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You are here: UK History > Royal History > Scottish Monarchy > Margaret the Maid of Norway
Historians debate whether Margaret counts as a Scottish monarch and Scotland’s first queen because she was never inaugurated. However, she was named heir by her grandfather, Alexander III and was accepted as such.
Quick Facts:
Born: 1283
Died: 1290
Reign: 1286-1290
Parents: Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland
Predecessor: Alexander III
Successor: John
Royal House: Sverre, claim through House Dunkeld
Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway was the daughter if King Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland. By the end of the reign of her grandfather King Alexander II of Scotland, she was the only surviving descendant and was recognised as heir presumptive. He died in 1286 and his unborn child with his wife Yolande, died stillborn, leaving Margaret...Read More
Historians debate whether Margaret counts as a Scottish monarch and Scotland’s first queen because she was never inaugurated. However, she was named heir by her grandfather, Alexander III and was accepted as such.
Quick Facts:
Born: 1283
Died: 1290
Reign: 1286-1290
Parents: Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland
Predecessor: Alexander III
Successor: John
Royal House: Sverre, claim through House Dunkeld
Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway was the daughter if King Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland. By the end of the reign of her grandfather King Alexander II of Scotland, she was the only surviving descendant and was recognised as heir presumptive. He died in 1286 and his unborn child with his wife Yolande, died stillborn, leaving Margaret to inherit the crown. As she was only three at the time, she remained in Norway for four years before starting the journey to Scotland.
Her father and other Scottish leaders attempted to negotiate a marriage between her and Edward I of England’s son, eventually sending her to Scotland in September of 1290. She died in Orkney on her way and sparked a succession dispute which would last a number of years.
Margaret was the only child of King Eric II of Norway and his first wife, Margaret, the daughter of Alexander III of Scotland. She was born in south-eastern Norway and grew up without her mother, who died in childbirth. Her father, who was just 15 at the time, was advised to place her in the custody of the Bishop of Bergen, where she was raised. Once she was in Bergen, there began a race to secure an advantageous marriage.
When Alexander III became aware that Margaret was his only surviving descendant, he had all thirteen earls, 24 barons and three clan chiefs come to Scone to swear an oath of allegiance to her as his successor, should he die without leaving a son or daughter. Following his unexpected death, Scottish magnates gathered to discuss the future of the kingdom and chose six regents to govern the country in the absence of an heir. At this time, Queen Yolande, Alexander’s second wife was pregnant and it was assumed that this child would be the next monarch rather than Margaret. However, Queen Yolande lost the baby and King Eric sent a representative to Scotland to claim the kingdom for his daughter. Opposition from Robert Bruce, among others, led him to make the decision not to send Margaret straight away.
In 1289, referring to his daughter as Lady Margaret and Queen Margaret, Eric began a negotiation with King Edward of England. As she was still under the protection of her father, the Scottish could only observe these negotiations. The Scottish guardians, along with Bruce, made their way to Salisbury where they met with English and Norwegian envoys to further discuss the Scottish throne. The Treaty of Salisbury stated that King Eric had handed over power to Edward I to intervene on Margaret’s behalf. The treaty agreed that Margaret was to be sent by 1st November to England and once the Scots could assure Edward that there was peace in their kingdom, she would be released to them. Edward was also allowed to choose her husband, though her father was allowed to veto the choice if he wished. The pair ended up seeking papal dispensation so that Margaret could marry Edward’s son, something that the Scottish guardians agreed.
Negotiations regarding the marriage continued into 1290 between England and Scotland with plans for a personal union between the two counties. However, diplomatic difficulties delayed Margaret’s arrival. A further treaty was agreed in July of that year that agreed that Scotland was to remain fully independent, despite any personal union and that Margaret alone would be inaugurated.
Margaret eventually set sail in August 1290 on board one of her father’s ships, though he did not accompany her. Her former guardian, the Bishop Narve was present however. It is noted that she began her journey in good health but became ill during the journey causing the shop to land in Orkney to find medical assistance. She continued to suffer for up to a week before dying in September in the arms of the Bishop. The Scottish magnates were informed the following month and returned her body to Bergen, where her father insisted on an open casket to confirm her identity. She was then buried in the north wall of Christ Church which has since been destroyed.
Margaret was the last legitimate descendant of King William the Lion. After her death, thirteen men laid claim to the throne, including Robert Bruce and John Balliol. Her father King Eric also half heartedly attempted to claim the throne but died in 1299. In 1301, a German woman claimed that she was the real Margaret, however, she was imprisoned and burned at the stake.
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