Editing Malcolm IV of Scotland (section)

== Rivals and neighbours ==
The ''[[Orkneyinga Saga]]'' claims "William the Noble", son of [[William fitz Duncan]], was the man whom "every Scotsman wanted for his king".<ref>Duncan, p. 70; ''Orkneyinga Saga'', c. 33.</ref> As William fitz Duncan married Alice de Rumilly c.1137, young William could only have been a youth, perhaps a child, by 1153. There is no evidence to suggest that William ever made any claims to the throne, and he died young, in the early 1160s, leaving his sizable estates to his three sisters.<ref>Oram, ''David I'', pp. 93, 182–186; Duncan, p. 102.</ref> Of William Fitz Duncan's other sons, Bishop [[Wimund]] had already been blinded, emasculated and imprisoned at [[Byland Abbey]] before King David's death, but Domnall mac Uilleim, first of the [[Meic Uilleim]], had considerable support in the [[Province of Moray]]. Another contender, imprisoned at Roxburgh since about 1130, was [[Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair]], an illegitimate son of [[Alexander I of Scotland|Alexander I]]. Máel Coluim's sons were free men in 1153. They could be expected to contest the succession and did so.

As a new and young king, Malcolm also faced threats to his rule from his neighbours. Foremost among them were [[Somerled]], King of [[Argyll]]; [[Fergus of Galloway|Fergus]], Lord of [[Galloway]]; and [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], [[King of England]]. Only [[Rognvald Kali Kolsson]], [[Earl of Orkney]], was otherwise occupied (on a pilgrimage), and his death in 1158 brought the young and ambitious [[Harald Maddadsson]] to power in Orkney, who proved yet another threat to the young Malcolm.

The first open opposition to Malcolm came in November 1153, from family rivals, the sons of Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair. They mounted their challenge with the aid of a neighbour, [[Somerled]] of Argyll. This threat soon dissipated, because Somerled was beset with more pressing concerns: his war with [[Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of the Isles]] lasted until 1156 and a possible conflict with [[Gille Críst, Earl of Menteith|Gille Críst]], [[Mormaer of Menteith]], over [[Cowal]], loomed large.<ref>Duncan, p. 71; McDonald, ''Kingdom of the Isles'', pp. 51–54.</ref> Support for the sons of Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair may also have come from areas closer to the core of the kingdom; two conspirators are named by chroniclers, one of whom died in trial by combat in February 1154.<ref>McDonald, ''Outlaws'', pp. 28–29.</ref>

In 1157, it is reported, King Malcolm was reconciled with [[Máel Coluim MacHeth]], who was appointed to the [[Mormaerdom of Ross]], which had probably been held by his father.<ref>Duncan, pp. 71–72; McDonald, ''Outlaws'', p. 29.</ref>