General Notes

Malcolm II., born about 954, died November 25, 1034. He succeeded to the throne in 1003, and had a troubled reign
of about thirty years. He defeated Kenneth IV., at Monievaird in Strathearn, and in consequence became king. His
annoyance came from the Danes who, in previous reigns, had made several attempts to effect a settlement in Scotland, but
had been defeated in all of them. They had secured a firm footing in England, and the year after Malcolm's accession to the
throne, they commenced the most formidable preparations, under their celebrated king, Sweyn, for a new expedition to the
Scottish coasts. Malcolm finally defeated this initial invasion in 1010. There was a second attempt made to gain a foothold
in Northern England, but it too was defeated. In 1014, another Danish force landed on the coast of Buchan. The Danes on
this occasion were led by Sweyn's celebrated son, Canute, afterwards King of England and Denmark, and again they
experienced a signal overthrow. A treaty was drawn up which stipulated that the Danes agreed to quit every part of the
Scottish coasts, and this was followed by the final departure, the same year, of these invaders from Scotland. Malcolm was
next engaged in war with the Northumbrians, and, having in 1018, led his army to Carham, near Werk, on the south bank of
the Tweed River, he was met there by Uchtred, Earl of Northumberland, when a desperate battle took place. The victory
was claimed by Uchtred, who was, soon after, assassinated, when on his way to pay his obeisance to the great Canute. He
killed Kenneth III., son of Dub. He had no sons. Having succeeded as King of Alba in 1005, Malcolm II. secured Lothian by
the battle of Carham about 1016 and about the same time obtained Strathclyde for his grandson, Duncan, thus forming
the kingdom of Scotland.