Kenneth II

Kenneth II in 994

Kenneth II was the King of Scotland from 971 to 995, Prince Malcolm's older brother, and Princess Katharine's uncle.

History

Kenneth II's standard

Kenneth II (holding an infant Constantine III), Maol Chalvim II, and Kenneth III in 971

Kenneth was the second son of King Maol Chalvim I, half-brother to Duff and Prince Malcolm both. He shared Duff's fortunes loyally in their struggles with King Indulf and his son Culen over the Scottish throne from 954 until 967, when Duff was slain in battle against Culen and Kenneth and his family had to flee to England and enter exile there. ("The Reach", "The Draw", "The Oath", "The Promise", "The Dream")

In 971, after entering an alliance with the Wyvern Clan of gargoyles, Kenneth returned to Scotland, overthrew Culen, and became King. On the night of his coronation, Kenneth bestowed Wyvern Hill to his brother, Prince Malcolm. Due to Wyvern's strategic importance as a gateway to Scotland, he sent the King's Architect, Brother Valdez, to direct the construction of a castle there. ("The Reach", "The Oath", "The Promise")

Kenneth reigned until 995. In his old age, he began to dote on the Lady Finella, who did not return his feelings for her. Constantine, the ambitious son of Culen, took advantage of this to dupe Finella into holding a secret meeting with him in the drying-house, where she could tell him in private that she wished to marry Constantine instead of him. [1] When Kenneth entered, Constantine took him by surprise and murdered him. ("Avalon" Part One)

Kenneth had one son, Maol Chalvim, who later on became King of Scotland as Maol Chalvim II from 1005 to 1034.

Characteristics

The Royal Family Tree

Fergus Mór                           Monarch of: Dalriada Scotland England Norway   Hunters in Black                                                                                                                                     Kenneth mac Alpin           Donald mac Alpin                                                                           Aodh           Constantine I                             Constantine II           Donald II                             Indulf           Maol Chalvim I           Queen Katharine                   Richard of Normandy                                                                                                                                                                             Culen   Duff   Kenneth II   Prince Malcolm   Princess Elena   Mary   Aethelred the Unready   Emma of Normandy   Canute   Elfgiva                                                                                                                                                                         Constantine III   Kenneth III   Ruaidri   Maol Chalvim II   Princess Katharine   Tom (Guardian)   Edmund Ironside   Edward the Confessor   Hardicanute   Harold Harefoot                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Maíl Brigti   Bodhe   Findlaech     Doada   Olith           Bethoc             Árni Arnmódsson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Gillecomgain     MacBodhe     Gruoch   Macbeth   Thorfinn   Ingibjorg     Duncan                       William the Conqueror                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Luach   Paul Thorfinnson   Erlend Thorfinnson       Malcolm Canmore   Margaret   Donalbain               William Rufus                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Donald Canmore   Donnchad                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Edward   Edmund   Edelred   Edgar   Alexandair   Dauid   Mary   Edith   Henry I                                                                                                           Magnus Olafsson                                                                                                                                                                   Sigurd Magnusson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Edward I                                                   Robert the Bruce                                                                                                                                 Stuart Canmore, the Renaissance Hunter                                                                                                                                                                       James VI of Scotland I of England                                                                               Angus Canmore                                                                                                                                                           Jackson Canmore           Fiona Canmore                                           Aron Canmore                                           Charles Canmore                                                                     Jason Canmore   Robyn Canmore   John Castaway

Appearances

• "Awakening: Part Two" (Mentioned Only)
• "Avalon" Part One (First Appearance)
• "The Gate" (Mentioned Only)
• "The Reach"
• "The Draw"
• "The Oath"
• "The Promise" (Mentioned Only)
• "The Dream"
• "The Pledge"

Real World Background

Kenneth II was a historical monarch, who was indeed murdered in 995. The traditional account of his death varies from that given in Gargoyles, however. According to Scottish chroniclers, Kenneth had angered his nobles by wishing to pass the throne on to his son Maol Chalvim, contrary to tradition; in 10th century Scotland, the monarchy was not hereditary. They joined forces with Finella, who in this account hated Kenneth for having slain her son, and arranged his death through a complex mechanical device. Kenneth, after a big dinner at Finella's house (with much wine to drink) was led into a room in which stood a statue holding a golden apple. When he took the apple from the statue, at Finella's request, it triggered several crossbows concealed inside the statue, which shot their bolts at him with lethal consequences.

Production Background

Voice Actor: W. Morgan Sheppard

Details about Kenneth II bestowing Castle Wyvern to Prince Malcolm were first detailed in the Gargoyles Series Bible. [2]

See Also

• Kenneth II at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia