Your ancestors and the monarchs of Scotland

Last week I looked at the link between how knowing which monarch was on the throne and can help you discover more about the lives of your ancestors by showing you what was happening in the world around them. Even though the lives of your ancestors may have been completely different from the monarchs major events may have impacted upon them.

This week I’m looking at the monarchs of Scotland from 1066 to 1603 (I’m starting at 1066 to be in line with the English). You need to remember that the succession in Scotland for the throne is different from England in that war and murder were often ways to trigger a change of monarch. Also the English sometimes influenced the succession with Edward I (1272-1307) placing pressure on the Scots.

Edinburgh Castle one of the seats of the Scottish monarchy since David I

Malcolm III. Reigned 1058 – 13^th November 1093. Successor: Donald III his brother.

Donald III. Reigned 13^th November 1093 – May 1094. Successor: Duncan II, son of Malcolm III.

Duncan II. Reigned 1094 – 12^th November 1094 (murdered). Successor: Donald III, son of Malcolm III.

Donald III. Reigned 12^th November 1094 – 1097. Successor: Edgar, son of Malcolm III.

Edgar. Reigned 1097 – 8^th January 1107 (Murdered?). Successor: Alexander I, son of Malcolm III.

Alexander I. Reigned 8^th January 1107 – 23^rd April 1124. Successor: David I, son of Malcolm III.

David I. Reigned 23^rd April 1124 – 24^th May 1153. Successor: Malcolm IV, grandson of David I.

Malcolm IV. Reigned 24^th May 1153 – 9^th December 1165. Successor: William I, grandson of David I.

William I. Reigned 9^th December 1165 – 4^th December 1214. Successor: Alexander II, son of William I.

Alexander II. Reigned 4^th December 1214 – 6^th July 1249. Successor: Alexander III, son of Alexander II.

Alexander III. Reigned 6^th July 1249 – 19^th March 1286. Successor: Margaret, granddaughter of Alexander III.

Margaret. Reigned 25^th November 1286 – 26^th September 1290. Successor: John who was chosen by claim.

John. Reigned 17^th November 1292 – 10^th July 1296 (abdicated). Successor: Robert I through battle and claim.

Robert I (the Bruce). Reigned 25^th March 1306 – 7^th June 1329. Successor: David II, son of Robert I.

David II. Reigned 7^th June 1329 – 22 February 1371. Successor: Robert II, grandson of Robert I.

Robert II. Reigned 22 February 1371 – 19^th April 1390. Successor: Robert III, son of Robert II.

Robert III. Reigned 19^th April 1390 – 4^th April 1406. Successor: James I, son of Robert III.

James I. Reigned 4^th April 1406 – 21^st February 1437. Successor: James II, son of James I.

James II. Reigned 21^st February 1437 – 3^rd August 1460. Successor: James III, son of James II.

James III. Reigned 3^rd August 1460 – 11^th June 1488. Successor: James IV, son of James III.

James IV. Reigned 11^th June 1488 – 9^th September 1513 (died in battle). Successor: James V, son of James IV.

James V. Reigned 9^th September 1513 – 14^th December 1542. Successor: Mary, daughter of James V.

Mary (Queen of Scots). Reigned 14^th December 1542 – 24^th July 1567 (abdicated. Executed by Queen Elizabeth I of England 8^th February 1587). Successor: James VI, son of Queen Mary.

Mary Queen of Scots. Image courtesy of ancestryimages.com

James VI. Reigned 24^th July 1567 – 27^th March 1625. To Monarchy of Great Britain.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England the throne passed to her 1^st cousin twice removed James VI of Scotland and he became James I of Great Britain.

James VI was the great, great grandson of King Henry VII of England. Henry’s eldest daughter Margaret Tudor was married to James IV of Scotland thus combining the Stuart house of Scotland with the Tudor house of England and giving us the royal family we have today.