Portal:Biography/Selected article/May 15

David I (Mediaeval Gaelic: Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim; Modern: Daibhidh I mac Mhaoil Chaluim), nicknamed Sanctus, "The Holy" or "the Saint", (b. 1083 x 1085, d. May 24, 1153) was a 12th century ruler who was in succession Prince of the Cumbrians (x 1113–1124) and King of the Scots (1124–1153). The youngest son of Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) and Margaret of Wessex, David spent most of his childhood in Scotland, but was exiled to England in 1093. At some point, perhaps after 1100, he became a hanger-on at the court of King Henry I of England and experienced long exposure to Norman and Anglo-French culture.

When David's brother Alexander I of Scotland died in 1124, David chose, with the backing of Henry I, to take the Kingdom of Scotland (Alba) for himself. He was forced to engage in warfare against his rival and nephew, Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair. Subduing the latter took David ten years, and involved the destruction of Óengus, Mormaer of Moray. David's victory allowed him to expand his control over more distant regions theoretically part of his Kingdom. After the death of his former patron Henry I, David supported the claims of Henry's daughter and his own niece, the former Empress-consort, Matilda, to the throne of England; in the process, he came into conflict with King Stephen and was able to expand his power in northern England, despite his defeat at the Battle of the Standard in 1138.

The term "Davidian Revolution" is used by many scholars to summarise the changes which took place in the Kingdom of Scotland during his reign. These included his foundation of burghs, implementation of the ideals of Gregorian Reform, foundation of monasteries, Normanisation of the Scottish government, and the introduction of feudalism through immigrant French and Anglo-French knights. (Read more...)