Donald III
by Miller

Donald 'Bane' (Fair) (also spelled DONALDBANE, DONALBANE, Bane also spelled BAN or BAIN) was the younger brother of Malcolm III. He succeeded him in 1093, at the age of 60, after driving out Malcolm's sons and claiming the crown on the basis of tanistry. Donald was deposed by his nephew Duncan II in 1094, with the assistance of William II (Rufus) of England; Donald regained the throne soon afterwards when Duncan was killed in November that year. Donald then seems to have shared his rule with his nephew Edmund (Donald in Scotia, Edmund in Lothian and Strathclyde). In 1097, Malcolm III's son Edgar invaded Scotland with help from William II of England, and Donald was defeated and deposed once more. Accounts of his fate differ, but according to one version he was blinded and kept prisoner until his death at Rescobie, Angus in about 1100. (Edmund was pardoned and became a monk.)

Upon the death of his brother Malcolm III Canmore (1093) there was a fierce contest for the crown. Donald Bane besieged Edinburgh Castle, took it, and, with the support of the Celtic Scots and the custom of tanistry (q.v.; the Celtic system of electing kings or chiefs), he was king nominally for at least six months. He was expelled by Duncan II, son of Malcolm, assisted by English and Normans and some Saxons. Duncan's reign was equally short, for Donald Bane had his nephew slain and again reigned for three years.

These years saw the last attempt of the Celts to maintain a king of their race and a kingdom governed according to their customs. Edgar the Aetheling (q.v.), who had newly befriended the Norman king of England, led an army into Scotland, dispossessed Donald Bane, and advanced his nephew Edgar, son of Malcolm III, as sole king of the Scots.