Style of the Scottish sovereign
The style of the Scottish sovereign refers to the styles and forms of address used by Scottish royalty, specifically the monarchs of Scotland from the earliest to the present, including monarchs from the Pictish period to the British period.
Earliest styles
Examples of the earliest styles are primarily found in sources originating from Ireland. For the earlier medieval period, the Annals of Ulster and Annals of Tigernach derive from the Iona Chronicle, a chronicle kept in Scotland. The Annals of Innisfallen are less reliable, and the forms given in that source, when in doubt, do not need to be trusted. Other sources used here are the Annals of Connacht and the Chronicon Scotorum The style almost always King's name, followed by patronymic, followed by title. The source of each style is given in brackets, followed by the year under which it follows ; it is usually the year in which the king died. Until the eleventh century, there is no one fixed term for Scotland in Gaelic. Before tenth century, the kings the area now comprising modern Scotland are either "of Picts", "of Fortriu" or "of Alba", standardising after 900; but the rulers of Moray, not by historiographical tradition called "King", are called king in the sources; moreover, they are sometimes called "kings of Alba".Traditional Pictish period
Domangurt mac Nissi ri Alban Comgall mac Domanguirt ri Alban Gabrain maic Domanguirt ríg Alban Cindaeladh rex Pictorum Cennalath, rex Pictorum Bruidhe mac Maelchon, ri Cruithneach Bruide mc. Maelcon regis Pictorum Bridei mac Maelchon, Ard Rig Toí Ceannath K. of the Picts Garnat King of the Picts Gartnaidh regis Pictorum Aedhain m. Gabrain mc. Domangairt righ Alban Ægþan Scotta cyng Echdach Buidhe, regis Pictorum, filii Aedain Conid Cerr, rex Dal Riati Cinedon filii Lugthreni, regis Pictorum Cined mac Luchtren, rex Pictorum Cenay mc Lachtren king of the Picts Cinaed, rí Alban Cínaetha maic Luchtren, regis Pictorum Octlarge m c Fogith K. of Picts Tolairg m. Fooith regis Pictorum Tolairg mac Foóith regis Pictorum Tolorchan mc Anfrith K. of the Picts Tolargain mc. Anfrith regis Pictorum Tolorcan mac Ainfrith, rí Cruithne Gartnait maic Domnaill, rig Cruithneach Gartnayt son of Donall king of Picts Bruidhe mac Bile, rex Fortrend Bruide m. Bili, rex Fortrend Brude mac Derilei, ri Cruithintuathi Neactain reigis Pictorum Drust regem Pictorum Aongas, rí Foirtreann Drust, righ Alban Aengus mac Fergusa, rex Picctorum Oengus m. Fergusso, rex Pictorum Owinus rex píctorum Talargan rex pictorum Aengus rí Alban Aengus mac Fergusa, rex Pictorum Oengus m. Fherghussa rex Pictorum Bruidhi rí Fortrenn Bruide, rex Fortrenn Cinadhon regis Pictorum Cemoid rex pictorum Dub Tholargg rex Pictorum citra Monoth Causantín mac Fergussa, ri Alban Custantin m. Fergusa, rex Fortreinn Oengus m. Fergusa, rex Fortrenn Eoganán mac Oengusa rí Dáil Riatai Cináed mac Alpín, ri Alban Cinaedh m. Ailpin rex Pictorum- ''Ceínod rex pictorum''
Traditional Scottish period
Constantin mac Cinaeda ardri Alban Domnall m. Caustantin, ri Alban Custantin m. Aedha ri Alban Mael Coluim m. Domnaill, ri Alban Dub m. Mael Coluim, ri Alban Culen m. Illuilb, ri Alban Amhlaim m. Ailuilbh,.i. ri Alban Amlaim mac Illuilb, rí Alban Cinaedh m. Mael Cholaim, ri Alban Cináeth mac Mail Cholaim, rí Alban Constantin mac Cuilindaín rí Alban ri Alban,.i. Cinaedh m. Duibh Finnloech m. Ruaidhri, ri Alban Findlaech mac Ruadrí rí Alban Mael Colaim mac Mael-Brighdi mac Ruaidrí, rí Alban Mael Coluim m. Cinaedha, ri Alban Donnchad m. Crinan, rí Alban Donncadh mac Crínan, aird-rí Alban M. Beathadh m. Finnlaich airdrigh Alban Mac Bethadh mac Findlaich, aird-rí Alban Lulach, rí Alban Mael Snechtai m. Lulaigh ri Muireb Mael Coluim ri Alban Mael Coluim m. Donnchadha airdri Alban Mael Colaim mac Donnchadha, rí Alban Mael Coluim mac Dondchada ri Alban Donnchadh m. Mael Coluim ri Alban Domnall mac Donnchada, rí Alban Etgair ri Alban Alaxandair m. Mael Choluim ri Alban Oenghus m. ingine Luluigh Dabid, rí Alban Dabid mac Mail Colaim, rí Alban & Saxan Mael Coluim Cennmor, mac Eanric, ardri Alban, in cristaidhe as ferr do bai do Gaidhelaibh re muir anair Ri Alban, Uilliam Garm Uilliam, ri Alban Roibert a Briuis, mormaer.. righ n-Alban Roberd a Briuis mormaer.. rig a n-Alban Edubart Mor Ri Saxan & Bretan & Alban & Duice na Gascune & tigerna na hErend Roibeat a Briuis, ri Alban- ''Righ Alban.i. Semus Sdibard''
Medieval Charter styles
The Poppleton manuscript preserves a grant supposedly made by King Nechtan to the monastery of St. Brigid at Abernethy, c. early sixth century:- Latin: Nectonius magnus filius Uuirp rex omnium prouiciarum Pictorum
- *English: 'Great Nechtan, son of Uurp, King of all the provinces of the Picts'
- Machbet filius Finlach et Gruoch filia Bodhe, rex et regina Scottorum
- * English: 'Macbeth son of Findláech and Gruoch daughter of Bodhe, King and Queen of the Scots'. Source is the Registrum of the Priory of St Andrews, and the document is a Latin translation from an earlier Gaelic document, so the rex Scottorum style is not reliable
- Malcolmus Dei gratia Scottorum basileus
- * 'Malcolm by the Grace of God, High King of the Scots'
- Edgarus Dei gratia Rex Scottorum
- * 'Edgar by the Grace of God, King of the Scots'
- Alexander Dei gratia Rex Scottorum
- * 'Alexander by the Grace of God, King of the Scots'
- David Dei gratia Rex Scotiae
- * 'David by the Grace of God, King of Scotland'
- David Dei gratia Rex Scottorum
- * 'David by the Grace of God, King of the Scots'
From the late Middle Ages to the Acts of Union
In the late Middle Ages the styles rex Scottorum and rex Scotiae were used interchangeably. Similarly, the monarchs of England could be referred to as the "king of the English" as indeed Edward II of England was in the Declaration of Arbroath. King of the Scots was used in "The Declaration of the Clergy in favour of Robert the Bruce", as it was in the charter by which Edward Balliol ceded the southern counties of Scotland to England. However, in many other documents King of Scotland was the preferred style, including "The Letter of the Magnates of Scotland to the King of France", "The Settlement of Succession on Robert the Bruce", the Treaty of Corbeuil, the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton, the Papal Bull authorising the anointing of Scottish Kings and the Treaty of Berwick. This remained the case until the last three monarchs of Scotland, William II, Mary II and Anne, who became Queen of Great Britain following the Acts of Union 1707.Modern day
Since the Act of Union, the monarch of the United Kingdom, is styled His/Her Majesty King/Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.King of Scots
The title King of Scots is an alternative title used to refer to British monarch when in Scotland. Most notably the title was widely used by the Scottish Parliament in the motion of condolence when paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death in 2022. The title had been reintroduced by Elizabeth II when she allowed the Scottish Parliament to refer to her as Queen of Scots when it was founded in 1999.The current holder of the title is Charles III.