Malcolm II., born about 954, died November 25, 1034. He succeeded to the throne in 1005, and had a troubled reign of about thirty years. He defeated Kenneth IV., at Monievaird in Strathearn, and in consequence became king. His annoyance came from the Danes who, in previous reigns, had made several attempts to effect a settlement in Scotland, but had been defeated in all of them. They had secured a firm footing in England, and the year after Malcolm's accession to the throne, they commenced the most formidable preparations, under their celebrated king, Sweyn, for a new expedition to the Scottish coasts. Malcolm finally defeated this initial invasion in 1010. There was a second attempt made to gain a foothold in Northern England, but it too was defeated. In 1014, another Danish force landed on the coast of Buchan. The Danes on this occasion were led by Sweyn's celebrated son, Canute, afterwards King of England and Denmark, and again they experienced a signal overthrow. A treaty was drawn up which stipulated that the Danes agreed to quit every part of the Scottish coasts, and this was followed by the final departure, the same year, of these invaders from Scotland. Malcolm was next engaged in war with the Northumbrians, and, having in 1018, led his army to Carham, near Werk, on the south bank of the Tweed River, he was met there by Uchtred, Earl of Northumberland, when a desperate battle took place. The victory was claimed by Uchtred, who was, soon after, assassinated, when on his way to pay his obeisance to the great Canute. He killed Kenneth III., son of Dub. He had no sons. Having succeeded as King of Alba in 1005, Malcolm II. secured Lothian by the battle of Carham about 1016 and about the same time obtained Strathclyde for his grandson, Duncan, thus forming the kingdom of Scotland.

After Malcolm II's reign, Scottish succession was based on the principle of direct descent. (Previously, succession was determined by tanistry - during a king's lifetime an heir was chosen and known as tanaiste rig - 'second to the king'.