It is traditionally stated that Kenneth mac Alpin, the son of Alpin, founded the kingdom of Alba (or Scotland) after he defeated the separate tribes, including the Picts, in the country and brought them all under his control. Tradition states that Kenneth called a 'Peace Conference' where the leaders of the other tribes of Scotland were invited. Once the wine had taken effect Kenneth had the other leaders killed leaving himself ruler of Scotland.

Kenneth, King of Scotland, died in 858. Kenneth was succeeded by his brother Donald. Donald only reigned for four years. ^[1]

Duncan attempted to capture the city of Durham, but was unable to break its defences and incurred heavy loses. He turned his attention to Thorfinn, the earl of Orkney and took an army north into Moray. The leader of the area, Macbeth, was not prepared to support Duncan and sided with Thorfinn instead. A battle was fourght and during the fighting Duncan was killed. Shortly afterward Macbeth became the King of Scotland.

Crinan, the Abbot of Dunkfeld, led an uprising against Macbeth in an attempt to put his grandson Malcolm (III) on the Scottish throne. Malcolm was living at the court of Edward the Confessor at the time. Crinian was killed and the uprising failed.

Macbeth took time to travel to Rome on a pilgrimage. Reports of his visit tell of him distributing large amounts of money.

Macbeth was killed by Malcolm III, also known as Malcolm Canmore, who later became the King of Scotland. Macbeth was succeeded by his stepson Lulach who was crowned at Scone.

King James V of Scotland married Madeleine of Valios in Paris as part of the Treaty of Rouen (1517). ^[2]

Malcolm killed his cousin Kenneth III to become Malcolm II, King of the Scots.

The Scots led by Malcolm II defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Carham. The actual date of the battle is confused and could have been two years earlier.

Already the ruler of Strathclyde Duncan killed his grandfather Malcolm II to become the King of Scotland.

After the death of David I Malcolm became king. He was crowned at Scone Abbey. ^[3]

The areas of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland were surrendered by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland to King Henry II of England. The lands had been acquired by King David I in 1135 at the Treaty of Durham. Henry took back control of Carlisle Castle from the Scots. ^[4]

This Scottish Cistercian abbey was founded by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. The monks that colonised it came from the abbey at Melrose. ^[5]

On the death of Malcolm IV his brother, William, became the king of the Scots. William was crowned at Scone.

Matilda and her supporters entered London for her coronation. Her supporters included David I, king of the Scots. Geoffrey de Mandeville who controlled the Tower of London, abandoned his king as he saw Matilda had the upper hand. He joined her side and offered her the Tower of London. He did this to ensure he kept the Earldom of Essex which made him one of the most powerful barons of the time.

Secret negotiations between Matilda and Mandeville take place. ^[6]

King Stephen arrested Geoffrey de Mandeville at a meeting of the Royal Court. Mandeville had tried Stephen's patience with his disloyalty and the king did not want the Tower of London (which Mandeville controlled) fall into the hands of Matilda. Mandevilles castles and title of Earl of Essex were taken from him, and he became an outlaw. ^[6]

James III of Scotland married Margaret of Denmark. Margaret's father was unable to pay the dowry for his daughter so offered Orkney and the Shetland Islands instead until he could raise the money. They were married at Holyrood Abbey.

Margaret, the wife of Alexander III, died in this year. ^[7]

Alexander, the King of the Scots exchanged his daughter in marriage to Eric, the King of Norway for the Hebrides. ^[3]

The birth of a daughter called Margaret to Eric, the young Norwegian King, and Margaret, the daughter of Alexander III. Margaret, the child's mother, died during childbirth.

Edward arranged for his sister Margaret to marry Charles the Duke of Burgundy. Burgundy had for some time been a supporter of the Yorkists and this marriage strengthened the bond. For Warwick, this was a disaster. Warwick had been attempting to make an alliance with France and that was not about to happen.

Richard, Earl of Pembroke in alliance with Llywelyn of Wales join forces to fight King Henry III. (Details required). ^[4]

With the introduction of Peter de Roches as justiciar and the removal of Hubert de Burgh, control of the Exchequer came under Poitevin control and possibly reversed the gains created by the Magna Carta in 1215. King Henry III was given control of central administration. This angered the Barons and a group led by Richard Marshall, Earl of Pembroke opposed the changes. ^[4]

King Henry III was at Gloucester where he summonsed Richard Marshall. When the Earl refused to attend Henry called for an army to be formed to deal with the rebellion.

King Henry III's army was camped at Grosmont Castle when they were attacked in the night by a force of Welsh and English rebels. Several of Henry's supporters were captured and the castle was returned to Hubert de Burgh, one of the rebels. ^[8]

Llywelyn, the Prince of Wales, began raiding Pembrokeshire to retake land that he accused William Marshall, the younger, of stealing. This included Wiston Castle. ^[9]

Llywelyn, the Prince of Wales, had captured the castles at Carmarthen and Cardigan but both were recaptured by William Marshall, the younger. ^[9]

William Marshall, the younger, recaptured the castle at Cilgerran from Llywelyn ap Iorwerth.

Henry the Lion, the Duke of Saxony married the twelve year old daughter of King Henry II of England, Matilda (Maud).

In retaliation for the removal of their trading rights agreed in the treaty of 1082 by the emperor of Byzantine, John II, the Venetians led by Doge Michiel began a long siege of the island of Corfu. ^[10]

The Venetian fleet arrived at Ascalon and instantly set about attacking the Egyptian fleet. The Egyptian fleet was totally destroyed or captured. ^[10]

Llywelyn attacked Hawarden Castle because Henry de Montfort had promised to hand the castle over to the Welsh but had failed to honour the agreement. ^[8]

A rebellion against Tostig, Earl of Northumbria leads to Tostig fleeing to Flanders and Morcar becoming the new Earl.

The rebels Hereward the Wake and Morcar on the Isle of Ely were attacked and defeated by William the Conqueror.

Edmund Mortimer's army met Owain Glyndwr at Pilleth near Whitton in central Wales. Mortimer's army was badly defeated and Mortimer was captured. Glyndwr offered to release Mortimer for a large ransom, but Henry IV refused to pay.

The armies of the Percies and the Scots met at Homildon Hill near Wooler in Northumberland. The Scots were defeated and the Scots' leader the Earl of Douglas was captured. Henry IV wanted Douglas handed over but Hotspur refused. Hotspur was angry with the English king who had refused to pay a ransom for Edmund Mortimer who had been captured by Owain Glyndwr and who was a friend of Hotspur's.

Owain Glyndwr, Edmund Mortimer and the Earl of Northumberland combine forces and share the same goal of removing Henry IV. They agreed to divide England and Wales in three, Owain taking Wales and the west of England, the Earl to take the north of England and the north Midlands. Mortimer could have the rest.

The Welsh in Harlech Castle surrender to the English and the revolt of Welsh comes to an end. Edmund Mortimer was killed.

The Percies, led by the Earl of Northumberland and Hotspur announced their intent to revolt against Henry IV. They even promised to free the Scots they had captured at the battle of Homildon if the Scots assisted in the revolt. The plan was to join forces with Owain Glyndwr and support the claim of the young Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl of March to the English throne.

Led by Richard Earl of Cambridge, Henry's cousin, a plot to assassinate the King and replace him with the Earl of March who was the true heir to the throne was hatched. The revolt brought together all the old enemies of Henry including Lord Scrope (Archbishop Scrope's nephew) and the Lollards. The Earl of March whose loyalties were with the king informed Henry of the plot the night before and the rebels were arrested. Several were executed.

Roger Mortimer was appointed commissioner to agree terms of a truce with Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

A truce of a year was agreed bewteen Roger Mortimer on behalf of King Henry III and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd the Welsh prince.

The castle at Builth Wells was captured by the Welsh. ^[11]

After attacking four merchant ships Robert Mowbray was called for by William Rufus to explain his actions. Instead Mowbray rose up in rebellion against the king along with other powerful Norman Barons. Mowbray chose the castle at Tynemouth as his base and converted the large enclosure into a strong fortification. The castle fell to William Rufus after a siege of two months. Mowbray managed to escape to Tynemouth church but was captured and made prisoner.

Kipchak Mongols besieging a Genoese trading centre on the Crimean coast catapulted their own dead into the city. The cause of death was a mysterious disease. The Genoese escaped by sea taking the 'Black Death' with them. They landed at Messina in Sicily. Black Death or Bubonic plague was spread by the rat flea. The name Black Death came from the colour of the swelling in the groin, armpit or neck. The person suffering went into a coma and dies soon after. In Europe an estimated 25 million people died. The plague reached Britain in 1348 and again in 1360 and the population may have been reduced by a half. ^[12]