[MR] Various Sources: Death of Alexander III, King of Alba (Scotland)

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Time for another tragic tale of Scotland's kings, this time Alexander III
(1241-1286).

Alexander was among the more successful Scottish kings, during his long
reign skillfully frustrating an invasion by Haakon IV of Norway, securing
Scottish ownership of the Hebrides Islands (if not real control, which came
much, much later under James IV), and establishing reasonably good
relations with England by marrying Henry III's daughter Margaret.

Sadly, his two sons and a daughter by Margaret all died during Alexander's
lifetime. Margaret herself died, leaving his infant granddaughter, another
Margaret, as heir presumptive. In 1285 he married Yolanda of Dreux in the
hope of fathering a male heir.

After concluding some business in Edinburgh on 19 March 1286, Alexander
safely crossed the Firth of Forth, intending to . . . uh . . . "visit" his
new queen who was lodging at Kinghorn in Fife. The King insisted on riding
through the night, despite a raging storm. He soon became separated from
his escort and rode on alone. The next morning after he failed to arrive at
Kinghorn, searchers were sent out. Alexander's body was found along the
shoreline with a broken neck, apparently having ridden over an embankment.

Alexander's death, and the subsequent death of his granddaughter in 1290,
plunged Scotland into a succession crisis. The "Great Cause" led to the
power grab and invasion by Edward I, with Braveheart/William Wallace and
all that stuff following. But that is complicated, and is a story (actually
many stories) for another time.

A gloss on Alexander's life can be found on the British Monarchy's official
website at https://www.royal.uk/alexander-iii-r-1249-1286 . Wikipedia also
offers a more complete bio at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_III_of_Scotland .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.