Malcolm III Caennmor

  General Notes:

Malcolm III was crowned at Scone, ten miles north of what became Casha bout a century later. In 1057, MacDuff, 1st Earl of Fife, undoubtedl y seated him on the inaugural stone, that ancient symbol of Celtic Kin gship used in Eire for centuries, and brought to Scotia with our Dalri adain Scots in 464. From then on, Earls of Fife placed succeeding Kin gs on the sacred "Stone of Scone", as one of the hereditary privilege s granted them in perpetuity by Malcolm III.

Feudalism came into royal favor as a way of life and government underM alcolm III in 1057. It is said that Margaret, his Queen, had favored it and urged him to foster and extend it. Simply, it was mainly the g ranting of Crown lands to overlords who were loyal to the King, then a llowing them to govern their territories so long as they adhered to th e Kings policies. In the case of large private holdings, the owner wa s brought into closer fealty to the King, joined in the councils,perha ps granted the title of Earl.

People would band together around the chief landholder, whether he hel d possession by Royal Charter, lease, or mere 'sword right'. Thus, th e Clans of Scotland were born. The word means 'children' ... clustere d about their leader, regarding him as chieftain, defender, counselr a nd father figure -- Clan MacDuff, Clan MacIntosh, Clan MacCash, etc. S ometimes clan fought clan on matters of boundary or principle. Occasio nally an unworthy Chief might be slain and replaced by his Clan. The K ings government was remote and distant; often his occasional emmissari es were not too efficient, or their influence disruptive to local lif e and custom. Therefore, the Clan system proved ideal by having at ha nd a local leader who could act in disputes, give counsel, or lead ind efense if necessary. This fostered the "Spirit of the Clan"; it devel oped in the Scotland Highlands a "Clanship" that became a great socia l force, unlike the tribalism that destroyed itself in so many countri es, notably Ireland. The Clans have survived centuries of the invasio ns of Scotland.

Malcolm married Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, daughter of Finn Arnasson and Bergliot Halfdansdottir, about 1066. (Ingibiorg Finnsdottir was born before 1070.)

Malcolm next married Margaret Atheling, daughter of Edward Atheling and Agatha, about 1068 in Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland. (Margaret Atheling was born about 1045 in Hungary and died on Nov 16, 1093 in Edinburg Castle, Scotland.)