King Alexander III

1241 - 1286

Scottish monarch. Born in Roxburgh, the only son of King Alexander II (1198 - 1249). Alexander III was crowned at Scone at the age of only eight. He married Margaret, the daughter of Henry III of England, two years later. His time was generally peaceful and prosperous for Scotland, although there was a skirmish with the Norwegian King over the Inner Hebrides.

His personal life was however somewhat tragic, his wife and two sons all dying before him. Thus only months before his death he married again, with aim of ensuring a successor, but was killed before this could happen when he was thrown from his horse while riding to Kinghorn (Fife) to join his new wife. He was buried in Melrose in the Scottish Borders. He was succeeded briefly by his infant grand-daughter Margaret, the Maid of Norway, who died while travelling back to Scotland.

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