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March 19, 1286 - The Death of King Alexander III
For More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/march-19/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we travel back to a stormy night on March 19, 1286, when Scotland’s fate was altered forever by a single tragic event—the death of King Alexander III. His untimely passing threw Scotland into a period of chaos, leading to the Wars of Scottish Independence. And if you're curious about other fascinating events that happened on this day in history, be sure to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
King Alexander III had ruled Scotland since 1249, ascending the throne at the tender age of eight. Despite his youth, he would grow into a capable and determined king, securing Scotland’s borders, strengthening its economy, and ensuring a period of relative peace and prosperity. His reign was defined by his firm resistance against English interference, particularly from King Henry III and later Edward I. By marrying Margaret of England, Henry’s daughter, Alexander maintained a fragile but effective peace between the two kingdoms. But fate can be cruel, and despite his successes, Alexander’s personal life was marked by loss.
Tragedy struck in the 1270s when he lost his wife, Queen Margaret, and all three of their children. His only surviving heir was his granddaughter, Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway—a frail child living far from Scotland. A kingdom without a clear adult successor was a dangerous proposition, and Alexander knew it. In 1285, he remarried, taking Yolande de Dreux as his new queen, hoping to father a male heir to secure the dynasty. But fate had other plans.
On the fateful evening of March 19, 1286, Alexander was in Edinburgh and eager to return to his queen in Kinghorn, Fife. Despite the terrible weather, he set out on horseback, accompanied by his knights. As they rode along the treacherous coastal cliffs, the darkness and the raging storm made the journey perilous. Against the warnings of his attendants, Alexander pushed ahead alone. Somewhere in the night, near the cliffs of Kinghorn, he lost his way. Whether his horse stumbled on the rugged terrain or he was simply thrown in the storm, we’ll never know for certain. What is clear is that by morning, the King of Scots was found lifeless at the foot of a steep embankment.
With Alexander’s death, Scotland was plunged into a succession crisis. His only direct heir, the Maid of Norway, was just a child and far from the throne. The Scottish nobles, unprepared for such an event, scrambled to maintain stability. A council of guardians was established to govern in Margaret’s name, but the kingdom soon found itself at the mercy of external forces—most notably, King Edward I of England.
Edward, ever the opportunist, saw Scotland’s weakened state as an opportunity to assert dominance. He maneuvered to have Margaret betrothed to his son, aiming to unite the crowns under English rule. But before this could happen, tragedy struck again—Margaret died in 1290 while en route to Scotland. With no clear successor, multiple claimants emerged, leading to the infamous Great Cause, where Edward was invited to arbitrate Scotland’s fate. Rather than a fair mediator, Edward saw himself as Scotland’s overlord, paving the way for war.
What followed was one of the most defining periods in Scotland’s history—the Wars of Scottish Independence. From the rise of William Wallace to Robert the Bruce’s legendary victories, Scotland would endure decades of struggle to reclaim its sovereignty. And it all began on that stormy night in 1286, when a king fell from his horse and left a nation in turmoil.
The site of Alexander III’s death near Kinghorn remains a poignant reminder of how quickly history can turn. His loss marked the end of Scotland’s golden age of stability and set the stage for the long and bloody fight for independence.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tale of fate, tragedy, and the unintended consequences that shaped Scotland’s destiny. Don't forget to check out my blog for more historical events at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another journey through Scotland’s remarkable past. I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com
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By Bagtown ClansFor More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/march-19/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we travel back to a stormy night on March 19, 1286, when Scotland’s fate was altered forever by a single tragic event—the death of King Alexander III. His untimely passing threw Scotland into a period of chaos, leading to the Wars of Scottish Independence. And if you're curious about other fascinating events that happened on this day in history, be sure to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
King Alexander III had ruled Scotland since 1249, ascending the throne at the tender age of eight. Despite his youth, he would grow into a capable and determined king, securing Scotland’s borders, strengthening its economy, and ensuring a period of relative peace and prosperity. His reign was defined by his firm resistance against English interference, particularly from King Henry III and later Edward I. By marrying Margaret of England, Henry’s daughter, Alexander maintained a fragile but effective peace between the two kingdoms. But fate can be cruel, and despite his successes, Alexander’s personal life was marked by loss.
Tragedy struck in the 1270s when he lost his wife, Queen Margaret, and all three of their children. His only surviving heir was his granddaughter, Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway—a frail child living far from Scotland. A kingdom without a clear adult successor was a dangerous proposition, and Alexander knew it. In 1285, he remarried, taking Yolande de Dreux as his new queen, hoping to father a male heir to secure the dynasty. But fate had other plans.
On the fateful evening of March 19, 1286, Alexander was in Edinburgh and eager to return to his queen in Kinghorn, Fife. Despite the terrible weather, he set out on horseback, accompanied by his knights. As they rode along the treacherous coastal cliffs, the darkness and the raging storm made the journey perilous. Against the warnings of his attendants, Alexander pushed ahead alone. Somewhere in the night, near the cliffs of Kinghorn, he lost his way. Whether his horse stumbled on the rugged terrain or he was simply thrown in the storm, we’ll never know for certain. What is clear is that by morning, the King of Scots was found lifeless at the foot of a steep embankment.
With Alexander’s death, Scotland was plunged into a succession crisis. His only direct heir, the Maid of Norway, was just a child and far from the throne. The Scottish nobles, unprepared for such an event, scrambled to maintain stability. A council of guardians was established to govern in Margaret’s name, but the kingdom soon found itself at the mercy of external forces—most notably, King Edward I of England.
Edward, ever the opportunist, saw Scotland’s weakened state as an opportunity to assert dominance. He maneuvered to have Margaret betrothed to his son, aiming to unite the crowns under English rule. But before this could happen, tragedy struck again—Margaret died in 1290 while en route to Scotland. With no clear successor, multiple claimants emerged, leading to the infamous Great Cause, where Edward was invited to arbitrate Scotland’s fate. Rather than a fair mediator, Edward saw himself as Scotland’s overlord, paving the way for war.
What followed was one of the most defining periods in Scotland’s history—the Wars of Scottish Independence. From the rise of William Wallace to Robert the Bruce’s legendary victories, Scotland would endure decades of struggle to reclaim its sovereignty. And it all began on that stormy night in 1286, when a king fell from his horse and left a nation in turmoil.
The site of Alexander III’s death near Kinghorn remains a poignant reminder of how quickly history can turn. His loss marked the end of Scotland’s golden age of stability and set the stage for the long and bloody fight for independence.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tale of fate, tragedy, and the unintended consequences that shaped Scotland’s destiny. Don't forget to check out my blog for more historical events at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another journey through Scotland’s remarkable past. I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com