Alexander III – A Golden Age and the End of an Era.

At the end of the Thirteenth century, Scotland was drawn into war with England. This article describes the events that brought about the greatest upheaval so far in the Scottish House of Canmore. As already explained, in the early Middle Ages the Kings of Scotland had laid claims to areas of land in northern England. Thus the borderlands between England and Scotland were in continual dispute. 

After Malcolm IV’s death his brother William the Lion spent much of the next half century trying to regain the lost lands of Northumbria.  He was followed on the throne by his son, Alexander II, who was finally granted lands in Northumbria worth two hundred pounds a year.  But he had no castles and so power remained with the English king. However, the rich farmlands that lie between the Solway-Tweed Line and the old Antonine Wall remained firmly in Scotland, despite efforts over the years by English rulers to gain possession of them.

As a result of agreement over the border, the Thirteenth Century in Scotland became ‘The Golden Age of Scotland’, as it saw peace between Scotland and England during both Alexander II’s rule and that of his son, Alexander III.  Unfortunately, the lands held in England by successive Scottish kings proved to be a damnosa haeriditas, or perpetual problem. Scottish monarchs always denied that their homage was for the whole kingdom of Scotland but, in an age that set great store upon symbols, the frequent sight of a King of Scots on his knees before a brother of England was of high consequence.

Alexander III, the son of Alexander II and the French Marie de Coucy, was born at Roxburgh in 1241. He was crowned king by the age of eight but since he was too young to govern there was a period of almost ten years when nobles argued over whom should rule the country. It was finally decided that a Grand Council of Lords, all chosen by the English King, should govern Scotland. Also King Henry III claimed to be ‘Principal Counsellor to the Illustrious King of Scotland’ and married his daughter to the ten-year-old monarch.  This meant peace with England.  

Alexander’s Defeat of the Norsemen at the Battle of Largs, 1263

Alexander began to rule in his own right in 1262.  Although there was no longer a threat from the south, Alexander wished to settle his northern and western borders and to this end asked King Haakon of Norway, as his father had done in 1249, to sell him the Western Isles.  Haakon refused, just as he had previously. And so the Earl of Ross, one of Alexander’s nobles, launched an attack on Skye.  

This aggression angered Haakon and he became determined to prevent any further attacks on his islands. By the beginning of July the next year more than a hundred and fifty longships sailed from Norway with Haakon at their head. They stopped off at Kirkwall on Orkney where Haakon hoped to raise some more men. He was disappointed, however, and failed to raise a decent force. The solar eclipse that occurred as they left Orkney also shook Haakon’s army. Understanding nothing of these matters, the Norsemen were deeply troubled. Magnus, King of Man, joined forces with Haakon in the Sound of Skye. While Alexander waited tensely on the mainland the Mull of Kintyre and the Island of Bute fell.

By late August that year the longships had rounded Arran and were sheltering behind Holy Isle. Meanwhile Alexander waited in Ayr. The two armies were within twenty miles of each other.

Alexander was sly, however, he realised that an army on the sea was more vulnerable to the weather and the winter was nearly upon them. He stalled by sending monks to parley under a flag of truce. These men carried Alexander’s terms for peace and instructions to stall. Each day the Scots army grew and there was a greater chance of a failure in the weather.

By late September the diplomacy had ceased and Haakon moved in for the kill. They surged up the Firth of Clyde and the Scots were bracing themselves for a hard battle. It seems, however, that fate was against Haakon. Storms struck on 1^st October and Haakon’s fleet was as helpless as a leaf in the wind. Ships were wrenched from anchor and lines and rigging were being tossed on the rough seas.

For two days small skirmishes took place between the two armies. The Norwegians' spirits were further dampened and, seeing that their cause was hopeless, they retired in good order. Thus the Battle of Largs was a victory for the Scots. The Norsemen sailed for Lamlash Bay from where they set sail for home, but Haakon died that December while they were sheltering at Orkney.

The battle had almost been a non-event but all the same it signalled an important turning point in the struggle for the Western Isles. Magnus, Haakon’s son, returned them to the Scots crown although the island chieftains paid little attention. It made little odds to them who had nominal authority over them. They would carry on as normal. All the same, now all that was west of Scotland was the Atlantic, and America.

Daily Life

The Scotland ruled by Alexander was very different to the one we know today. There were far more forests and areas of marshland and wild animals roamed the country. Changes, however, were about to take place. A network of roads was built to link up the Royal Burghs and more bridges were built to span the rivers and ferries spanned the Firths.  

Crops were grown in long narrow strips known as rigs. Teams of eight oxen with almost as many men to guide them drew the wooden ploughs. Between the rigs were long ditches, which were used to drain the land. The soil was improved by piling up the ground from the ditches. The drainage system was not effective on flat land so they were forced to farm the less productive hillside. The flat lands were used as grazing for the herds of sheep and cattle.  

Since the people had no means of protecting their beasts from the cold, harsh winters most of them had to be killed at the Martinmas Festival in early November, with only a few kept for plough teams, milk and breeding. At the Festival fresh meat would be eaten for the last time until spring. The carcasses of animals slaughtered were salted to provide food for the winter months. Famine was always close at hand and people constantly had to struggle for survival.

Wood was the main fuel but in the time of Alexander a ‘black stone’ was found which burned. It was many years before it was given the name of coal.  
 

The End of ‘The Golden Age’  

By this time the people of Scotland began to regard themselves as belonging to one nation.  There were no serious rebellions and Alexander’s lords used their time to build castles and rule their own areas. Alexander presided over a land where there was peace and trade was able to flourish.

However, tragedy came to touch the royal family. In 1275 the Queen died and then Alexander’s two sons. Because he needed a son to succeed him he remarried, choosing a French princess called Yolande, hoping she would give him a new son.

Only a few months after his marriage Alexander was conducting affairs of state with his high council at Edinburgh Castle. After the meeting he wanted to return to Yolande but the weather had turned wild and he was begged to consider staying at Edinburgh for the night.  Against advice he saddled his horse and galloped into the night with two bodyguards. How they crossed the Firth of Forth by ferry without drowning was a mystery to his companions! Later, though, in the darkness and in the teeth of a howling gale, Alexander was parted from his bodyguards and his horse made its way home riderless.  The next day the king’s body was found at Kinghorn, at the foot of a cliff. He had been 44; he had reigned for 36 years and had only been married to Yolande for six months.

Scotland was left with no male heir.  Alexander’s daughter, who had been married to King Erik of Norway, Haakon’s son, had died also, in childbirth.  Her baby daughter, as well as being her father’s only child, was heir to the throne of Scotland!  She has become known in Scottish history as The Maid of Norway. 

After the death of Alexander III  Scotland became a land without a king.  To come to terms with this state of affairs the great men of Scotland, Earls, Barons, Bishops and Abbots, met in Scone Palace at the end of 1286. At this meeting these great men swore an oath of loyalty to the sole heir, Margaret, the three-year-old princess of Norway. Six Guardians chosen from the council of great men should govern her land in her name until she was old enough to come home and to rule herself.