The boy king
Malcolm IV became King of Scots in 1154 at the age of just twelve, succeeding his grandfather David I. Known as "Malcolm the Maiden" — a nickname that reflected either his youthful appearance, his reputed chastity, or both — he inherited a kingdom that his grandfather had transformed from a Celtic realm into a feudal European state. Holding it together as a child-king would prove a formidable challenge.
David I had been one of Scotland's greatest monarchs, expanding Scottish territory, founding abbeys and burghs, and introducing Norman feudal institutions. But the kingdom he bequeathed to his young grandson was vulnerable. The great lords whom David had empowered now had ambitions of their own, and Scotland's powerful neighbours sensed weakness. Henry II of England was a formidable adversary, and the Norse still controlled the western isles.
Malcolm's reign was marked by his relationship with Henry II. In 1157, the young Scottish king was forced to surrender the northern English counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland, which his grandfather had acquired. It was a humiliating concession that reversed decades of Scottish territorial gains. Malcolm accompanied Henry on his expedition to Toulouse in 1159, fighting as Henry's vassal — a subordination that rankled Scottish pride.
Despite these setbacks, Malcolm maintained the stability of his kingdom and continued his grandfather's programme of founding religious houses and strengthening royal institutions. He suppressed revolts in the Highlands and Galloway with surprising effectiveness for so young a king. Malcolm died in 1165, aged only 24, and was succeeded by his brother William the Lion. His short reign is often overlooked, but Malcolm IV held Scotland together during a period of vulnerability that could easily have seen the kingdom fragment.