LEARNING INTENTIONS

• Describe life in Scotland under the leadership of King Alexander III, including relations with England

• Describe Alexander’s death and the issues and problems which arose from this

Alexander III became king of Scotland in 1249 when he was aged only 8. The death of his father saw the young prince take

charge of his country, with help from others.

As Alexander was only a child, the country was run by a

regent, until the boy king became a man.

Alan Durward was a powerful man and controlled

Scotland until Alexander reached the age of 21, in 1262.

Alexander’s time as king is seen as a successful one for

Scotland.

There was increased jobs and trade in Scotland, especially to

the continent:

(wool to Flanders in Belgium for example)

Alexander was seen as a successful military leader too.

One of his father’s goals was the return of the Western

Isles to Scottish control (instead of Norwegian rule).

Alexander’s army fought the Norwegians at the Battle of

Largs in 1263.

After the Battle of Largs, the Scots army invaded areas to the north, eventually leading to the Western Isles being officially

transferred to Alexander’s control.

After this, areas across Scotland benefitted from

increased trade.

Alexander (and the actions of his father) ensured that

Scotland and England enjoyed good relations.

Even when still a boy, Alexander had refused to pay

homage to King Henry III of England, who had become his

father-in-law.

Alexander saw himself as a an equal with Henry III, and the same with Henry’s successor,

Edward I.

The two men had known each other from a young age. Alexander agreed to pay homage to Edward

for his lands in England, but never in Scotland.

Alexander’s personal life was not a happy one.

His wife, Margaret (daughter of Henry III) died before him, and so did all three of his children.

His only remaining blood relative was his granddaughter,

Margaret (daughter of the King of Norway).

Alexander needed to have another child to be his heir, so

he married a woman from a powerful French family,

Yolande de Dreux.

However one night, as Alexander travelled to visit his

new bride in Kinghorn in Fife, he fell from his horse and

was killed.

At first it was believed that the new Queen was pregnant, but

it soon became clear she was not (some stories suggest a miscarriage or stillbirth).

There was a strong fear of civil war or English control if a new monarch could not be found

for Scotland.

A parliament met in Scone to discuss what should happen. The king’s only living relative was his

granddaughter, Margaret.

Many were opposed because of:

• Margaret’s age• High child mortality• The need for a regent• A woman on the throne

In 1284, perhaps foreseeing potential problems, Alexander had made his nobles promise to accept Margaret as queen if

he had no more children.

Thus Margaret, aged only three years old and living in another country, was to be

Scotland’s queen.

Margaret was too young to run the country, so someone had to

be chosen to do so until she was old enough to do so.

Choosing only one regent could have caused war, so a group of

Guardians did so instead. They ran Scotland based on the concept of the Community of

the Realm.

Even with these actions, Scotland was still divided between

supporters of Robert Bruceand John Balliol (although

neither was made a Guardian).

Both feared the other gaining the throne (based on Margaret’s marriage). Bruce even took some military actions against

supporters of Balliol.

King Edward had taken an interest in Scottish events. He

also had a solution which would further prevent civil war in

Scotland.

Edward proposed to marry his own young son, Edward (later

Edward II) to Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway.

In 1290, the Treaty of Birgham confirmed the

marriage, but also agreed:

• The two countries would remain independent

• Nobles with Scottish land would pay homage to the

Scottish king only• Scots would not pay taxes to

fund English wars

In 1290, it was agreed that Margaret should travel to

Scotland to prepare to one day become queen.

However during her sea journey, Margaret took ill and

died in Orkney. It was believed she had pneumonia.

Scotland now had no heir.

Scotland was now on the brink of civil war.

Various nobles began assembling armies to help

them become the new king of Scotland.

Something – or someone – was needed to stop this happening.

Bishop Fraser of St Andrews saw one solution –

the intervention of King Edward.

Edward was seen by many as a friend of Scotland. Bishop Fraser wrote to the king asking him to

come north and choose a new king for Scotland, a decision no-

one could oppose.

Even at this stage, King Edward was aware that Scotland was

divided, mainly between supporters of Robert Bruce and

John Balliol.

He received a letter from Bruce, claiming to have the support of Scotland’s earls, in his quest to

become king.