Style of the monarchs of Scotland
Encyclopedia
Style of the monarchs of Scotland is about the styles and forms of address used by Scottish
royalty
, specifically the monarchs of Scotland from the earliest times until the present, including monarchs from the Pictish
period to the British
period.
. These sources are generally reliable. For the earlier medieval period, Annals of Ulster
(AU) and Annals of Tigernach
(AT) derive from the Iona Chronicle, a chronicle
kept in Scotland. The Annals of Innisfallen are not as reliable, and the forms given in that source, when in doubt, do not need to be trusted. Other sources used here are the Annals of Connacht
(AC) and the Chronicon Scotorum
(CS) The style almost always King's name, followed by patronymic
, followed by title. The source of each style is given in brackets, followed by the year under which it follows (s.a. = sub anno); it is usually the year in which the king died. Until the eleventh century, there is no one fixed term for Scotland in Gaelic
. Before tenth century, the king
s the area now comprising modern Scotland are either "of Picts
", "of Fortriu
" or "of Alba
", standardising after 900; but the rulers of Moray
, not by historiographical tradition called "King", are called king in the sources; moreover, they are sometimes called "kings of Alba".
preserves a grant
supposedly made by King Nechtan
to the monastery
of St. Brigid at Abernethy, c. early sixth century:
In the Scottish period, the charter styles vary at first, but later become more formulaic. Here are some examples from the early charter period. The Roman numeral which follows is the number given to the charter in Archibald C. Lawrie's Early Scottish Charters: Prior to A.D. 1153, (Glasgow
, 1905):
From David I
onwards, the royal style is either "rex Scottorum" or "rex Scotiae".
was in the Declaration of Arbroath
(1320). King of the Scots was used in "The Declaration of the Clergy in favour of Robert the Bruce" (1334), as it was in the charter by which Edward Balliol
ceded the southern counties of Scotland to England. However, in many other documents King of Scotland was the preferred style, including "The Letter of the Magnates of Scotland to the King of France" (1308), "The Settlement of Succession on Robert the Bruce" (1315), the Treaty of Corbeuil
(1326), the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton
(1328), the Papal Bull
authorising the anointing of Scottish Kings (1329) and the Treaty of Berwick
(1357). This remained the case until the last three monarchs of Scotland, William II of Scotland
, Mary II of Scotland and Anne of Scotland, who became Anne of Great Britain
following the Acts of Union 1707
.
of 1707, when Scotland
became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain
. From then on, British
(and Scottish) monarchs were addressed as "Your Majesty".
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
royalty
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
, specifically the monarchs of Scotland from the earliest times until the present, including monarchs from the Pictish
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
period to the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
period.
Earliest styles
The earliest styles are those given in sources which have come down to us mainly from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. These sources are generally reliable. For the earlier medieval period, Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
(AU) and Annals of Tigernach
Annals of Tigernach
The Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish....
(AT) derive from the Iona Chronicle, a chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
kept in Scotland. The Annals of Innisfallen are not as reliable, and the forms given in that source, when in doubt, do not need to be trusted. Other sources used here are the Annals of Connacht
Annals of Connacht
The Annals of Connacht, covering the years 1224 to 1544, are drawn from a manuscript compiled in the 15th and 16th centuries by at least three scribes, all believed to be members of the Clan Ó Duibhgeannáin....
(AC) and the Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum is a medieval Irish chronicle.According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the 'Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric times to 1150 but with some gaps, closely related to the 'Annals of Tigernach'...
(CS) The style almost always King's name, followed by patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
, followed by title. The source of each style is given in brackets, followed by the year under which it follows (s.a. = sub anno); it is usually the year in which the king died. Until the eleventh century, there is no one fixed term for Scotland in Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
. Before tenth century, the king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
s the area now comprising modern Scotland are either "of Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
", "of Fortriu
Fortriu
Fortriu or the Kingdom of Fortriu is the name given by historians for an ancient Pictish kingdom, and often used synonymously with Pictland in general...
" or "of Alba
Alba
Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is cognate to Alba in Irish and Nalbin in Manx, the two other Goidelic Insular Celtic languages, as well as similar words in the Brythonic Insular Celtic languages of Cornish and Welsh also meaning Scotland.- Etymology :The term first appears in...
", standardising after 900; but the rulers of Moray
Mormaer of Moray
The Mormaerdom or Kingdom of Moray was a lordship in High Medieval Scotland that was destroyed by King David I of Scotland in 1130. It did not have the same territory as the modern local government council area of Moray, which is a much smaller area, around Elgin...
, not by historiographical tradition called "King", are called king in the sources; moreover, they are sometimes called "kings of Alba".
Traditional Pictish period
- Domangurt mac Nissi ri Alban (AT 506)
- Comgall mac Domanguirt ri Alban (AT 537)
- Gabrain maic Domanguirt ríg Alban (AT 559)
- Cennalath, rex Pictorum (AU, s.a. 580)
- Bruidhe mac Maelchon, ri Cruithneach (AT, s.a. 581)
- Bruide mc. Maelcon rex Pictorum (AU584)
- Gartnad rex Pictorum (AT597)
- Cinedon filii Lugthreni, rex Pictorum. (AU631)
- Cined mac Luchtren, rex Pictorum. (CS631)
- Cinaed, rí Alban (AI 633)
- Cínaeth mac Luchtren, rex Pictorum (AT633)
- Tolorcan mac Ainfrith, rí Cruithne (AT656).
- Bruidhe mac Bile, rex Fortrend (AT693)
- Bruide m. Bili, rex Fortrend (AU693)
- Aengus mac Fergusa, rex Picctorum (AT736)
- Oengus m. Fergusso, rex Pictorum (AU736)
- Aengus rí Alban (AT 759)
- Aengus mac Fergusa, rex Pictorum (AT761)
- Oengus m. Fherghussa rex Pictorum (AU761)
- Bruidhi rí Fortrenn (AT 763)
- Bruide, rex Fortrenn (AU 763)
- Dub Tholargg rex Pictorum citra Monoth (AU782)
- Causantín mac Fergussa, ri Alban (AI 820)
- Custantin m. Fergusa, rex Fortreinn (AU820)
- Oengus m. Fergusa, rex Fortrenn (AU 834)
- Cináed mac Alpín, ri Alban (AI 858)
- Cinaedh m. Ailpin rex Pictorum (AU 858)
Traditional Scottish period
- Domnall m. Caustantin, ri Alban (AU 900)
- Custantin m. Aedha ri Alban (AU 952)
- Mael Coluim m. Domnaill, ri Alban (AU 954)
- Dub m. Mael Coluim, ri Alban (AU 967)
- Culen m. Illuilb, ri Alban (AU 971)
- Amhlaim m. Ailuilbh, .i. ri Alban (AU 977)
- Amlaim mac Illuilb, rí Alban (AT 977)
- Cinaedh m. Mael Cholaim, ri Alban (AU 995)
- Cináeth mac Mail Cholaim, rí Alban (AT 995)
- Constantin mac Cuilindaín rí Alban (AT 997)
- ri Alban, .i. Cinaedh m. Duibh (AU 1005)
- Finnloech m. Ruaidhri, ri Alban (AU 1020)
- Mael Colaim mac Mael-Brighdi mac Ruaidrí, rí Alban (1029)
- Mael Coluim m. Cinaedha, ri Alban (AU 1034)
- Donnchad m. Crinan, rí Alban (AU 1040)
- Donncadh mac Crínan, aird-rí Alban (AT 1040)
- M. Beathadh m. Finnlaich airdrigh Alban (AU 1058)
- Mac Bethadh mac Findlaich, aird-rí Alban (AT 1058)
- Lulach, rí Alban (AT 1058)
- Mael Snechtai m. Lulaigh ri Muireb (AU 1085)
- Mael Coluim ri Alban (AU 1085)
- Mael Coluim m. Donnchadha airdri Alban
- Mael Colaim mac Donnchadha, rí Alban (1093)
- Donnchadh m. Mael Coluim ri Alban (AU 1094)
- Domnall mac Donnchada, rí Alban (AT 1099)
- Etgair ri Alban (AU 1107)
- Alaxandair m. Mael Choluim ri Alban (AU 1124)
- Oenghus m. ingine Luluigh (ri Moréb) (AU 1130)
- Dabid, rí Alban (AT 1152)
- Dabid mac Mail Colaim, rí Alban & Saxan (AT 1153)
- Mael Coluim Cennmor, mac Eanric, ardri Alban, in cristaidhe as ferr do bai do Gaidhelaibh re muir anair (AU 1165)
- Ri Alban, Uilliam Garm (AU 1214)
- Uilliam, ri Alban (AU 1214)
- Roibert a Briuis, mormaer .. righ n-Alban (AU 1302 = 1306)
- Roberd a Briuis mormaer .. rig a nAlbain (AC 1306)
- Edubart Mor Ri Saxan & Bretan & Alban & Duice na Gascune & tigerna na hErend (AC 1307)
- Roibeat a Briuis, ri Alban (AU 1314)
- Righ Alban .i. Semus Sdibard (AC 1499)
Medieval Charter styles
The Poppleton ManuscriptPoppleton manuscript
The Poppleton Manuscript is the name given to the fourteenth century codex likely compiled by Robert of Poppleton, a Carmelite friar who was the Prior of Hulne, near Alnwick. The manuscript contains numerous works, such as a map of the world , and works by Orosius, Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gerald...
preserves a grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
supposedly made by King Nechtan
Nechtan II of the Picts
Nechtan grandson of Uerb, was king of the Picts from 597 to around 620. It has been suggested that this Nechtan is the same person as the Neithon who ruled the kingdom of Alt Clut.According to the Pictish Chronicle, Nechtan reigned for 20 or 21 years...
to the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of St. Brigid at Abernethy, c. early sixth century:
- Latin: Nectonius magnus filius Uuirp rex omnium prouiciarum Pictorum
- English: "Great Nechtan, son of Uurp, King of all the provinces of the Picts"
In the Scottish period, the charter styles vary at first, but later become more formulaic. Here are some examples from the early charter period. The Roman numeral which follows is the number given to the charter in Archibald C. Lawrie's Early Scottish Charters: Prior to A.D. 1153, (Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, 1905):
- Machbet filius Finlach et Gruoch filia Bodhe, rex et regina Scottorum (Lawrie, V.)
- English: "Macbeth son of Findláech and Gruoch daughter of Bodhe, King and Queen of the Scots". Source is the Registrum of the Priory of St Andrews, and the document is a Latin translation from an earlier Gaelic document, so the "rex Scottorum" style not reliable.
- Malcolmus Dei gratia Scottorum basileus (X)
- "Malcolm by the Grace of God, High King of the Scots".
- Edgarus Dei gratia Rex Scottorum (XVII: 1095)
- "Edgar by the Grace of God, King of the Scots".
- Alexander Dei gratia Rex Scottorum (XXVII)
- "Alexander by the Grace of God, King of the Scots"
- David Dei gratia Rex Scotiae (LXIX)
- "David by the Grace of God, King of Scotland".
- David Dei gratia Rex Scottorum (CIV)
- "David by the Grace of God, King of the Scots".
From David I
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
onwards, the royal style is either "rex Scottorum" or "rex Scotiae".
From the late Middle Ages to the Acts of Union
In the late Middle Ages the styles "rex Scottorum" ("king of the Scots") and "rex Scotiae" ("king of Scotland") were used interchangeably. Similarly, the Monarchs of England could be referred to as the "king of the English" as indeed Edward II of EnglandEdward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
was in the Declaration of Arbroath
Declaration of Arbroath
The Declaration of Arbroath is a declaration of Scottish independence, made in 1320. It is in the form of a letter submitted to Pope John XXII, dated 6 April 1320, intended to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and defending Scotland's right to use military action when...
(1320). King of the Scots was used in "The Declaration of the Clergy in favour of Robert the Bruce" (1334), as it was in the charter by which Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol was a claimant to the Scottish throne . With English help, he briefly ruled the country from 1332 to 1336.-Life:...
ceded the southern counties of Scotland to England. However, in many other documents King of Scotland was the preferred style, including "The Letter of the Magnates of Scotland to the King of France" (1308), "The Settlement of Succession on Robert the Bruce" (1315), the Treaty of Corbeuil
Treaty of Corbeil (1326)
The Treaty of Corbeil renewed the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France. It confirmed the obligation of each state to join the other in declaring war if either was attacked by England. The deputation from Scotland was led by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray....
(1326), the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton
Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton
The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton was a peace treaty, signed in 1328 between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. It brought an end to the First War of Scottish Independence, which had begun with the English invasion of Scotland in 1296...
(1328), the Papal Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
authorising the anointing of Scottish Kings (1329) and the Treaty of Berwick
Treaty of Berwick (1357)
The Treaty of Berwick, signed at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scotland, in 1357, officially ended the Second War of Scottish Independence. In this second phase of the Wars of Scottish Independence, which began in 1333, King Edward III of England attempted to install Edward Balliol on the Scottish throne, in...
(1357). This remained the case until the last three monarchs of Scotland, William II of Scotland
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, Mary II of Scotland and Anne of Scotland, who became Anne of Great Britain
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
following the Acts of Union 1707
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
.
Your Grace
Scottish monarchs were addressed as "Your Grace", before the Acts of UnionActs of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
of 1707, when Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. From then on, British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
(and Scottish) monarchs were addressed as "Your Majesty".