The Davidian Revolution

When David I became King of Scotland, little did the world know that the previous three decades of short reigns and rebellions would be replaced by three decades of reform and growth.

David was the youngest son of Malcolm III and Margaret of Wessex, and since his father's death in 1093 had seen an uncle and several brothers take their turns on the throne. David was not expected to have his turn, but was given part of Scotland to manage, which gave him the title Prince of the Cumbrians (overseeing the former Kingdom of Strathclyde) starting in 1113.

This was promoted by the king of England, Henry I, who cultivated David's friendship. Henry also, in 1113, arranged for David his marriage to Matilda of Huntingdon (and why not? Henry was married to David's sister, also called Matilda). This brought to David the "Honour of Huntingdon" which was a large area in northern England. This helped David increase his wealth and power even before achieving the throne.

When David became king in 124, he set about transforming Scotland into a country that more closely resembled the rest of Europe in its civil and political structure. He was able to do this partly by bringing in Norman support. He built castles and set up a feudal system of smaller and larger lordships. He established sheriffs to carry out administrative duties on behalf of the king. He also created two justiciars to preside over law cases, one each for above and below the river Forth.

He was able to mine silver at Alston to create Scotland's first silver coinage and further increase his power. One of the side-effects of minting coins with the king's image and seal is that those who come in contact with them are constantly reminded of the source of wealth and power, reinforcing loyalty to the king who has them.

Scotland until this time did not have organized towns or burghs as the rest of Europe and England knew them. Roxburgh and Berwick were created while he was prince of the Cumbrians, with definite boundaries, charters, and trading rights. Once he became king, he made more burghs at Stirling, Dunfermline and Edinburgh. More were to follow.

Religious reform was another of his goals, begun by his mother. David became one of Scotland's great monastic patrons, founding various abbeys. He increased the number of bishops in Scotland (from four to nine, according to Aelred of Rievaulx), but it is more likely that this expansion was brought about by of Thurstan, Archbishop of York, with Fergus of Galloway.

The reign was not entirely easy for him. He took sides in the period in England called The Anarchy, and lost the Battle of the Standard when he invaded England to support Empress Matilda. By and large, though, he is remembered for the "Europeanization" of Scotland.

One of the well-known abbeys he founded was Holyrood, which has an interesting legend about it. I'll share that tomorrow.