Alexander II of Scotland 2 3
- Born: 24 Aug 1198, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
- Marriage (1): Joan of England on 19 Jun 1221 in York Minster, York, North Yorkshire, England
- Marriage (2): Mary de Coucy on 15 May 1239 in Roxburgh 1
- Died: 8 Jul 1249, Kerrera Island, Argyll, Scotland. aged 50
- Buried: Melrose Abbey, Roxburghshire, Scotland 1
General Notes:
He maintained peace with England and greatly strengthened the Scottish monarchy.
Alexander came to the throne on the death of his father, William I the Lion (reigned 1165-1214). When the English barons rebelled against King John (reigned 1199-1216) in 1215, Alexander sided with the insurgents in the hope of regaining territory he claimed in northern England. After the rebellion collapsed in 1217, he did homage to King Henry III (reigned 1216-72), and in 1221 he married Henry's sister, Joan (d. 1238). In 1237 Henry and Alexander concluded an agreement (Peace of York) by which the Scots king abandoned his claim to land in England but received in exchange several English estates. The boundary of Scotland was fixed approximately at its present location.
Meanwhile, Alexander was suppressing rebellious Scots lords and consolidating his rule over parts of Scotland that had hitherto only nominally acknowledged royal authority. In 1222 he subjugated Argyll. He died as he was preparing to conquer the Norwegian-held islands along Scotland's west coast.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: King of Scotland, 1214.
Alexander married Joan of England, daughter of John I Lackland of England and Isabella of Angoulême Taillefer, on 19 Jun 1221 in York Minster, York, North Yorkshire, England. (Joan of England was born on 22 Jul 1210 in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England and died on 4 Mar 1238 in Havering atte Bower, Essex, England.)
Alexander next married Mary de Coucy, daughter of Enguerand III de Coucy and Mary Montmirel-en-Brie, on 15 May 1239 in Roxburgh.1 (Mary de Coucy was buried in Newbottle, Scotland.)
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