Editing Malcolm IV of Scotland (section)

== Accession ==
[[Image:Malcolm_IV,_King_of_Scotland,_charter_to_Kelso_Abbey,_1159,_initial.jpg|thumb|left|350px|[[David I of Scotland|David I]] (left) with the young Malcolm IV (right) depicted on the charter to [[Kelso Abbey]].]]

[[Henry of Scotland|Earl Henry]], son and heir of King [[David I of Scotland]], had been in poor health throughout the 1140s. He died suddenly on 12 June 1152. His death occurred in either [[Newcastle-on-Tyne|Newcastle]] or [[Roxburgh]], both located in those areas of [[Northumbria]] which he and [[David I of Scotland|his father]] had attached to the Scots crown in the period of English weakness after the death of [[Henry I of England]]. Unlike in the case of the English king, who had been left without male heirs after the death of his only legitimate son in the [[White Ship|shipwreck of the ''White Ship'']], the King of Scots, David I, did not lack for immediate heirs upon the death of Earl Henry. This was because Earl Henry had left behind three sons to carry forward the lineage of his father.<ref>Oram, ''David I'', p. 200.</ref>

Malcolm, the eldest of Earl Henry's sons, was only eleven years old when he became heir apparent. Nonetheless, he was sent by his grandfather on a circuit of the kingdom, accompanied by [[Donnchad I, Earl of Fife|Donnchad]], [[Mormaer of Fife]], and a large army. Donnchad had been styled ''rector'', perhaps indicating that he was to hold the [[regent|regency]] for Malcolm on David's death.<ref>Oram, ''David I'', p. 201.</ref> These preparations were timely, because King David survived his son by less than a year, dying on 24 May 1153 at [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]]. Malcolm was inaugurated as king on 27 May 1153 at [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]] at age twelve.<ref>Duncan, p. 71.</ref> Donnchad, who duly became regent for the young Malcolm, ensured that the inauguration took place before the old king was even buried. This might appear unseemly, but there was good reason for the haste. Malcolm was not without rivals for the kingship. Donnchad himself died a year later, in 1154.