Editing Malcolm IV of Scotland (section)

== Death and posterity ==
Malcolm IV died on 9 December 1165 at [[Jedburgh]], aged twenty-four. His premature death may have been hastened by [[Paget's disease of bone|Paget's disease]] (a chronic disorder that typically results in enlarged and deformed bones).<ref>Duncan, pp. 74–75.</ref> While his contemporaries were in no doubt that Malcolm had some of the qualities of a great king, later writers were less convinced. The compiler of the ''[[Annals of Ulster]]'', writing soon after 1165, praises Malcolm:

{{quote|Máel Coluim Cenn Mór, son of Henry, high king of Scotland, the best Christian that was of the Gaidhil [who dwell] by the sea on the east for almsdeeds, hospitality and piety, died.<ref>''Annals of Ulster'', s.a. 1165.</ref>}}

Likewise, [[William of Newburgh]] praises Malcolm, "the most Christian king of the Scots", highly in his ''Historia Rerum Anglicarum''.<ref>Quoted in ''SAEC'', p. 243.</ref>

Nonetheless, Malcolm was not well regarded in all quarters. The ''Gesta Annalia'' remarks:

{{quote|[Malcolm] quite neglected the care, as well as governance, of his kingdom. Wherefore he was so hated by all the common people that William, the elder of his brothers – who had always been on bad terms with the English, and their lasting foe, forasmuch as they had taken away his patrimony, the earldom of Northumbria, to wit – was by them appointed warden of the whole kingdom, against the king's will.<ref>''Gesta Annalia'', IV; Duncan, p. 74, doubts Fordun's account.</ref>}}

According to legend, he had a daughter who was betrothed to [[Henry, Prince of Capua]], on the latter's deathbed, but this is said to be false as Malcolm had no heirs. However, since illegitimacy did not apply to medieval females{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}, but it was often pretended that it did, she may have been overlooked. Malcolm's mother had formulated a plan for a marriage to Constance, daughter of [[Conan III, Duke of Brittany]], but Malcolm died before the wedding could be celebrated.<ref>Oram, ''The Canmores'', p. 51.</ref> This does not mean that Malcolm could not have had a concubine or mistress.

It is difficult, given the paucity of sources, to date many of the reforms of the Scoto-Norman era, but it appears that Malcolm continued the reforms begun by his grandfather and grand-uncles. The [[sheriff]]doms of [[Crail]], [[Dunfermline]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Forfar]], [[Lanark]] and [[Linlithgow]] appear to date from Malcolm's reign, and the office of [[Justiciar of Lothian]] may also date from this period.<ref>McNeill & MacQueen, p. 192; Barrow ?</ref>

Malcolm founded a [[Cistercian]] monastery at [[Coupar Angus]], and the royal taste for continental religious foundations extended to the magnates, as in Galloway, where the [[Premonstratensian]]s were established at [[Soulseat]] by 1161.<ref>McNeill & MacQueen, p. 340.</ref>