The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

82 THE HIGHLANDERS [part i
had probably now effectually reduced the whole of Scotland
under his dominion. During the remainder of Malcolm's reign
he continued in possession of the whole of Scotland, with the
exception probably of Caithness, and he does not appear to
have been disturbed on his throne by any further opposition
on the part of the northern chiefs. Although Malcolm
had been placed on the throne b\' the assistance of an
English army, there can be no question that his kingdom was
in its constitution a purely Celtic one, and that with the
exception of the Anglic inhabitants of Lothian and Norwegian
population of the north Lowlands,, his subjects were purely
Celtic. On his death, however, which took place in the year
1093, the Celtic and the Saxon laws of succession came into
direct opposition to each other ; for according to the Celtic law,
his brother Donald was entitled to the succession, while the
Saxons, who had been mainl}- instrumental in placing Malcolm
on the throne, would yield obedience to no sovereign but his
sons, who, according to the principles of succession recognised
by them, were alone entitled to inherit. In addition to
this subject of division, the Gaelic portion of the population
were irritated, because of the great influx of Saxons that had
been introduced among them, and felt alarmed at the idea of
being governed by a family who were in all respects, except
that of birth, Saxons. They accordingly proclaimed
Donald Bane their king, and their power was still
sufficiently great to enable them to succeed in A.D. 1093.
placing him on
the throne. Their success, however, was principally owing to
the powerful assistance of Magnus Barefoot, king of Norway,
who was at that time in possession of the Western Isles. These
islands he had reduced under his power in the last year of
Malcolm Kenmore's reign, and as that prince was at that time
preparing for his English expedition, he found it impossible to
defend these remote parts of his kingdom, and was easily
induced to consent to their occupation by the king of Norway.
On his death, in 1093, Magnus had still remained with his fleet
among the islands, and probably agreed to support Donald's
claim to the throne, on condition of his confirming his brother's
grant. Donald having passed his previous life among the Gael,
possessed all their dislike to the encroachments of foreigners,