David I of Scotland

In 1113 David married Matilda, daughter of the Waltheof, the Anglo-Saxon Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton, and his Norman wife Judith of Lens. Matilda had previously been married to Simon de Senlis who died sometime after 1111. The marriage of David and Matilda produced four children: two daughters and two sons.

David I suffered from ill health during his later years. He was further shattered by the death of his son and successor Henry, Earl of Northumberland, in 1152. Suffering from poor health and facing imminent death, David quickly named his young grandson Malcolm IV as his successor. David died on 24 May 1153.

David was born in 1083 as the youngest son of Malcolm III of Scotland through his second marriage to Queen Margaret. He was probably the eighth son of his father. His grandfather was King Duncan I.

His father and one of his brothers, Edward, were killed in 1093 during an invasion of Northumberland. Another tragedy befell the young boy when his mother too died shortly afterwards.

His uncle Domnall took over Scotland as the king and exiled David and his surviving brothers. He then went to live with his brother-in-law, King Henry I of England.

In 1113 Henry I arranged David’s marriage to Matilda of Huntingdon, daughter and heiress of Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria. Through this marriage he acquired the English earldom of Huntingdon and obtained the control over several regions in that country.

David’s brother, Alexander I had become the king of Scots in 1107 and with the support of Henry I, David claimed his inheritance from his brother. He received new territories in southern Scotland which consisted of Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire, Berwickshire, Peeblesshire and Lanarkshire. In addition, he also gained the title ‘Princeps Cumbrensis’ (Prince of the Cumbrians).

He gained a lot more power and stature upon receiving his inheritance. Even though the details regarding David’s life after 1114 are obscure, it is believed that he spent much of his time in England and in Normandy.

His brother Alexander I of Scotland died in 1124. With backing from Henry I, David fought two fierce battles with Alexander's son Máel Coluim and defeated him. Following the victory, David was crowned King of Scotland.

King Henry I died on 1 December 1135 after a week of illness. Since he had no surviving legitimate sons, he had arranged his inheritance to pass to his daughter Empress Matilda. However upon his death, his nephew Stephen seized the throne.

David I was one of the most significant kings to have ever ruled over Scotland. During his reign he brought about several changes in the country which scholars now term as “Davidian Revolution”. During his administration, Scotland experienced innovations in governmental practices and also witnessed the implementation of several religious reforms.