alpin |
| Father | Malcolm I, King of Alba |
Dub mac Maíl Coluim (Modern Gaelic:Dubh mac Mhaoil Chaluim,Scottish Gaelic pronunciation:[ˈt̪uˈmaʰkˈvɯːlˈxaɫ̪ɯm]),Dub mac Maíl Coluim is theMediaeval Gaelic form. The modern form,Dubh, has the sense of "dark" or "black". Sometimesanglicised asDuff MacMalcolm, this form was used in older histories, but is not commonly used today calledDén, "the Vehement"Duan Albanach,[1] and "the Black"[2] a direct translation of his name to modern English isBlack Malcolmson (c. 928–967) wasking of Alba. He was son ofMalcolm I and succeeded to the throne whenIndulf was killed in 962.
While later chroniclers such asJohn of Fordun supplied a great deal of information on Dub's life and reign, andHector Boece in hisThe history and chronicles of Scotland tell tales ofwitchcraft and treason, almost all of them are rejected by modern historians. There are very few sources for the reign of Dub, of which theChronicle of the Kings of Alba and a single entry in theAnnals of Ulster are the closest to contemporary.
The Chronicle records that during Dub's reign bishop Fothach, most likely bishop ofSt Andrews or ofDunkeld, died. The remaining report is of a battle between Dub andCuilén, son of king Ildulb.Dub won the battle, fought "upon the ridge of Crup", in which Dunchad (Duncan), abbot of Dunkeld, sometimes supposed to be an ancestor ofCrínán of Dunkeld, andDubdon, themormaer of Atholl, died.
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The various accounts differ on what happened afterwards. The Chronicle claims that Dub was driven out of the kingdom. TheLatin material interpolated inAndrew of Wyntoun'sOrygynale Cronykl states that he was murdered atForres, and links this to an eclipse of the sun which can be dated to 20 July 966. The Annals of Ulster report only: "Dub mac Maíl Coluim, king of Alba, was killed by the Scots themselves"; the usual way of reporting a death in internal strife, and place the death in 967. It has been suggested thatSueno's Stone, near Forres, may be a monument to Dub, erected by his brotherKenneth II (Cináed mac Maíl Coluim). It is presumed that Dub was killed or driven out by Cuilén, who became king after Dub's death, or by his supporters.
It is related that his body was hidden under the bridge ofKinloss, and the sun did not shine till it was found and buried. An eclipse on 10 July 967 may have originated or confirmed this story.[3]
Dub left at least one son,Kenneth III (Cináed mac Dub). Although his descendants did not compete successfully for the kingship of Alba after Kenneth was killed in 1005, Dub is likely an ancestor of the MacDuib (MacDuff) family who held the mormaerdom, and laterearldom of Fife, until 1371.[4]
Dub, King of Scotland Died: 967 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Alba 962–967 | Succeeded by |
