The Golden Age of Celtic Scotland
Alexander III
• Alexander III was only seven years old when he became king in 1241.
• He had defeated the last great Viking invasion at the Battle of Largs in
1263.
• He was able to bring his powerful nobles under control and he further
developed Scottish trade and economy.
• He developed good cross-border relations with the English.
• Some historians disagree and claim there was no 'Golden Age', it was
made up as Scottish propaganda after the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Death of Alexander
• Alexander died tragically in 1286.
• He was travelling by himself to meet his new wife.
• His horse threw him and he was found with a broken neck.
• Unfortunately for Scotland all his children had already died.
• Only his three-year-old granddaughter remained.
• Margaret would be the next queen of Scots.
The Maid of Norway
• Margaret’s mother had been the oldest daughter of Alexander.
• She had married the King of Norway as a diplomatic move after the Battle
of Largs.
• She died in childbirth, leaving Margaret with her father in Norway.
• After a lot of negotiations between the Guardians and her father it was
agreed she would become the next queen.
Treaty with England
• A young girl as queen was obviously not going to work.
• But if she was married to a prince then he could act as the next king.
• It was decide that the prince of England would wed Margaret.
• This was decided in the Treaty of Birgham.
Treaty of Birgham
• In 1291 it was decided that the treaty would go ahead.
• Margaret would wed the young Prince Edward, son of Edward I.
• Scotland would remain independent.
• No Scottish parliament would ever be held outside of Scotland.
The last voyage of the Maid of Norway
• Margaret was still a young girl and the voyage was undertaken in the
middle of winter.
• She caught pneumonia on board the ship and died at Orkney.
• Now there was no-one with a clear succession to the throne.
• That meant only one thing: civil war, as the powerful nobles fought among
themselves for the right to be the next king.