Thread by @Arby_K

A dynasty comes to an end, but a new one emerges.

But the new King dies in battle and the victor becomes King.

While the dead King's son bides his time, waiting for the opportune moment to seize back the throne.

Story in the evening ...

Máel Coluim mac Donnchada was born around 1031 to Donnchadh mac Crínán. His grandmother, Bethoc, was the daughter of King Máel Coluim of Alba (Scotland). King Máel Coluim was last in the line of Cináed mac Ailpín, the first King of Alba. 1/10

Alba was one of the many Kingdoms that once formed part of present day Scotland. King Máel Coluim's had no sons, but he appears to have married off his daughters to influential lords in the region. Bethoc's husband, Crínán of Dunkeld, may have been the Thane of Atholl. 2/10

Findlaích mac Ruaidrí, Thane of Angus and Mormaer of Moray, and Sigurd Hlodvirsson, Jarl of Orkney, may also have been King Máel Coluim's son-in-laws. In his later years, the King appears to have anointed his grandson, Donnchadh mac Crínán, as his heir. 3/10

Donnchadh succeeded as King in 1034. But his rule was short after he was killed in battle against Moray in 1040. The Mormaer of Moray, Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, then became the King of Alba. Mac Bethad was also married to Gruoch, a member of the Ailpin dynasty. 4/10

Máel Coluim mac Donnchada and his younger brother, Domnall, was send away for safety, though it is not certain where. They may have ended up in Northumbria whose Earl may have been a relative or to Orkney or even England. 5/10

In 1045, Máel Coluim's grandfather, Crínán, died in battle against King Mac Bethad. The Earl of Northumbria also battled Alba later either to make Máel Coluim mac Donnchada or a different Máel Coluim (of possibly the neighbouring Kingdom of Strathclyde), the King of Alba. 6/10

In 1057, Máel Coluim battled King Mac Bethad and defeated him at Lumphanan. The King died in battle and was succeeded by Gruoch's son, Lulach. But a year later, Máel Coluim overcame Lulach to become King of Alba in 1058. 7/10

In 1066, after the Norman conquest of England, King Máel Coluim gave sanctuary to Edgar Ætheling, the grandson of Eadmund, former King of England. Though Edgar had been nominally elected King of England by the Witenaġemot, he had no way of taking up his rule. 8/10

Having married Edgar's sister, Margaret, in 1070, King Máel Coluim invaded England in part to support his brother-in-law. But he was unsuccessful and had, in turn, had to accept the English King as overlord instead. 9/10

In 1093, King Máel Coluim again invaded England, but this time died in battle at Alnwick. His brother, Domnall, became King, though was deposed by Máel Coluim's sons with Anglo Norman help. The later Kings of Scotland would descend from David, Máel Coluim's youngest son. 10/10