Duncan II of Scotland - Early Life

Early Life

The identity of Duncan's mother is given by the Orkneyinga saga. Which records the marriage of Malcolm and Ingibiorg, and then mentions "their son was Duncan, King of Scots, father of William". Duncan II got his name from that of his grandfather, Duncan I of Scotland.However Ingibiorg is never mentioned by primary sources written by Scottish and Engluish chroniclers. She might have been a concubine or have a marriage not recognized by the church. William of Malmesbury calls Duncan an illegitimate son of Malcolm III. This account influenced a number of Medieval commentators, who also dismissed Duncan as an illegitimate son. But this claim is propaganda reflecting the need of Malcolm's descendants by Margaret to undermine the claims of Duncan's descendants, the Meic Uilleim. There is no primary source which would indicate that Duncan was ever excluded from the royal succession.

Duncan was given into the keeping of William I of England in 1072 as a hostage. The Annals of Ulster note that "French went into Scotland and brought away the son of the king of Scotland as hostage". The French of the text were actually the Normans. The primary source does not identify Duncan by name, but his known half-brothers were at the time either infants or yet to be born. The context of this event was the initial conflict between Malcolm III and William I. The Norman conquest of England also involved William securing control over the areas of Northumbria. Malcolm probably perceived this move as a threat to his own areas of Cumbria and Lothian. In 1070, Malcolm responded with a "savage raid" of Northern England. In 1072, counter-attacked with a full-scale invasion of southern Scotland. Pursuing the retreating Malcolm to Abernethy. The resulting Treaty of Abernethy forced Malcolm to become a vassal to his rival. A response to the harsh reality that the armed forces of Malcolm had met their match. The offering of Duncan, his eldest son, as a hostage was probably another term of the treaty.

Duncan was raised in the Anglo-Norman court of William I, becoming familiar with the culture, education, and institutions of his hosts. Trained as a Norman knight, and participating in the campaigns of William I. In 1087, William I died, and his eldest surviving son Robert Curthose succeeded him as Duke of Normandy. According to Florence of Worcester, Robert released Duncan from custody and had him officially knighted. Duncan was allowed to leave the Duchy of Normandy. He chose to join the court of William II of England, younger brother to Robert. His father, who had many sons, appears to have made no effort to obtain Duncan's return. Edward, the eldest paternal, half-brother of Duncan had been designated heir in his absence. Duncan notably chose to stay with his adoptive culture. Partly due to the influence of 15-years of Norman life, partly in pursuit of personal wealth and glory.

In 1092, hostilities between Malcolm III and William II were ongoing. William II managed to capture Carlisle, a major settlement of Cumbria. In 1093, William started construction of Carlisle Castle. Malcolm reacted by leading his last raid into Northumberland. While marching north again, Malcolm was ambushed by Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria, whose lands he had devastated, near Alnwick on 13 November 1093. There he was killed by Arkil Morel, steward of Bamburgh Castle. The conflict became known as the Battle of Alnwick. Edward was mortally wounded in the same fight. His consort Margaret, it is said, died soon after receiving the news of their deaths from Edgar. The resulting power vacuum allowed Donalbane (Domnall Bán mac Donnchada), younger brother of Malcolm, to seize the throne. Reigning as Donald III, the new monarch represented the interests of "a resentful native aristocracy", driving out the Anglo-Saxons and Normans who had staffed the court of Malcolm and Margaret. The event allowed Duncan to lay claim to the throne, attempting to depose his uncle. He had the support of William II, in exchange of an oath of fealty to his patron.