The first to reign over an extent of land roughly corresponding to muchof modern Scotland. Malcolm succeeded to the throne after killing hispredecessor, Kenneth III, and allegedly secured his territory bydefeating a Northumbrian army at the Battle of Carham (1016). He not onlyconfirmed the Scottish hold over the land between the rivers Forth andTweed but also secured Strathclyde about the same time. Eager to securethe royal succession for his daughter's son Duncan, he tried to eliminatepossible rival claimants, but Macbeth, with royal connections to bothKenneth II and Kenneth III, survived to challenge the succession.