Duncan II 'The Ever-Wounded'
Duncan II
Personal Details
King Duncan II 'The Ever-Wounded'
Born: 1060
(Exact date unknown)
Reign: 1095 - 1114
(19 years)
Personal Kills: 3
Wars: 7
(4 Offensive, 3 Defensive)
Death:
(Date of Death: 13 May, 1114)
(Cause of Death: Wounds received from battles)
(Age at time of death: 54
years)
Background:
When his father, the great 'Canmore', passed away, Duncan II had much to live up to and tried his best to live up to the legend of his father. Even though he was a shy boy in his youth, he never let anyone walk over him or his loved-ones, constantly challenging people to duels. On one occasion he even challenged his father's chancellor to a duel, the chancellor went to his father to complain of course, but his father, amused by his son encouraged his son to keep on fighting and dueling people! He is probably most known for this, his eagerness to fight. Some people say that he even outshone the great 'Canmore' in regards to fighting and war, but this isn't fully true as even though fought with many people, he did not kill as many men as his father did, nor did he fight in more wars than his father. At the end stages of his life he would be known as 'The Ever-Wounded'. He gained this nickname due to the fact the whenever he came into public view, he would always have a fresh set of wounds from one of his many battles. He would later die from wounds received from battle.
Family and Other
Spouse:
- Queen Constance de Normandie
(Date of Birth: 1061 | Exact date unknown)
(Date of Death: 22 December, 1130)
(Cause of Death: Old Age)
(Age at time of death: 69 years)
Children:
- Rodina Dunkeld
(Female)
(Date of Birth: 1078 | Exact date unknown )
(Date of Death: 31 December, 1107)
(Cause of Death: Childbirth)
(Age at time of death: 29 years)
Siblings:
- Petty King Pal Porfinnrsson of the Northern Isles
(Male)
(Half-Brother)
(Date of Birth: 1043 | Exact date unknown )
(Date of Death: 29 August, 1067)
(Cause of Death: Wounds received from battle)
(Age at time of death: 24 years)
- Petty King Erlend II Porfinnrsson of the Northern Isles
(Male)
(Half-Brother)
(Date of Birth: 1043 | Exact date unknown )
(Date of Death: 2 May, 1067)
(Cause of Death: Wounds received from battle)
(Age at time of death: 24 years)
- Donald Dunkeld
(Male)
(Brother)
(Date of Birth: 1061 | Exact date unknown )
(Date of Death: 1 March, 1091)
(Cause of Death: Hunting Accident)
(Age at time of death: 30 years)
- Malcolm IV 'The Brash' Dunkeld
(Male)
(Brother)
(Date of Birth: 1062 | Exact date unknown )
(Date of Death: 4 April, 1100)
(Cause of Death: Internal Injuries)
(Age at time of death: 38 years)
Duncan II's Reign
The Young King Duncan II
The Call of Rome
When King Duncan II inherited the Throne from his father, he also inherited the people's fear of the King, thanks to this though, his first few years as King of Scotland were relatively peaceful and people did not revolt against his rule. The King, though a shy man, was not timid nor a coward, he was a proud man that many both feared and respected. His first act as King, was to marry of his daughter and heir, Rodina, to his cousin, who was the first-in-line to inherit has father's lands.
The Young Rodina and her Husband Hugh
Duncan's first few years as King were spent building Scotland up. In these years, he build many defenses such as walls and forts on his Western and North-Eastern borders and setting up places in the rest of Scotland where the peasantry could get armed and ready for the future wars to come.
After these years of preparation were over, the banners of war were finally called. The Pope in Rome had decided to call a Crusade against Jerusalem.
This was Duncan's shot to prove his worth as the new King and so he supported the Pope in his endeavors, both with gold and with men. When choosing his beneficiary he thought long and deep and eventually came to the decision of his cousin Iona, though it is not known precisely why Iona was chosen as his beneficiary, many suspect it was due to Duncan's great liking of her.
When Duncan had assembled his forces, they set out across the sea and went to the Holy-Land. On the way there though Duncan became ill and on the advice of his commanders, went back to Scotland, much to his dismay. After a few months on sea, the Scottish fleet had reached the Mediterranean and was planning to land in Syria when it arrived. They successfully landed not long after and were met to no resistance and so, the Scottish armies begun besieging down the castles and forts in Syria.
For many months the Scottish armies kept taking numerous forts and eventually allies started arriving.... but so did enemies. Many battles were already fought by other armies, but all these battles paled in comparison to the Battle of As-Suwaida-Huaran. Here, the Crusaders all got together to fight the largest army in Syria. The battle was hard-fought and lasted many hours. it even looked like the Crusaders may lose the battle, but then the Scotsmen came and the day was won!
(The Battle of As-Suwaida-Huaran)
Not long here after the Crusade came to an end with Rome and it's Crusaders standing victorious! With Jerusalem taken, Iona of Scotland was appointed to be it's Queen. After receiving this Holy-Kingdom, Iona was so pleased with Duncan II that she named her first born son after him.
(The Crusaders Triumphant)
(Young Duncan of Jerusalem)
Morcar 'The Sword of Order'
Not long after the end of the Crusade, war was declared on Scotland from an ambitious duke in England, one Duke Morcar, also known as Morcar 'The Sword of Order'. Morcar was the Duke of Northumbria and wanted lands that were taken from his father by Malcolm 'Canmore' and so declared war for these lands. He was wise to do so, for even though Scotland had come out on top in the Crusade many of it's soldiers were killed and wounded so this made it much easier for the Northumbrians to strike against their Northern enemies
The war did not go well for the Scottish for the enemy had more men than the Scottish so the Scots could never meet them in open battle. The Scotsmen tried baiting the Northumbrians into battle where they were favored, but alas this did not work. King Duncan II grew quite stressed during this time and would often have sleepless nights. Luckily his marshal, brother and long-time friend Malcolm IV came to help him during these trying times, often coming to meet with him to lighten his clouded mind. When Malcolm IV was not helping Duncan II and his troubled mind, he was working on plans to attack the retched Northumbrians. Who knew that one as kind and as hard-working as Malcolm IV would have such vile, trouble-seeking offspring? His part of House Dunkeld would be a major thorn in the sides of many of Duncan's offspring.
After a year of war, 'The Sword of Order' claimed victory and took the lands of Cumberland. Much land was lost, but this was not the only thing that would be lost. In the only battle of the war, the battle of Cumberland, Malcolm IV was caught amidst a cavalry charge and brutally maimed, losing an arm. He died not long after. Duncan was devastated. Not only did he lose his land, but he also lost a large amount of his army and also his closest friend. The war had taken much from the King but there was at least a small victory for him, his long-time rival, Steffan 'The Brash' had been taken into captivity by the Northumbrians and his body would later be sent back to Scotland, this at the very least was noted to cheer King Duncan II up a bit.
(Malcolm cheers up his brother)
(Duke Morcar 'The Sword of Order' sends his demands)
(Malcolm gets maimed)
(Malcolm dies)
Steffan 'The Brash' imprisoned
(Steffan 'The Brash' dead)
The Rise of Malcolm V
The death of Malcolm IV meant that his son, also named Malcolm, would inherit his lands. Malcolm V was the spitting image of his father, but where Malcolm IV was proud, Malcolm V was ambitious. The new Malcolm had once been Duncan II's ward and the King had loved his nephew much treating him as if he were his own son, but alas, the newly anointed Duke of Strathclyde resented his uncle, believing that he was the cause of his father's death. This newly found hatred for his uncle and his own ambitions forebode nothing good for the future of the Kingdom...
Not four years had passed when King Duncan received word from Strathclyde, his nephew had declared him incapable of ruling, stating thus that it was his(Malcolm V) divine right to rule and that if Duncan would not abdicate peacefully that there would be blood to pay. And blood there was. Malcolm, already one of the strongest vassals had also the support of all other major Scottish vassals. Duncan, having only his own armies to fight for him avoided battle as much as possible, while waiting for his one allies to assist him. His allies were his only hope at victory.
(Malcolm V's letter)
Kings of England
Down to Scotland's South was where King Duncan's hope lied, unfortunately the useless King Richard was dethroned and his alliance essentially rendered useless, as he was now only a measly prince who could call only his tiny army of seven-hundred men, who hadn't even been an army, because the 'Trembler' as he was known, decided to use all of his troops as his own personal bodyguards, all of them had only been used to defend him and the castle he was hiding in. He had promised to send his troops North to aid Duncan in his war, but his troops simply never arrived.
It had seemed that Duncan's plans were ruined, all because a useless king could not keep his throne, but Duncan thought of the one who took said king's throne, a man who was both known for his arrogance and his ambition, a man Duncan thought could maybe help him in his endeavors, Robert II, younger brother of 'The Trembler'. Unfortunately, even though he was arrogant and ambitious he did not join Duncan, even though Duncan had promised him many things if he had joined in the war, this King seemed just as cowardly as the previous, and so angry at his refusal to help, King Duncan began referring to him as "The Fearful King" or simply "The Fearful" for short.
(The new 'Trembler')
The Scottish Civil War
Already the odds were turned against him, but things went from bad to worse, as Malcolm somehow managed to get an alliance with the King of France, Phillipe! The French King and his army came quickly to Malcolm's assistance and it was here that Duncan II decided to act. He knew that if the two armies met, they would become an unbeatable force that would only destroy his army if he were to meet it in battle, so he decided to strike at one of Malcolm's armies, one that was closest to the French. This battle, fought in Penicuick, did not end well for Duncan and his troops, with Duncan being severely wounded and only barely escaping death.
(King Duncan retreats from the battle with his life still intact)
(The Defeat at Penicuick)
After the battle
, King Duncan had returned to the capital at St Johnston to recover from his wounds and left his army in the command of one of his commanders. Unfortunately, while the King was healing, his armies decided to camp near an enemy army in Callander and were soon spotted and attacked. Duncan's forces lost yet again.
(Defeat at the Battle of Callander)
A few months after this ordeal, King Duncan decided that he would not leave his only army in the hands of useless commanders and so he lead his army once again. He took the army North-West to be near the Castle of Skye and near to the enemy armies. By the time they arrived it was mid-winter and they were camped in a very hilly region, the perfect place, Duncan thought, to prepare for the coming battles in the summer. He did not expect to be met with much resistance as he knew even though Malcolm had the numbers, Malcolm was no fool and would not risk getting his armies killed because of the weather or lack of food. What Duncan did not expect was the imminent attack of the French. King Phillipe of France was hungry for a fight, as he had not seen any combat since he joined the war and so he thought to attack the meager army of King Duncan, even if it was winter and even if Duncan had the high-ground, Phillipe did not care, he was itching for a fight.
(The battle of Glenfinnan)
Even though Duncan's armies had a big defensive bonus against the French, they were still heavily outnumbered and this was what cost them the battle. An army of one-thousand-three-hundred vs an army of five-thousand-five-hundred and sixty-three, with an extra four-thousand troops coming in as reinforcements, the battle went badly for the defenders, who would eventually lost the battle, but after the battle was over and the army of Duncan retreated, stories began to circulate of a brave knight who fought and wounded the King of France severely. When Duncan heard these rumors he went and asked who was responsible for such a deed, and if this had really been true. Duncan found out that this was in fact true and that a brave knight known as Tuathal had indeed wounded King Phillipe! As it turned out, he mortally wounded the French King, as messages came from all over Scotland of King Phillipe's demise(The people of Scotland went crazy over the fact that a foreign King died on Scottish soil). With King Phillipe dead, France had left the war and things were starting to look up for Duncan.
(Defeat at Glenfinnan and the wounded King)
(Tuathal, the man that saved Scotland)
(The dead French King)
With the King now dead, Tuathal was from hence on celebrated as a hero(And still is, he has a statue and everything!) and King Duncan's luck turned for the better as not long here after, his army scored it's first victory of the war. The enemy army was small, only consisting of three-hundred and twenty-four men and at the end of the battle consisting of none. Even though this battle actually made no real difference in the war, this combined with the French King's death brought back spirit to Duncan's men, and this was very much needed.
(The Great victory at Galashiels)
(Meanwhile, far away in Jerusalem, the Queen Iona forms her on dynasty. The Armstrong Dynasty)
(Young Duncan died unfortunately 
)
(Now back to Scotland)
Just as it seemed his luck had turned for the better, a series of unfortunate events happened. The first of these events was the declaration of independence from minor lord, even though he did not have that many troops, Duncan could not hope to deal with him before dealing with the bigger threat, Malcolm V. This was the second unfortunate event, Malcolm V had formed a brand new alliance with one of the Petty Kings in Ireland, calling him into the war. The last unfortunate event struck Duncan the hardest though. It was no battle lost, no, it was the death of his only child and heir, Rodina. Rodina had died at only twenty-nine years of age, she died during childbirth. This left her oldest child Malmure as heir to the Scottish throne.
(Unfortunate event #1)
(Unfortunate event #2)
(Unfortunate event #3)
When Duncan was at his darkest moment, fate switched things up once again. The King of England had died and there was a new King, a new King who's support Duncan had. I am of course talking about the newly crowned King William II, firstborn son of King Richard 'The Trembler' and nephew to the previous King. King Robert had died without any heirs and Prince Richard had died before him, thus leaving the entire Kingdom of England in the hands of this boy and his council. They sent a small army North to assist Duncan and sent the rest of the army to France, because William inherited a war from his father.
(King William II)
The End of the Civil War
For five years this brutal war was fought, with Malcolm and his lackeys being on top most of the time, but finally Duncan was able to strike back, now with the support of his ally Duncan went on the offensive and went straight to siege Malcolm's capital. After months of siege, the army of Duncan finally broke through the walls and the defenses and captured the castle and... it's inhabitants. Two sons of Malcolm V. His oldest son and heir and his youngest son. With these two honored guests in his possession, Duncan had gained a huge advantage in the war. Duncan wanted to keep fighting, but alas Malcolm's forces were now taking his capitol and his English soldiers were being called to fight in the war in France, so Duncan decided to send an offer of White-Peace, as this was better than nothing, and Malcolm accepted. His sons were given back to him and there was peace in the land once-more.
(A look at the war)
(Malcolm's Sons captured)
The Fall of Malcolm V
With the white peace signed and order restored, Duncan disinherited Malcolm V, entirely removing his chances of inheriting the throne. This was a small victory for Duncan.
(Malcolm Disinherited)
Only a few months after peace was reached, Duncan, in an attempt to show that he was still someone to be feared and respected declared war on Northumbria for a claiment that had claims on the land that they had taken years prior. This ended badly for Duncan, as the war when about to be won, was lost, due to the death of the claiment. Even though he might not have won, he was still happy as news had arrived that his nephew Malcolm had died from wounds he received from the only battle that had been fought in the war against Northumbria. Small victories.
(The Northumbrian War)
(The Death of Malcolm V)
The Death of Duncan II
Duncan II, although he always tried to be a warrior, he was always a much better diplomat, but he never really used these skills he had, not until his last remaining years where he managed to convince the Petty King of the Island of Mon to become his vassal.
(A new vassal enters the fray)
It is known that after the war, Duncan became haunted with the past. Having terrible dreams about his brother, daughter and even his nephew, whom he still loved despite the torment he had caused him.
(Haunted by the past)
(A final look at Malcolm before his death)
King Duncan II finally passed away at the age of fifty-four dying of wounds that had still not fully healed. He left the throne in the hands of his young grandson Malmure.
(The death of King Duncan II)
The Scottish People's Thoughts on: Duncan II
Duncan II is considered to be one of the worst kings in Scotland's history. His rule was filled with constant war and failure and he himself didn't bring anything other than pain and suffering to the Scottish people in an attempt to out shine his father, trying to be known for his martial skills he completely ignored what he was good at, diplomacy. His biggest accomplishments were winning a Crusade that gave a Dunkeld power and vassalising the Petty King of Mon.
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