Thanks to J. Evans for providing the list of rulers.
Gaels migrated from Ireland to western Scotland (which was called Caledonia at the time by the Romans) in the 5th century, after the Romans had retreated from Britain, and there established the kingdom of Dál Riata in Argyllshire. The lists presented here begin with the kings of Dál Riata.The north of Scotland was controlled by the Picts, an ancient Celtic people. Conflict and intermixing between the Scots and the Picts continued until the two realms were finally merged under the Dál Riatan king Kenneth mac Alpin around the year 850. The exact reasons for Kenneth's rise to power over the Picts are not clear, but it is apparent that many of the lords of both the Picts and the Scots had been killed in wars with invading Vikings. The kingdom was known as Alba, and by 1034 it had incorporated the Briton kingdom of Strathclyde in the south.
Struggles with the English and periods of domination followed over the next few centuries, but Scottish independence was ultimately asserted by Robert the Bruce, who became king of Scotland in 1306. Shortly afterwards, starting with Robert II, the Stuart royal family began its long rule in Scotland. Their reign was marked by periods of internal unrest and conflict with England. However in 1603 the Stuart king James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots, succeeded to the English throne, and the Scottish Crown was formally merged with that of England by the Act of Union in 1707.
Name | Years | |
---|---|---|
Fergus Mor | c. 500-c. 501 | |
Domangart mac Fergus | c. 501-c. 507 | |
Comgall mac Domangart | c. 507-c. 538 | |
Gabhran mac Domangart | c. 538-c. 558 | |
Conall mac Comgall | 558-574 | |
Aedan mac Gabhran | c. 574-c. 609 | |
Eochaid Buide | c. 609-629 | |
Connad Cerr | 629 | |
Domnall Brecc the Freckled | 629-642 | |
Ferchar mac Connad | 642-650 | |
Dunchad mac Conaing | 650-654 | |
Conall Crandomna | 650-660 | |
Domangart mac Domnal | 660-673 | |
Maelduin mac Conall | 673-688 | |
Domnall Donn | 688-696 | |
Ferchar Fota | 696-697 | |
Eochaid Crook-Nose | 697 | |
Ainbcellach mac Ferchar | 697-698 | |
Fiannamail mac Conall | 698-700 | |
Selbach mac Ferchar | 700-723 | |
Dungal mac Selbach | 723-726 | |
Eochaid mac Eochaid | 726-733 | |
Óengus | 732-761 | |
Alpín mac Eochaid | c. 733 | |
Muiredach mac Ainbcellach | c. 733-c. 736 | |
Eogan mac Muiredach | c. 736-c. 739 | |
Aed Find the White | 739-778 | |
Bridei mac Fergus | 761-763 | |
Ciniod mac Feradaig | 763-775 | |
Alpín mac Feredaig | 775-778 | |
Fergus mac Eochaid | 778-781 | |
Talorc mac Óengusa | 778-782 | |
Drust | 782-783 | |
Conall mac Taidg | 785-789 | |
Causantín mac Fergus | 789-820 | |
Oengus mac Fergus | 820-834 | |
Drust mac Constantine | 834-837 | |
Eoganan mac Oengus | 837-839 | |
Uurad | 839-842 | |
Cináed I mac Ailpín | 841-859 | |
Domnall I | 859-862 | |
Causantín I | 862-877 | |
Aed Whitefoot | 877-878 | |
Eochaid | 878-889 | |
Giric | 878-889 | |
Domnall II Dasachtach | 889-900 | |
Causantín II | 900-943 | |
Máel Coluim I | 943-954 | |
Idulb | 954-962 | |
Dub | 962-967 | |
Cuilén | 967-971 | |
Cináed II | 971-995 | |
Causantín III | 995-997 | |
Cináed III | 997-1005 | |
Máel Coluim II | 1005-1034 | |
Donnchad I the Gracious | 1034-1040 | |
Mac Bethad | 1040-1057 | |
Lulach the Simple | 1057-1058 | |
Máel Coluim III Canmore Bighead | 1058-1093 | |
Domnall III Bane | 1093-1094; 1094-1097 | |
Donnchad II | 1094 | |
Edmund | 1094-1097 | |
Edgar | 1097-1107 | |
Alexander I the Fierce | 1107-1124 | |
David I | 1124-1153 | |
Malcolm IV the Maiden | 1153-1165 | |
William I the Lion | 1165-1214 | |
Alexander II | 1214-1249 | |
Alexander III | 1249-1286 | |
Margaret the Maid of Norway | 1286-1290 | |
John Balliol | 1292-1296 | |
Robert I the Bruce | 1306-1329 | |
David II | 1329-1332; 1336-1371 | |
Edward Balliol | 1332-1336 | |
Robert II | 1371-1390 | |
Robert III | 1390-1406 | |
James I | 1406-1437 | |
James II | 1437-1460 | |
James III | 1460-1488 | |
James IV | 1488-1513 | |
James V | 1513-1542 | |
Mary I Queen of Scots | 1542-1567 | |
James VI | 1567-1625 | |
Charles I | 1625-1649 | |
Charles II | 1649-1685 | |
James VII | 1685-1689 | |
Mary II | 1689-1694 | |
William III of Orange | 1689-1702 | |
Anne | 1702-1707 |