Lulach the Bold
| Lulach II | |
|---|---|
 Lulach in a charter of 1145 | |
| King of Scots | |
| Reign | 17 November 1122 - 26 July 1146 |
| Predecessor | Malsnectan |
| Successor | Kenneth VII |
| Born | 8 April 1074 Scotland |
| Died | 26 July 1146 (aged 72) St. Andrews, Scotland |
| Burial | Dunfermline Abbey |
| Consort | Trude Salian (m. 1095; d. 1107) Sigrid, princess of Denmark (m. 1112) |
| Issue | Ragnall, duke of Mann
Donald |
| House | of Moray |
| Father | Malsnectan |
| Mother | Cecelia of Normandy |
Lulach II, known as Lulach the Bold (8 April 1074 - 26 July 1146) reigned as King of Scots from 1122 until his death. The second king of the Moray dynasty, Lulach expanded Scottish power deep into England, exploiting the internal chaos experienced by the southern realm during his reign to conquer most of ancient Northumbria. An accomplished warrior and commander of men, he derived his epithet from his invasion of England in 1123-24.
Towards the end of his reign, Lulach was faced with the murder of his son and designated heir Ragnall in 1139, and the subsequent rebellion of his grandson Constantine, aided by the king of England. Lulach defeated this challenge, and on his death in 1146 he was succeeded by his only surviving brother Kenneth; Lulach's third son Hugh later became king.
Early life
Lulach was born on 8 April 1074, possibly at his father's stronghold of Forres in Moray, the eldest son and child of Malsnectan, king of Scots, and his wife Cecelia of Normandy, a daughter of William the Bastard, duke of Normandy. Little is known of his childhood, but from birth he was probably recognized as the future king; his position as heir was strengthened by his father's extermination of the rival Dunkeld dynasty in 1080-84.