Maid of Norway | The History Jar

Alexander III of Scotland died on a wild midnight dash to be at his beautiful bride’s side in 1286. His broken body was found the following morning. It presented Scotland with a problem. The reason that the king had a beautiful bride was that his sons had died leaving no heir. For a few months the Scots waited to see if Alexander III’s widow was pregnant. Then they looked around for their new monarch.

The new Queen of Scotland was Margaret, the Maid of Norway, Alexander’s granddaughter. She was three years old at the time. The little girl died on her way to claim her crown in 1290 aged just seven. In some ways the six Guardians of Scotland who had been appointed to protect the kingdom during her regency may have been relieved – child monarchs were a prelude to unrest and they had effectively married the lassie off to Edward I’s son in a bid to ensure security along their southern border.

On 1st May the Scots met Edward I at Norham. He claimed his right to be Lord Paramount- or the feudal overlord of the Scots. The Scots were not impressed and said that they could make no such concession because only their King could make that decision. Resistance grew when Edward sent garrisons of armed men to ensure his will was done.

The three best claimants to the Scottish throne were Robert Bruce, John Balliol and John of Hastings who were descended from King David I of Scotland. Both Bruce and Balliol held lands in England so already recognised Edward as their overlord – in England.

Then there were Eric II of Norway who had been married to Alexander III’s daughter Margaret. Margaret had died in childbirth. He was the father of the Maid of Norway. Floris V, Count of Holland who appears to have forged his claim to the throne; William de Vesci; John Comyn known as the Red Comyn; Patrick, Earl of Dunbar; William de Ros; Nicholas de Soules who was a border lord; Robert de Pinkeney; Roger de Mandeville; and Patrick Galithly.

Many of the lesser known claimants to the throne made their bid for power based on the fact they were descendants of illegitimate children of previous kings such as William the Lion.

In 1292 Edward I selected John Balliol. Four years later the Scottish Wars of Independence were well under way and the Stone of Scone was on its way to London.

Prior to the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286, relations between the two kingdoms had been amicable. Alexander III of Scotland was married to Edward’s sister Margaret – not in itself a guarentee of peace , just look at Henry VIII’s relationship with his brother-in-law James IV of Scotland. Certainly Edward shared Alexander’s grief when on Alexander’s eldest son, also named Alexander, died aged 20 without children.

The Scottish king’s younger son had died in 1281, and his daughter, Margaret, in 1283, leaving him with an infant granddaughter, also called Margaret, living in Norway. The grieving king had not only lost his sons he’d also lost his wife in 1275. After ten years as a widower he remarried. There was, after all, a need for an heir.

Jedburgh Abbey

Alexander married Yolande de Dreux at Jedburgh Abbey and then famously charged out from a council meeting into a dark and stormy night to be with his young bride. He fell from his horse and was killed. His only heir was his granddaughter Margaret, The Maid of Norway. She was just three years old. Her mother, also called Margaret wife to King Eric II of Norway, had died giving birth to her.

In September 1290, The seven-year-old Queen of Scots left her home in Norway but died en route to Scotland of sea sickness. With her died an arranged marriage to Prince Edward of England and a stable relationship between the two kingdoms.

There were now many competing claims to the Scottish throne. In 1292 Edward agreed to oversee the selection between competing claims to the Scottish throne, on condition he is acknowledged as Lord Superior of Scotland. Thirteen competitors were narrowed down to two. In the end John Balliol was selected rather than Robert Bruce. Balliol did homage to Edward I of England following in the footsteps of Malcolm Canmore who had sworn fealty to William the Conqueror but it gained King John no popularity in Scotland.

The stage was set for rebellion by King John’s subjects and war between the two nations – a war that would shape the landscape and people of the border region for centuries to come.

For more information:

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/warsofindependence/deathofalexanderiii/index.asp

http://thefreelancehistorywriter.com/2013/01/11/margaret-maid-of-norway/

Resources:

Ridpath, George. (1979) Border History. Edinburgh: The Mercat Press

Sadler, John. (2006) Border Fury England and Scotland at War 1296-1568. London: Pearson Education Ltd

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