The Tragic Death of King Alexander III

And the chaos that followed

On this day in 1286, King Alexander ignored advice from his nobles and rode to Kinghorn Castle in a terrible storm to see his new wife, Yolande. He had crossed from Dalmeny to Inverkeithing despite the passionate pleas of his men, who had urged him to stay at Edinburgh Castle for the night. Historians say he wanted to travel that night as it was his new wife’s birthday the next day.

On the way, his horse stumbled in the dark, causing him to fall over the cliffs at Pettycur, resulting in a fatal accident in which he broke his neck. A monument still stands today to mark where he was thought to have fallen.

This event marked Alexander III’s untimely death, leaving Scotland without a ruler and leading to a crisis in succession as his granddaughter, Margaret Maid of Norway, who was next in line to rule, also passed away on her way to Scotland. Succession had passed to his granddaughter because all three of his children had passed away within a few years.

Edward I of England took advantage of the situation and proclaimed himself overlord of the Scots, initiating the Scottish Wars of Independence by nominating John Balliol as Alexander's successor. This set off a whole chain of events that ultimately changed Scotland forever. While there is a school of thought that suggests that Edward murdered Alexander, most historians dismiss this, saying there is no evidence to back up this theory.

King Alexander III's reign was significant for Scotland, characterised by peace, prosperity, and territorial expansion. He ascended to the throne aged seven on 13 July 1249 and married Margaret, daughter of Henry III of England, in 1251.

Alexander successfully claimed the Western Isles from Norway after defeating King Haakon IV at the Battle of Largs in 1263. (Many historians dispute that this was the great victory for Scotland that it has been regarded as). He then secured control over the Isle of Man and the Western Isles through the Treaty of Perth in 1266. Orkney and Shetland remained under the control of Norway.

His rule fostered a "Golden Age" of economic growth, agricultural development, and cultural flourishing. Trade thrived, and monasteries expanded.

Despite facing challenges like the death of his children and wife, Alexander's reign was viewed as a time of stability and progress for Scotland. His death, however, shattered that peace and stability for decades to come.

Like many other Scottish royalty, he was laid to rest in Dunfermline Abbey.