Alexander III of Scotland Facts & Worksheets

George Patton facts and information plus worksheet packs and fact file. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 years old (GCSE). Great for home study or to use within the classroom environment.

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Alexander III of Scotland Worksheets

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Fact File

Alexander III of Scotland Resource 1
Alexander III of Scotland Resource 2

Student Activities

Alexander III of Scotland Activity & Answer Guide 1
Alexander III of Scotland Activity & Answer Guide 2
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    Summary

    • Early years and succession 
    • Minority and marriage
    • Later rule and death

    Key Facts And Information

    Let’s find out more about Alexander III of Scotland!

    As Alexander II of Scotland’s son and heir, Alexander III became the King of Scots in 1249. His minority saw an embittered struggle for control over affairs between two Scottish rival factions. When he finally assumed control in 1262, Scotland generally saw a period of relative peace. The Scottish succession was initially secured, but became an urgent issue by the early 1280s. The lack of a male heir when he died in 1286 began the chain of events resulting in a succession crisis in Scotland.

    Portrait of Alexander III of Scotland by Jacob de Wet II
    Portrait of Alexander III of Scotland by Jacob de Wet II

    Early years and succession 

    • Born on 4 September 1241 at Roxburgh, Alexander was the only child of Alexander II of Scotland by his second wife, Marie de Coucy. As was customary for royal sons of the time, he was extensively exposed to the world of letters, the complexities of diplomacy and the techniques of warfare. Additionally, he was raised from a young age to believe in the fundamental autonomy of Scottish kingship.
    • During Alexander’s childhood, his father’s rule was threatened by the English and the Vikings. Alexander II was compelled to make peace with the English in 1244 at Newcastle.
    • Meanwhile, the Western Isles, also known as the Hebrides, which at the time were dominated by Viking settlers, became the focus of the Scottish king’s attention. Since he was unsuccessful in securing the territory through negotiations and purchase, he decided to conquer the lands.
    • The dispute over Hebrides remained unsolved, as Alexander II died in July 1249 during the preparation for invasion.
    • Some of the nobles who accompanied the king on the expedition immediately delivered the news of Alexander II’s death to the queen and young Alexander.
    • As the plan of invasion was abandoned, the king’s fleet was gradually dispersed. 
    • Within five days of the king’s death, the arrangement for the inauguration of the king’s son and heir, the seven-year-old Alexander, was completed.
    • Alexander III was knighted and crowned in full ceremony at Scone on 13 July. The late king was laid to rest a few days later.
    • The young king likely stayed in the household of his mother. Being a minor at the time of his succession, Alexander III was not in full control of the kingdom, instead, the royal government was in the hands of a council of lords and prelates. In the succeeding months, peace was maintained.

    Minority and marriage

    • An intense struggle for control of Scottish affairs between two rival parties soon emerged. One was led by Walter Comyn, Earl of Menteith, while the other, the pro-English party, was headed by Alan Durward, Justiciar of Scotia. The early years of Alexander III’s minority saw Menteith’s party dominating the royal government. 
    • At York Minster in December 1251, the young king was married to the 11-year-old Margaret of England, the second child of Henry III of England and his wife, Eleanor of Provence. Their union had been decided by their fathers in 1244.
    A depiction of Margaret of England
    A depiction of Margaret of England
    • The couple stayed in York for a few weeks before moving to their residence in Edinburgh. As both were minors, it was not considered appropriate for the royal couple to consummate the marriage.
    • Following the marriage, Henry III took the opportunity to seek homage from Alexander III for the Scottish kingdom. This was refused by the young king.
    • In 1255, Menteith’s party lost to Durward’s, and so the latter was able to dominate the regency council.
    • In 1257, Alexander III and Margaret were taken and held captive by the Comyns, who sought the expulsion of all foreigners from Scotland. This was resolved after Henry III and the regency council intervened. 
    • Following the late 1250s crisis, Menteith’s party once again held the balance of power in Scottish affairs. This situation continued until Alexander III attained his majority, although, the young king was able to unite the different noble factions behind his rule by 1258. In 1261, the royal couple had their first child named Margaret. They birthed two more children, Alexander in 1264 and David in 1272.

    Later rule and death

    • When Alexander III turned 21 in 1262, he assumed control and announced his intention to continue the project on the Hebrides, which his late father failed to complete. His claim to the lands was quickly rejected by Haakon IV of Norway. This led the Scottish king to prepare for a formidable invasion of the Hebrides.
    • Alexander III sent his men to the Hebrides with the intention of conquering the islands.
    • In 1263, Haakon IV launched an expedition with his enormous fleet consisting of at least 120 ships. Backed by his intimidating fleet, he set out to the Hebrides for negotiations with the English.
    • In August, Haakon IV’s fleet reached Shetland and Orkney. Alexander III began negotiations when the Vikings arrived on the Scottish mainland. He deliberately prolonged the talks. The Scots held out until the weather would pose a problem for Haakon IV’s fleet.
    Map of the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles which was ruled by Haakon IV in 1262. The Hebrides appear in red.
    Map of the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles which was ruled by Haakon IV in 1262. The Hebrides appear in red.
    • In October, the Battle of Largs broke out, with a Scottish force facing a smaller Viking force. The battle proved inconclusive, but Haakon IV was forced to withdraw to Orkney for the winter. He fell ill and died in Kirkwall in December.
    • Following Haakon IV’s death, the Hebrides now lay at the Scottish king’s feet. Haakon IV’s son and heir, Magnus VI of Norway, ceded the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Alexander III, in exchange for a huge annual monetary payment under the Treaty of Perth (1266). Norway retained Shetland and Orkney under the same agreement.
    • Scotland’s acquisition of sovereignty over the Hebrides and the Isle of Man is one of the reasons why many historians consider Alexander III’s rule the ‘Golden Age’. Other reasons include:
      • Scotland’s trade and communication with the continent improved. This helped create an influx of currency. 
      • The wool trade flourished, with both Flemish and German cloth factories established in Berwick.
      • While Scotland had a close relationship with England, Alexander III was able to defend and maintain his sovereignty.
    • During the reign of Alexander III, Scotland generally saw a period of relative peace. Furthermore, the succession was also secured, given Alexander III had three children. His second child, Alexander, was heir apparent to the throne.
    • When his wife died in 1275, he did not seek a second wife and instead focused on securing suitable marriages for his surviving children.
    • His firstborn child Margaret was betrothed to Eric II of Norway, in 1281, to help calm the tensions that arose between Norway and Scotland in the preceding decade.
    • His second child Alexander, heir apparent to the throne, was married to Margaret of Flanders in 1282. Meanwhile, his youngest child David died at a young age in 1281.
    • The other two surviving children of Alexander III died in the early 1280s. Margaret died during or shortly after childbirth in 1283, while the heir apparent died a week after his birthday in 1284. This left the question of succession one of urgent importance.
    • Alexander III did leave one surviving heir, his three-year-old granddaughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway. She was named as Alexander III’s heir in 1284 in order to ensure the line of succession in the absence of a male successor.
    • The king also immediately sought a second marriage and believed that Yolanda of Dreux, whose family was a member of the cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, was a suitable match.
    • This marriage was motivated by the pressing need for a male heir and the desire to emphasise Scottish independence from England, with the Scottish king distancing himself from Edward I of England.
    • The marriage was celebrated in October 1285 at Jedburgh Abbey on the Scottish border, attended by prominent Scottish and French nobles.
    • In March 1286, Scotland found itself without a king after Alexander III was found dead on the beach under the cliffs at Kinghorn in Fife.
    • He possibly fell from his horse while travelling on a stormy night to visit his new wife. He got separated from his escort and was never seen alive again.
    • This began the chain of events resulting in a succession crisis in Scotland, as there was no surviving male heir to the throne.
    • There was some hope that the queen would birth the successor. In fact, leading Scottish noble families waited in anticipation for it, but the child was stillborn in November 1286. 
    • When this news spread, tension within certain elements of the political community arose. Following Yolande’s stillbirth, bishops and nobles honoured their 1284 oath recognising Margaret, Maid of Norway, as heir to the throne. The Guardians of the Realm ‘appointed by and governed in the name of the community of the realm’ would govern Scotland until Alexander III’s heir arrived to ascend to the throne.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Who was Alexander III of Scotland?

      Alexander III was King of Scotland from 1249 until his death in 1286. He is known for his efforts to strengthen the Scottish monarchy and for maintaining relative peace and stability during his reign.

    • What was the significance of Alexander III's marriage?

      Alexander III married Margaret, the daughter of Henry III of England, which was meant to solidify peace between Scotland and England. Their union helped to stabilise relations between the two kingdoms, although tensions remained.

    • What was the aftermath of Alexander III’s death?

      After his death, Scotland faced a period of instability. His granddaughter, Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway, was designated as his heir, but her early death in 1290 led to a power struggle among the Scottish nobility, paving the way for the Wars of Scottish Independence.