Editing Malcolm II of Scotland

{{Short description|King of Alba from 1005 to 1034}}
{{Redirect|Malcolm II|other people named Malcolm II}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name            = Malcolm II
| succession      = [[King of Alba (Scotland)]]
| reign           = c. 25 March 1005<ref>The exact date of succession is unknown, but by tradition, it has been stated to be 25 March. ({{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/scottishkingsar00dunbgoog |title=Scottish Kings: A Revised Chronology of Scottish History, 1005–1625 |last=Dunbar |first=Sir Archibald Hamilton |publisher=D. Douglas |year=1906 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scottishkingsar00dunbgoog/page/n321 293]}})</ref>–<br/>25 November 1034
| predecessor     = [[Kenneth III]]
| successor       = [[Duncan I]]
| birth_date      = c. 954
| death_date      = {{death date|1034|11|25|df=y}}<br />(aged 79/80)
| death_place     = [[Glamis Castle]], [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]]
| issue           = [[Bethóc]]<br/>Donada<br/>Olith, wife of [[Sigurd the Stout]] (possible)
| house           = [[House of Alpin|Alpin]]
| father          = [[Kenneth II of Scotland]]
| place of burial = [[Iona]]
}}

'''Máel Coluim mac Cinaeda''' ({{langx|gd|Maol Chaluim mac Choinnich|label=Modern Scottish Gaelic}}; [[anglicised]] '''Malcolm II'''; c. 954 – 25 November 1034)<ref>Skene, ''Chronicles'', pp. 99–100.</ref> was [[List of Scottish monarchs|King of Alba]] ([[Scotland]]) from 1005 until his death in 1034.<ref>Malcolm's birth date is not known, but must have been around 980 if the [[Flateyjarbók]] is right in dating the marriage of his daughter and [[Sigurd the Stout|Sigurd Hlodvisson]] (Sigurd the Stout) to the lifetime of [[Olaf Tryggvason]].''Early Sources'', p. 528, quoting ''Olaf Tryggvason's Saga''.</ref> He was one of the longest-reigning Scottish Kings of that period.

He was a son of Cinaed mac Maíl Choluim or [[King Kenneth II]], and [[The Prophecy of Berchán]] (which referred to him as '''''Forranach''''', "the Destroyer") says his mother was "a woman of [[Kingdom of Leinster|Leinster]]".<ref>Anderson, ''Early Sources'', pp. 574–575.</ref> His mother may have been a daughter of a [[Uí Dúnlainge]] [[List of Kings of Leinster|King of Leinster]].{{sfn|Broun|2004}} 

To the [[Irish annals]], which recorded his death, Malcolm was ''ard [[rí]] Alban'', [[High king|High King of Scotland]], but his fellow Kings of the geographical area of modern Scotland included the [[List of Kings of Strathclyde|King of Strathclyde]], who ruled much of the south-west, various [[Norse–Gaels]] Kings on the western coast and the [[Hebrides]] and his nearest and most dangerous rivals, the [[Earl of Moray|kings or "mormaers" of Moray]].<ref>Higham, pp. 226–227, notes that the Kings of the English had neither lands nor mints north of the [[River Tees|Tees]].</ref>

Since he did not have any surviving sons, Malcolm pursued a strategy of marrying his daughters into these regional dynasties, which helped create stability in his reign, and ensured that he became the grandfather of his successor [[Duncan I of Scotland]], through his daughter [[Bethóc]], and according to some sources, of [[Macbeth, King of Scotland]], (about whom [[William Shakespeare]] later wrote the play [[Macbeth]]), through his daughter Donada. Later Scandinavian saga tradition claims that the mother of Earl [[Thorfinn the Mighty]] was a daughter of Malcolm, though the Malcolm in question may have been [[Máel Coluim of Moray]].

== Early years and path to the throne ==
Malcolm II was the son of [[Kenneth II]] and grandson of [[Malcolm I]]. Fourteenth century Scottish [[chronicler]] [[John of Fordun]] writes that Malcolm defeated a [[Norway|Norwegian]] army "in almost the first days after his coronation", but this is not reported elsewhere. Fordun says that the [[Diocese of Aberdeen|Bishopric of Mortlach]] (later moved to [[Aberdeen]]) was founded in thanks for this victory over the Norwegians.<ref>''Early Sources'', p. 525 note 1; Fordun, IV, xxxix–xl.</ref>

Succession of Scottish kings at the time often involved murder, even patricide. The killer of Scottish King [[Causantín mac Cuilén|Constantine III]] in 997 is credited as being "Kenneth, son of Malcolm". Since Kenneth II died in 995, this is considered an error, for either [[Kenneth III]], (''grand''son of Malcolm I), who succeeded Constantine and stood to benefit, but by John of Fordham, for Malcolm II himself.<ref>Anderson, ''Early Sources'', pp. 517–518. John of Fordun has Malcolm II as the killer, whereas later historian Duncan credits [[Cináed mac Duib|Kenneth MacDuff]] with Constantine's death.</ref>

Whether Malcolm killed Constantine or not, he certainly killed Constantine's successor Kenneth III in 1005, during a battle at [[Monzievaird]] in [[Strathearn]].<ref>[[Chronicon Scotorum]], s.a. 1005; ''Early Sources'', pp. 521–524; Fordun, IV, xxxviii. Berchán places Cináed's death by the Earn.</ref>

== Raids into Bernicia ==
The first reliable report of Malcolm II's reign is an attack in 1006 of territory under the [[Northumbria]]n [[rulers of Bamburgh]] (the lands between the [[River Forth]] and the [[River Tees]], roughly ancient [[Bernicia]]), perhaps the customary ''crech ríg'' (literally royal prey, a raid by a new King made to demonstrate prowess in war), which involved a [[Siege of Durham (1006)|siege of Durham]]. This resulted in a heavy defeat to the [[Northumbria|Northumbrians]], led by [[Uhtred of Bamburgh]], ruler of Bamburgh and [[ealdorman of Northumbria]], which is reported by the [[Annals of Ulster]].<ref>Duncan, pp. 27–28; Smyth, pp. 236–237; Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1006.</ref>

A second war against the Northumbrian English, probably in 1018, was more successful. The [[Battle of Carham]], by the [[River Tweed]], was a victory for the Scots led by Malcolm II and the men of Strathclyde led by their king, [[Owain Foel]] (Owen the Bald). By this time [[Eiríkr Hákonarson]] had been appointed ealdorman in Northumbria by his brother-in-law [[Cnut|Cnut the Great]], with limited in practice to the south around [[York]], the former [[Deira|kingdom of Deira]].<ref>Duncan, pp. 28-29 suggests that Earl Uhtred may not have died until 1018. Fletcher accepts that he died in Spring 1016 and that Eadwulf Cudel was ruler in Bernicia when Carham was fought in 1018; Higham, pp. 225–230, agrees. Smyth, pp. 236–237 reserves judgment as to the date of the battle, 1016 or 1018, and whether Uhtred was still living when it was fought. See also Stenton, pp. 418–419 and Daly pp. 53–57.</ref>

The twelfth-century tract known as ''[[De obsessione Dunelmi]]'' (''The siege of Durham'', associated with [[Symeon of Durham]]) claims that Uhtred's brother [[Eadwulf Cudel]] surrendered [[Lothian]] to Malcolm II, possibly in the aftermath of the defeat at Carham. Some other  lands between [[Dunbar]] and the Tweed as other parts of Lothian may have been under Scots control before this time.<ref>Anderson, ''Early Sources'', p. 544 note 6; Higham, pp. 226–227.</ref>

== Relationships with neighbouring states ==
Malcolm demonstrated a rare ability to survive among early Scottish Kings by reigning for 29 years. [[Brehon]] tradition provided that the successor to Malcolm was to be selected by him from among the descendants of [[Áed mac Cináeda|King Aedh]] (Áed mac Cináeda), [[List of Kings of the Picts|King of the Picts]], with the consent of Malcolm's ministers and of the Church. Perhaps in an attempt to end the devastating feuds in the north of Scotland, and influenced by the [[Normans|Norman model]], Malcolm ignored tradition and was determined to retain succession within his own line. Since Malcolm had no son of his own, he negotiated a series of dynastic marriages of his daughters to men who might otherwise be his rivals, while securing the loyalty of their relatives, the principal chiefs.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} The throne passed to his grandson through his eldest daughter.

=== Dynastic marriages of his daughters ===
Although the identity of Malcolm's wives and queens are unknown, he did have at least one and probably three daughters. Malcolm married his eldest daughter [[Bethóc]] to [[Crínán of Dunkeld]], head of what became the [[Earl of Atholl|house of Atholl]] or [[Dunkeld dynasty]] and later [[Bishop of Dunkeld|Abbot of Dunkeld]]. Malcolm may have had another daughter, possibly named Donada, who married [[Findláech of Moray|Finlay, ruler of Moray]], father of [[Macbeth, King of Scotland|Macbeth]], later King of Scotland.{{sfn|Broun|2004}} Later Scandinavian saga tradition claims that the mother of Earl [[Thorfinn the Mighty]] was a daughter of Malcolm, though the Malcolm in question may have been [[Máel Coluim of Moray]].

[[File:Macbeth consulting the Vision of the Armed Head.jpg|thumb|upright|''Macbeth consulting the Vision of the Armed Head'' by [[Henry Fuseli|Johann Heinrich Füssli]]]]

==== Sources of the Macbeth connection ====
Fourteenth century Scottish [[chronicler]] and poet [[Andrew of Wyntoun]] suggests that "a third daughter" of Malcolm married [[Findláech of Moray]], (Findláech mac Ruaidrí), father of [[Macbeth, King of Scotland]], (Macbethad mac Findláech), which would make Malcolm to be Macbeth's grandfather.<ref>Hudson, pp. 224–225 discusses the question and the reliability of [[Andrew of Wyntoun]]'s chronicle, on which this rests.</ref>

The only other early reference to Malcolm as Macbeth's grandfather is [[Raphael Holinshed]]'s 1577 [[Holinshed's Chronicles|Chronicle of Scotland]], an inspiration to [[William Shakespeare]], which names "Doada" as a daughter of Malcolm II King of Scotland, and adds that she married "Sinell the thane of Glammis, by whom she had issue one Makbeth".{{sfn|French|1898}}

Seventeenth century historian Frederic Van Bossen only lists two daughters, one whom he calls "Beatrice, who married Albanacht the son of Crinan", and the other as "Daboada, who was the mother of Macbeth, and the wife of Finell, the [[Earl of Angus|Thane of Angus and Glames]] and the son of Cruthneth".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cunningham |first1=Derek |title=The Lost Queens of Scotland: Extracts from Frederic van Bossen's The Royal Cedar |date=2022 |page=99}}</ref>

=== Relationship with Cnut{{anchor|Cnut}} ===
The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' reports that [[Cnut|Cnut The Great]] (Canute) led an army into Scotland on his return from a [[pilgrimage]] to [[Rome]]. The ''Chronicle'' dates this to 1031, but there are reasons to suppose that it should be dated to 1027.<ref>ASC, Ms D, E and F; Duncan, pp. 29-30.</ref> Contemporary [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundian]] chronicler [[Rodulfus Glaber]] recounts the expedition soon afterward, describing Malcolm as "powerful in resources and arms ... very Christian in faith and deed."<ref>''Early Sources'', pp. 545–546.</ref> Rodulfus claims that peace was made between Malcolm and Cnut through the intervention of [[Richard II, Duke of Normandy|Richard]], [[Duke of Normandy]], brother of Cnut's wife [[Emma of Normandy|Emma]]. Richard died circa 1027 and Rodulfus wrote close in time to the events.<ref>Ralph was writing in 1030 or 1031; Duncan, p. 31.</ref>

[[File:Malcolm_II,_King_of_Scotland.jpg|thumb|200px|Malcolm II]]

Cnut came away only with a promise of peace and friendship, rather than the guarantee of aid on land and sea that previous kings such as [[Edgar of England|Edgar]] and others had obtained. Contemporary sources say that Malcolm was accompanied by one or two other kings, certainly future King Mac Bethad, and perhaps [[Echmarcach mac Ragnaill]], [[King of Mann and the Isles]], and of [[Galloway]].<ref>Duncan, pp. 29–30. ''St. Olaf's Saga'', c. 1031 says "two kings came south from Fife in Scotland" to meet Cnut, suggesting only Malcolm and [[Macbeth, King of Scotland|Mac Bethad]], and that Cnut returned their lands and gave them gifts. That Echmarcach was [[Lord of Galloway|king of Galloway]] is perhaps doubtful; the Annals of Ulster record the death of [[Suibne mac Cináeda]], ''rí Gall-Gáedel'' ("King of Galloway") by Tigernach, in 1034.</ref> The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' remarks of the submission "but he [Malcolm] adhered to that for only a little while".<ref>ASC, Ms. D, s.a. 1031.</ref> Cnut was soon occupied in [[Norway]] against Olaf Haraldsson and appears to have had no further involvement with Scotland.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Modern historian Duncan speculates that the quarrel between Cnut and Malcolm may have had its roots in Cnut's pilgrimage to Rome, and the coronation of [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]], where Cnut and [[Rudolph III of Burgundy|Rudolph III]], [[King of Burgundy]] had the place of honour. If Malcolm were present, and the repeated mentions of his piety in the annals make it quite possible that he made a pilgrimage to Rome, then the coronation could have allowed Malcolm to publicly snub Cnut's claims to overlordship.<ref>Duncan, pp. 31-32; the alternative, he notes, that Cnut was concerned about support for [[Olaf II of Norway|Olaf Haraldsson]], "is no better evidenced."</ref>

=== Relationship with Orkney and Moray ===
[[File:Máel Coluim mac Cináeda (Oxford Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson B 488, folio 16v).jpg|thumb|400px|''Mæl Colaim M<sup>c</sup> Cinæta'' in the [[Annals of Ulster]] ]]
Malcolm may also have married a daughter named Donada to [[Findláech of Moray]] (Findláech Mac Ruaidrí) and [[Macbeth, King of Scotland]] is presumed to be their son. Scandinavian saga tradition also claims that the mother of Earl [[Thorfinn the Mighty]] of Orkney was a daughter of Malcolm. However, as modern historian Duncan tells it, even if Malcolm exercised some control over Moray, the annals record several events pointing to a struggle for power in the north. Irish sources record that in 1020, Bethad mac Findláech's, (later known as [[Macbeth, King of Scotland]]), father [[Findláech of Moray|Findláech mac Ruaidrí]] was killed by the sons of his brother [[Máel Brigte]], and that<ref>[[Annals of Tigernach]], s.a. 1020; Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1020, but the killers are not named. The Annals of Ulster and the [[Book of Leinster]] call Findláech "king of Scotland".</ref> [[Máel Coluim of Moray|Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti]] (Máel Coluim of Moray) took control of Moray. His death is reported in 1029.<ref>Annals of Ulster and Annals of Tigernach, s.a. 1029. Malcolm's death is not said to have been by violence and he too is called king rather than mormaer.</ref>

Despite the accounts of the Irish annals, English and Scandinavian writers describe Mac Bethad as the rightful king of Moray, during descriptions of his meeting with Cnut in 1027, before the death of Malcolm mac Máil Brigti. Malcolm mac Máil Brigti was followed as king or earl by his brother [[Gille Coemgáin of Moray|Gillecomgain]] (Gille Coemgáin of Moray), husband of [[Gruoch]], a granddaughter of King [[Kenneth III of Scotland|Kenneth III]]. It has been supposed that Mac Bethad was responsible for the killing of Gille Coemgáin in 1032, but if Mac Bethad had a cause for feud in the killing of his father in 1020, Malcolm too had reason to see Gille Coemgáin dead. Not only had Gillecomgan's ancestors killed many of Malcolm's kin, but Gillecomgan and his son [[Lulach]] might have been rivals for the throne, through the claim of Gruoch. Malcolm had no living sons, and the threat to his plans for the succession was obvious. As a result, the following year Gruoch's brother or nephew, who might have eventually become king, was killed by Malcolm.<ref>Duncan, pp. 29–30, 32–33 and compare Hudson, ''The Prophecy of Berchán'', pp. 222–223. Anderson, ''Early Sources'', p. 571; Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1032 and 1033; [[Annals of Loch Cé]], s.a. 1029 and 1033. The identity of the ''M. m. Boite'' killed in 1033 is uncertain, being read as "the son of the son of Boite" or as "M. son of Boite", Gruoch's brother or nephew respectively.</ref> Mac Bethad married Grouch after the death of Gillecomgain, presumably to retain power over Moray.

=== Relationship with Strathclyde ===
It has traditionally been supposed that king [[Owain Foel|Owen the Bald]] (Owain Foel) of [[List of kings of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]] died at the [[battle of Carham]] and that the kingdom passed into the hands of the Scots afterwards. This rests on some very weak evidence. It is far from certain that Owen died at Carham, and it is reasonably certain that there were kings of Strathclyde as late as 1054, when [[Edward the Confessor]] sent [[Sigurd the Dane|Earl Siward]] to install "[[Malcolm II of Strathclyde|Malcolm]] son of the king of the Cumbrians". The confusion is old, probably inspired by [[William of Malmesbury]] and embellished by John of Fordun, but there is no firm evidence that the kingdom of Strathclyde was a part of the kingdom of the Scots, rather than a loosely subjected kingdom, before the time of Malcolm II of Scotland's great-grandson [[Malcolm III]].<ref>Duncan, pp. 29, 37–41; Oram, ''David I'', pp. 19–21.</ref>

== Succession ==
By the 1030s Malcolm's sons, if he had any, were dead. The only evidence that he did have a son or sons is in Rodulfus Glaber's chronicle where Cnut is said to have stood as godfather to "a son of Malcolm".<ref>''Early Sources'', p. 546; Duncan, pp. 30–31, understands Rodulfus Glaber as meaning that Duke Richard was godfather to a son of Cnut and Emma.</ref> His grandson Thorfinn would have been unlikely to be accepted as king by the Scots, and he chose the sons of his other daughter, [[Bethóc]], who was married to [[Crínán of Dunkeld|Crínán]], [[lay abbot]] of [[Dunkeld]], and perhaps [[Mormaer of Atholl]]. It may be no more than coincidence, but in 1027 the Irish annals had reported the burning of Dunkeld, although no mention is made of the circumstances.<ref>Annals of Ulster and Annals of Loch Cé, s.a. 1027.</ref> Malcolm's chosen heir, and the first ''tánaise ríg'' certainly known in Scotland, was [[Duncan I of Scotland|Duncan]].{{sfn|Duncan|2002|p=33}}

If Macbeth was Malcolm II's grandson, then when Macbeth's soldiers killed Duncan I, before Macbeth took the throne, Malcolm II would have had one grandson kill another to succeed the first as king.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

== Death and posterity ==
[[File:MILCOLVMBVS.2.MalcolmIIScotland.jpg|thumb|Painting by [[Jacob de Wet II]]]]
[[Marianus Scotus]] gives the date of Malcolm's death as 25 November 1034. The king lists say that he died at [[Glamis Castle]], variously describing him as a "most glorious" or "most victorious" king. The Annals of Tigernach report, "Malcolm mac Cináeda, king of Scotland, the honour of all the west of Europe, died". [[The Prophecy of Berchán]], perhaps the inspiration for John of Fordun and [[Andrew of Wyntoun]]'s accounts where Malcolm is killed fighting bandits, says that he died by violence, fighting "the parricides".{{sfn|Anderson|1990|p=574}}

Marianus tells us that Malcolm's grandson [[Duncan I]] became king and ruled for five years and nine months. Given that Duncan's subsequent death in 1040 is described as being "at an immature age" in the Annals of Tigernach, he must have been a very young man in 1034. Modern historian Duncan speculates that the absence of any effective opposition to Duncan's youthful kingship suggests that Malcolm had thoroughly dealt with any succession issues before he died.<ref>Duncan, pp. 32–33.</ref>

[[File:King Malcolms Gravestone at Glamis.jpg|thumb|Nineteenth century engraving of "King Malcolm's grave stone" (Glamis no. 2) at Glamis Castle]]

Tradition, dating from Fordun's time if not earlier, knew the [[Pictish stone]] now called "Glamis 2" as "King Malcolm's grave stone". The stone is a Class II stone, apparently formed by re-using a [[Bronze Age]] standing stone. Its dating is uncertain, with dates from the 8th century onwards having been proposed. While an earlier date is favoured, an association with accounts of Malcolm's has been proposed on the basis of the iconography of the carvings.<ref>{{citation |last=Laing |first=Lloyd |date=2002 |title=The date and context of the Glamis, Angus, carved Pictish stones |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |volume=131 |pages=223–239 |location=Edinburgh |doi=10.9750/PSAS.131.223.239 |s2cid=150377373 |url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_131/131_223_239.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090809004407/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_131/131_223_239.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 August 2009}}</ref>

Malcolm's putative pilgrimage to Rome, and other long-distance journeys, while not confirmed, were far from unusual. Thorfinn Sigurdsson, Cnut and Mac Bethad all travelled widely. [[Dyfnwal ab Owain|Dyfnwal of Strathclyde]] died on a pilgrimage to Rome in 975 as did Máel Ruanaid uá Máele Doraid, king of the [[Branches of the Cenél Conaill|Cenél Conaill]], in 1025.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Not a great deal is known of Malcolm's activities beyond the wars and killings. The [[Book of Deer]] records that Malcolm "gave a king's dues in Biffie and in Pett Meic-Gobraig, and two davochs" to the monastery of [[Old Deer]].<ref>Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer.</ref> He was also probably not the founder of the Bishopric of Mortlach-Aberdeen.<ref>Fordun, IV, xliii and Skene's notes; Duncan, p. 150; Barrow, ''Kingdom of the Scots'', p. 39.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Alan Orr |author-link1=Alan Orr Anderson |title=Early sources of Scottish history: A.D. 500-1286 |date=1990 |publisher=Paul Watkins |location=Stamford |isbn=1-871615-03-8}}
* Anon.; ''Orkneyinga Saga: The History of the Earls of Orkney'', tr. Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards. Penguin, London, 1978. {{ISBN|0-14-044383-5}}
* [[Geoffrey Barrow|Barrow, G. W. S.]]; ''The Kingdom of the Scots'', Edinburgh University Press, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7486-1803-1}}
* {{cite odnb|id=17858|title=Malcolm II [Mael Coluim mac Cinaeda] |last=Broun |first=Dauvit |year=2004}}
* Clarkson, Tim; ''Strathclyde and the Anglo-Saxons in the Viking Age'', Birlinn, Edinburgh, 2014, {{ISBN|9781906566784}}
* Daly, Rannoch (2018); ''Birth of the Border, The Battle of Carham 1018 AD'', (Alnwick; Wanney Books) {{ISBN|978-1-9997905-5-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Duncan |first1=Archibald Alexander McBeth |title=The Kingship of the Scots, 842–1292: Succession and Independence |date=2002 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |location=Edinburgh |isbn=0-7486-1626-8}}
* Fletcher, Richard; ''Bloodfeud: Murder and Revenge in Anglo-Saxon England'', Penguin, London, 2002. {{ISBN|0-14-028692-6}}
* [[John of Fordun]]; ''Chronicle of the Scottish Nation'', ed. [[William Forbes Skene]], tr. Felix J.H. Skene, 2 vols. Reprinted, Llanerch Press, Lampeter, 1993. {{ISBN|1-897853-05-X}}
* Higham, N. J.; ''The Kingdom of Northumbria AD 350-1100'', Sutton, Stroud, 1993. {{ISBN|0-86299-730-5}}
* Hudson, Benjamin T.; ''The Prophecy of Berchán: Irish and Scottish High-Kings of the Early Middle Ages'', Greenwood, London, 1996.
* {{cite book |last1=French |first1=Charles W. |title=Shakespeare's Macbeth |date=1898 |publisher=The Macmillan Company |location=New York |url=https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QafbJ62IBaxbfHXVv8kzZxOhuLI89wqN7FGhwx_YGDWl_3nHAPt9sMvHfJ04NAsFNnU5jD1C-k0adsNrBqdrc6SqeX3N-devDAKpXGDFNj48a-n2goAPYr4X3V0RiQWOHWjozesp9DMtchf43UvgwzbN8eeqYRkgIStYENP_0O482a63Z6qT-sVK9Bzo8f7_mjaSpAtHBrSWhz_GcqAv-3NcbySABW1BkBkq5dOczz9R5oku7IwmkXdmQDh--Wj7jGybP7CU_-7pJ4hrMjwbsBBiNLVWHQ |access-date=2 June 2024}}
* Smyth, Alfred P.; ''Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-1000'', Reprinted, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1998. {{ISBN|0-7486-0100-7}}
* [[Frank Stenton|Stenton, Sir Frank]]; ''Anglo-Saxon England'', 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 1971 {{ISBN|0-19-280139-2}}
* [[Snorri Sturluson|Sturluson, Snorri]]; ''Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway'', tr. Lee M. Hollander. Reprinted University of Texas Press, Austin, 1992. {{ISBN|0-292-73061-6}}
* [https://www.royal.uk/malcolm-ii-r-1005-1034 Malcolm II] at the official website of the [[British monarchy]]
* [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [[University College Cork]] includes the ''Annals of Ulster'', ''Tigernach'', ''the Four Masters'' and ''Innisfallen'', the ''Chronicon Scotorum'', the ''Lebor Bretnach'' (which includes the ''Duan Albanach''), Genealogies, and various Saints' Lives. Most are translated into English, or translations are in progress.
* [http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/catalogs/bysubject-hst-european-Heimskringla.html Heimskringla] at [https://web.archive.org/web/19990125104610/http://www.worldwideschool.org/ World Wide School]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171026/http://www.northvegr.org/misc%20primary%20sources/icelandic%20sagas%20vol%203/titles.html "icelandic sagas"] at [http://www.northvegr.org/ Northvegr]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060515025026/http://jebbo.home.texas.net/asc/e/e-L.html Anglo-Saxon Chronicle] an XML edition by Tony Jebson ([http://mcllibrary.org/Anglo/ translation] at The Medieval and Classical Literature Library).
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/malcolm_ii/ "Malcolm II, King of Alba 1005–1034"], ''Scotland's History'', BBC.

{{S-start}}
{{s-hou | [[House of Alpin]] ||c. 980 ||25 November 1034}}
{{s-reg | }}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kenneth III of Scotland|Kenneth III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Scottish monarchs|King of Alba]]|years=1005–1034}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Duncan I of Scotland|Duncan I]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Pictish and Scottish Monarchs}}
{{English, Scottish and British monarchs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malcolm 02 of Scotland}}

[[Category:House of Alpin]]
[[Category:11th-century Scottish monarchs]]
[[Category:Burials at Iona Abbey]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:950s births]]
[[Category:1034 deaths]]
[[Category:Gaelic monarchs in Scotland]]