Summary: St David was the youngest son of King Malcolm III (Canmore) of Scotland and his wife Margaret who is herself a saint (c/f 16th Nov.) He contributed enormously to setting up civilising and religious institutions in Scotland.
Patrick Duffy retells his story here.
An English Earl Through Marriage
Although David spent most of his childhood in Scotland, he was educated for some years at the Anglo-Norman court. and when his brother Alexander acceded to the throne of Scotland in 1107, David became prince of Cumbria. He married Matilda, daughter of Waldef, earl of Northampton and Huntingdon and thus became an English earl. As prince of Cumbria he was entitled to an inheritance in southern Scotland.
King of Scotland: involved in the Civil War in England
On Alexander’s death, David became king of Scotland rather reluctantly in 1124. In the civil war between Stephen and Matilda in England (1141-54) he was involved on the side of Matilda, his sister, and consort of the late King Henry I. He suffered some defeats and his soldiers committed some atrocities. From then on he devoted his attention to Scotland and only then grew into his Scottish inheritance. He brought with him many knights and courtiers from Norman England – many of whom became the future aristocrats and even kings of Scotland – including Bruce, Balliol and FitzAlan (who later became the Stuart kings).
King David I (1085-1153) oversaw the continuing development of the Scottish state and the organisation of Christianity within it.
The Davidian Revolution: Building up of Institutions in Scotland
David reorganised the institutions of Scotland. He set up royal burghs in Stirling, Perth and Dunfermline and founded bishoprics at Bredin, Dunblane, Caithness, Ross and Aberdeen. He also endowed monasteries: the Augustinian Canons at Holyrood, Cistercians at Melrose and Benedictines at Dunfermline. When his wife died, he gave even more attention to religious matters – reciting the Divine Office himself and giving alms. In all he exercised an wholly civilising influence.
Death and Eulogy of Aelred of Rievaulx
David died on 24th May 1153 and was buried at Dunfermline, where his cult continued until the Reformation. Abbot Aelred of Rievaulx, who had been a steward at David’s court in his youth, delivered the eulogy, praising his reluctance to become king, his sense of justice and his accessibility to everyone. Certainly David’s period as king heightened the national reputation of Scotland.
