Alliance and Expansion: From Malcolm I to Malcolm II

Between the accession of Malcolm I and Malcolm II, the Kingdom of Scotland experienced a period of complex dynamics involving strategic alliances, internal discord, and territorial expansion.

Malcolm I (reigned 943-954) fostered good relations with the Wessex rulers of England. In 945, King Edmund of England invaded Strathclyde (or Cumbria) and later handed it over to Malcolm on the condition of a permanent alliance. This marked a significant political maneuver, securing the Scottish kingdom's influence in the region. Malcolm's reign also saw tensions with Moray, a region integral to the old Scoto-Pictish kingdom of Fortriu. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba records Malcolm's campaign in Moray, where he killed a local leader named Ceallach, but he was later killed by the Moravians.

King Indulf (954-962), Malcolm I's successor, expanded Scottish territory by capturing Edinburgh, providing Scotland with its first foothold in Lothian. Despite their authority in Strathclyde, the Scots often struggled to enforce control, leading to ongoing conflicts. Cuilén (966-971), one of Indulf's successors, was killed by the men of Strathclyde, indicating persistent resistance.

Kenneth II (971-995) continued the expansionist policies. He invaded Britannia, likely targeting Strathclyde, as part of a traditional Gaelic inauguration rite known as crechríghe, which involved a ceremonial raid to assert his kingship.

Malcolm II (reigned 1005-1034) achieved significant territorial consolidation. In 1018, he defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Carham, securing control over Lothian and parts of the Scottish Borders. The same year saw the death of King Owain Foel of Strathclyde, who left his kingdom to Malcolm. A meeting with King Canute of Denmark and England around 1031 further solidified these gains. Despite the complexities of Scottish rule over Lothian and the Borders, these regions were fully integrated during the subsequent Wars of Independence.