And thus started what became known as the Competition for the Crown. And she, poor child, died at Orkney on her way here. So now Scotland had only the seven-year-old and delicate Maid of Norway as heir to the throne. But perhaps Queen Yolande was with child? The Council gave her nine months to prove the matter but when no child was forthcoming, back to France she was packed. Great was the consternation and sorrow in the land - even though the death had been foretold by Thomas the Rhymer, our poet-prophet. After crossing Queen Margaret¼s Ferry, over the Forth, he rode on through the darkness and approaching Kinghorn his horse stumbled at a clifftop and fell over, its rider with it. But one December day he had a Council meeting in Edinburgh and after attending this the vehement and spirited Alexander decided that he must get back to his desirable wife that same night. Up till then, the nearest to an heir the King had had was his infant grand-daughter, the little Maid of Norway his late daughter Margaret had married Erik, King of Norway.Īlexander installed the fair Yolande in his summer palace at Kinghorn in Fife, a happy man. She was young, fair, nubile, and the Scots were relieved that now they would indeed gain an heir to the throne, the succession being all-important for peace and prosperity in those days. In due course Margaret died also he married Yolande de Dreux, from France, and brought her back to Scotland. Sadly, his three children by Margaret, daughter of England's Henry the Third, all predeceased him. He was a good and vigorous monarch, reigning in the second half of the 13th century, he who won the Battle of Largs in 1263 and extinguished the Norsemen's threat to Scotland. THE first two King Alexanders left no great mark on Scotland's history, but Alexander the Third did. Can you Tranter fans recall their titles? I'll tell you what I think after the master storyteller has made his point.
Tranter has dealt with this subject in much greater depth in some of his novels. These articles were intended to be provocative. This is the sixth of a series of ten 'cameo' articles that appeared in The Scottish Field magazine beginning in December 1990 issue.
The Ifs of Scottish History: 6: Alexander III by NIGEL TRANTER Reprinted by permission of the Nigel Tranter Estate Alexander The following article is Copyright by Nigel Tranter.
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