Alexander III of Scotland ^{2 3}

  General Notes:

The last major ruler of the dynasty of kings descended from Malcolm III Canmore (reigned 1058-93), who consolidated royal power in Scotland. Alexander left his kingdom independent, united, and prosperous, and his reign was viewed as a golden age by Scots caught up in the long, bloody conflict with England after his death.

The only son of King Alexander II (reigned 1214-49), Alexander III was seven years old when he came to the throne. In 1251 he was married to Margaret (d. 1275), the 11-year-old daughter of England's King Henry III. Henry immediately began plotting to obtain suzerainty over Scotland. In 1255 a pro-English party in Scotland seized Alexander, but two years later the anti-English party gained the upper hand and controlled the government until Alexander came of age the year 1262.

In 1263 Alexander repulsed an invasion by the Norwegian king Haakon IV, who ruled the islands along Scotland's west coast. Haakon's son, King Magnus V, in 1266 ceded to Alexander the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. Alexander was killed in 1286 when his horse fell over a cliff. Because his children were all dead, his infant grandchild Margaret "the Maid of Norway" (d. 1290) succeeded to the throne.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Acceded: 1249. King of Scotland.

Alexander married Margaret of England, daughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence Berenger, on 26 Dec 1251 in York Minster, York, North Yorkshire, England. (Margaret of England was born on 29 Sep 1240 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England, died on 26 Feb 1275 in Cupar Castle, Fife, Scotland and was buried in Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland.)

Alexander next married Yolande de Dreux, daughter of Robert IV de Dreux and Beatrix de Montfort, on 1 Nov 1285 in Jedburgh Abbey, Roxburghshire, Scotland.¹ (Yolande de Dreux was born before 1275 and died in 1323.)