Alexander III of Scotland reigned from 1249 to 1286 CE. Succeeding his father Alexander II of Scotland (r. 1214-1249 CE) at the age of eight, the young king's early reign was blighted by rivalries between his nobles, a situation made more complex by the interference of Henry III of England (r. 1216-1272 CE) whose daughter Alexander had married. When the king took full control of his birthright in 1259 CE, things started to improve dramatically. There was a sustained period of peace and relative prosperity for Scotland. The king even managed to grab back the Western Isles and Man from Norwegian control. The kingdom was now at its greatest extent in the medieval period so far and so Alexander's reign was looked back on as a Golden Age for Scotland. Falling to his death in an accident in 1286 CE, Alexander left no male heir, and Scotland tumbled into a protracted period of dynastic turmoil.
More about: Alexander III of ScotlandDefinition
Timeline
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4 Sep 1241Birth of Alexander III of Scotland.
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1249 - 1286Reign of Alexander III of Scotland.
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13 Jul 1249Alexander III of Scotland is crowned at Scone Abbey.
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1251Henry III of England appoints Robert de Ros and John Balliol as guardians of Alexander III of Scotland.
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26 Dec 1251Alexander III of Scotland marries Margaret, daughter of Henry III of England, in York.
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Apr 1258Alexander III of Scotland creates his parliament at Stirling.
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1259Alexander III of Scotland reaches maturity and takes full control of his kingdom.
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Aug 1263 - Oct 1263King Haakon IV of Norway unsuccessfully invades northern Scotland.
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2 Oct 1263An army of Alexander III of Scotland defeats an invading force of King Haakon IV of Norway at Largs in Ayrshire.
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Jul 1266The Treaty of Perth between Magnus VI of Norway and Alexander III of Scotland gives the latter control of the Western Isles and the Isle of Man.
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27 Feb 1275Queen Margaret, wife of Alexander III of Scotland, dies.
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Oct 1278Alexander III of Scotland swears fealty to Henry III of England but only for his estates in England and not for Scotland.
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1281Prince Alexander, son of Alexander III of Scotland, dies.
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Sep 1281Alexander III of Scotland's daughter Margaret marries King Eric II Magnusson of Norway.
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1283Margaret, Queen of Norway and daughter of Alexander III of Scotland, dies in childbirth.
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1284Prince David, son of Alexander III of Scotland, dies.
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1 Nov 1285Alexander III of Scotland marries his second wife Yolande of Dreux.
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19 Mar 1286Alexander III of Scotland dies in a riding accident.
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Sep 1290Margaret, the 'Maid of Norway' and proposed queen of Scotland, dies of illness travelling from Norway to Scotland.
