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Scottish Coins ~ Margaret (1286 - 1290)The deaths of all of Alexander III's sons at early ages and his subsequent failure to produce a male heir to the throne even after his marriage to the young Yolande of Dreaux left the throne of Scotland to his granddaughter, Margaret. Margaret was the only daughter of Alexander III's only daughter whom was also named Margaret and her husband Erik II of Norway. She was born in 1283 in Bergen, Norway and her mother died shortly thereafter, which thusly left the three year old as the only direct heir available in 1286 on the death of her grandfather. The rule of primogeniture had been in effect since the reign of Malcolm III (1058-1093) but had never been tested with a female heir to the throne. Scottish nobility turned to Edward I of England for advice on the matter and he declared that Margaret was the rightful claimant to the throne of Scotland. He further decreed that she would be married to his son, the future Edward II (1307-1327) During this time the Isle of Man which had been Scottish since 1263 after the battle of Largs passed into English hands, it was the final time that Scotland would have claim to said island. This would only wet his appetite for further conquest, as history would soon outline. During the whole of her reign, and probably due to her tender years, Margaret remained in Norway with her father. In 1290 the decision was made on the part of the Scottish nobility to move her to Scotland, this would prove disastrous, as she soon took ill on the trip and died on board the ship which was carrying her to the Orkney Islands. Numismatically little probably occurred during this reign, most likely coins continued to be struck under Alexander III's name, and the second coinage of his reign were probably struck during the whole of this short reign. |
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