1. alexander iii and the succession crisis

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.

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 Comyn/John Balliol.

He received a letter from Bruce, claiming to have the

support of Scotland’s earls, in his quest to become king.