=1. Eadgar, 1097-1107. Invasion of Magnus.=--In the beginning of this reign, _Magnus Barefoot_, King of Norway, made good his right to the _Orkneys_ and the Scandinavian Earldom on the mainland. He seized the two earls, and placed his own son _Sigurd_ in their stead. He then sailed for the _Sudereys_, at that time dependencies of the _Kingdom of Man_, wasted them with fire and sword, marked his claim by sailing round each island, and, by way of proving his right to _Kintyre_, is said to have had himself dragged across the isthmus that joins it to the mainland in his ship, with his hand on the tiller. On his death the islands fell back into the hands of the former owners, and their descendants, the _Lords of the Isles_, were afterwards wont to declare themselves vassals of _Norway_, whenever it suited their convenience. In one respect only did this expedition differ from the former piratical descents of the Northmen. This time the sacred island of Iona was respected, and the church, so lately rebuilt, was left uninjured by the special order of the King. =2. English Marriage.=--The friendly relations with England were maintained and strengthened by the marriage of Eadgar's sister _Eadgyth_, who took the name of _Matilda_, with _Henry the First_, the youngest son of William the Conqueror. She proved nearly as great a blessing to the English as her English mother had been to the Scots, for she taught the King to "love his folk," and was affectionately remembered by them as "_Maud_ the good Queen." On his death-bed Eadgar separated _Strathclyde_ from the rest of the kingdom, and conferred it on his brother _David_ as a return for the wise counsel with which that brother had helped him through his very uneventful reign. =3. Alexander I., 1107-1124. Northern Rising.=--This King, unlike his easy-tempered brother, had a strong will and unyielding spirit. His reign was consequently a troubled one, as always happened when the Scots King tried to rule instead of being ruled by his turbulent subjects. His first difficulties were of course in the north. The men of _Merne_ and _Moray_ came forth secretly and swiftly, hoping to surprise and murder him; but their tactics, which had proved fatal to Duncan, were upset by Alexander's discovery of the plot and rapid march to meet them. They were thus forced to fight, and thoroughly beaten on the northern shore of the _Moray Firth_, and the signal vengeance taken by the King after his victory, won for him the title of "the _Fierce_." To commemorate his success he founded the monastery of _Scone_.