Donald III

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Donald III (d. c.1100), king of Scotland (1093–4, 1094–7), known as Donald Bane. He seized the kingship on the death of his brother, Malcolm III. The children of Malcolm and his English wife, St Margaret, fled into exile, and Donald expelled Malcolm's English followers who he feared would support them. His first rival, however, was Duncan II, Malcolm's eldest son by his Orcadian wife Ingibiorg. Duncan had been dubbed knight by William II of England in 1087, and with William's military intervention he dislodged Donald from the kingship in 1094. Duncan was soon defeated, forced to dismiss his Anglo-Norman backers, and before the end of the year was killed in battle and Donald restored to the throne. This time Donald was supported by Malcolm and Margaret's son Edmund whom he probably recognized as his heir. In 1097 William II gave military backing to another of Malcolm and Margaret's sons, Edgar. Donald was defeated and he and Edmund incarcerated. In 1099 he was blinded by Edgar and died (perhaps as a result). He was buried at Dunkeld, but later reburied on Iona.

Dauvit Broun

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Donald III

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