The Golden Age of Celtic Scotland

Alexander IIIAlexander 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 AlexanderDeath of Alexander

• Alexander died tragically in 1296.

• 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 NorwayThe 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 EnglandTreaty 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 BirghamTreaty 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 NorwayThe 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.